Stiletto Hammers

[GhostFist]

Alright so some guy on the tv series I'm working on now brings his Stiletto 14oz on the site. I've never used one but often scoffed at the price, $250 + for a hammer seems a bit far fetched at first. I asked him about what he felt about it and he responded that his elbow was worth more than $250 so he saw it as a bargain. The hammer itself has the size and functionality of a traditional and much heavier steel hammer but reportedly 10 less shock is transmitted through it's all titanium body. I got to thinking, while I don't do a lot of framing with a hammer only i do pull out a hammer from time to time to bang some stuff together, my current hammer is a 20 oz Stanley and I've always hated it but I think it cost me something like $30 when i picked it up ten years ago. I'm looking at it this way, the hammer is one of the most basic carpentry tools that everyone who works with wood needs in their arsenal. I constantly have one of these hip killers weighing down the right side of my tool sporran so a lighter and well constructed hammer is starting to become very appealing to me.

Anyone out there swinging these puppies around? What's your take on them? Worth the investment?

 

[builderbob]

Ghost, I will have to confirm what you're hearing about the Stilettos!  My parents bought mine for me on my 30th birthday. It is a lot to spend on a hammer....is it worth it?  That's subject to opinion, but I'm a small (not really strong) dude and when I used to frame, this made a major difference.

A tape measure will sag my pants down as I have no hips, so in regards to weight...I used to carry a 20 oz Stanley and the Stilleto hammer is a dream in comparison.

It's definitely sized like a framer, so it's not the best hammer for interior trim with a nail punch. But if you do the occasional to often framing, I would highly consider this...an elbow or shoulder is worth way more than $250!  My .02!

Bob

 

[Alan m]

any pics of these 250 pound hammers

 

[tbellemare]

You can get the Titan for under $113.

It's a 14 oz. titanium framing hammer with a pol-fiberglass handle.

[attachthumb=#1]

Tom

 

[tbellemare]

The 14 oz. TiBone is just under $240.

[attachthumb=#1]

Tom

 

[rmwarren]

I have another brand mid-sized titanium hammer, it is not meant for framing, more of an all-around hammer however I used it during construction of our house and it worked great for driving framing nails. It also works fine for finish nails, making it a great hammer to have handy for most anything.

A comparable sized steel hammer does not work nearly as well. The take-away for me is that titanium is worth the cost, it makes a huge difference in performance.

 

[Alan m]

these make my 50 euro estwing look cheap.  [blink]

 

[jmbfestool]

these make my 50 euro estwing look cheap.  [blink]

I looked at them before I bought my estwing hammer tooth after leaving my old estwing in a roof after I put king span and plaster boarded it and then it got plastered before I realised I had left it in the roof! GUTTED!

Well I kinda glad I left my old estwing cus I think the estwing hammer tooth is loads better than the standard estwing.

Any way I did look at these titanium hammers but spending £100 or more I thought was just that little to much! Cnt believe I'm saying this! Lol. Also they don't look as sexy as the estwings I think!

Jmb

 

[FEStastic]

When I first started I used a cheap hammer

a few thousand  4 in nails later I developed a boney growth in my palm
Man it was painful

I went over to a Paslode   [big grin] and a stanley hammer with an anti vibration chip in the grip

had no problems since  

 

[Alan m]

is the toothed thing where one of the claws is longer than the other and pointier.
did you put a layer on each side of the hammer knowing it was in there. (must of done as you wouldnt know where it was other wise)

these make my 50 euro estwing look cheap.  [blink]

I looked at them before I bought my estwing hammer tooth after leaving my old estwing in a roof after I put king span and plaster boarded it and then it got plastered before I realised I had left it in the roof! GUTTED!

Well I kinda glad I left my old estwing cus I think the estwing hammer tooth is loads better than the standard estwing.

Any way I did look at these titanium hammers but spending £100 or more I thought was just that little to much! Cnt believe I'm saying this! Lol. Also they don't look as sexy as the estwings I think!

Jmb

i have to agree that anything over 50 euro for a hammer is rediculas unless it does it by itself.
i have a normal estwing and a smaller one for more delicate persuading

 

[Deansocial]

is the toothed thing where one of the claws is longer than the other and pointier.
did you put a layer on each side of the hammer knowing it was in there. (must of done as you wouldnt know where it was other wise)

these make my 50 euro estwing look cheap.  [blink]

I looked at them before I bought my estwing hammer tooth after leaving my old estwing in a roof after I put king span and plaster boarded it and then it got plastered before I realised I had left it in the roof! GUTTED!

Well I kinda glad I left my old estwing cus I think the estwing hammer tooth is loads better than the standard estwing.

Any way I did look at these titanium hammers but spending £100 or more I thought was just that little to much! Cnt believe I'm saying this! Lol. Also they don't look as sexy as the estwings I think!

Jmb

i have to agree that anything over 50 euro for a hammer is rediculas unless it does it by itself.
i have a normal estwing and a smaller one for more delicate persuading

its for straightening joists up, Google it

 

[fritter63]

When I first started I used a cheap hammer

a few thousand  4 in nails later I developed a boney growth in my palm
Man it was painful

I went over to a Paslode   [big grin] and a stanley hammer with an anti vibration chip in the grip

had no problems since  

I made sure to use a Hitachi framing nailer while building my house so I could save my elbow.

Now I have chronic "trigger finger" tendonitus from wielding that nailer!

 

[jmbfestool]

is the toothed thing where one of the claws is longer than the other and pointier.
did you put a layer on each side of the hammer knowing it was in there. (must of done as you wouldnt know where it was other wise)

these make my 50 euro estwing look cheap.  [blink]

I looked at them before I bought my estwing hammer tooth after leaving my old estwing in a roof after I put king span and plaster boarded it and then it got plastered before I realised I had left it in the roof! GUTTED!

Well I kinda glad I left my old estwing cus I think the estwing hammer tooth is loads better than the standard estwing.

Any way I did look at these titanium hammers but spending £100 or more I thought was just that little to much! Cnt believe I'm saying this! Lol. Also they don't look as sexy as the estwings I think!

Jmb

i have to agree that anything over 50 euro for a hammer is rediculas unless it does it by itself.
i have a normal estwing and a smaller one for more delicate persuading

its for straightening joists up, Google it

I'm confused Dean who are you telling to google it? Alan? Or me? Alan never asked what's a hammer tooth.

  I know it's for straighting 2inch timber only is designed to be used with a nail gun to keep your hands a safe distance away while trying to twist tthe wood!  One of the reasons y I bought it!  I struggled to get it as no were in uk sold it at the time as it was a new hammer!

I love the straight claw i use it as a chisel! Lol

Jmb

 

[rmwarren]

I have another brand mid-sized titanium hammer, it is not meant for framing, more of an all-around hammer however I used it during construction of our house and it worked great for driving framing nails. It also works fine for finish nails, making it a great hammer to have handy for most anything.

A comparable sized steel hammer does not work nearly as well. The take-away for me is that titanium is worth the cost, it makes a huge difference in performance.

I have to ask.

What does it do better than another less costly hammer?

Chris,

I guess it is the concentrated mass, I can drive a 16p nail more easily than I can with a steel hammer. Some of it may also be ergonomics, it has a bigger face than a typical finish hammer.

I think it is a 10 oz hammer, again not really meant for framing but it did the job. The best thing for my use is it CAN drive those nails easily, probably a better solution for a remodeler than someone who does mostly rough carpentry.

Of course, it could all just be in my head...  [embarassed]

I think I paid around $50 for it years ago from Duluth Trading but it is not one of the hammers they carry these days. I would hate to lose it.

 

[FEStastic]

Im much more aware of RSI now, trying to using both hands and varying my grip.

 

[peter halle]

I have had the 14 ox Stilleto for more than 5 years.  I like it.  Granted I got mine after I developed elbow issues.  Mine has the wooden handle - i.e. the least expensive version.  The advantage is that although it is lighter, the head speed is faster and the resulting striking force is equal to that of a heavier steel hammer.  You can tell if someone is using it on a job because of the sound.  Sounds tinnier.

Peter

 

[John Bates]

I have 2 14oz wooden handled Stilettos, one milled and one smooth, they are by far and away the best hammer I've ever used or sold. They are lighter to lift and so faster coming down. The physics of speed x weight = force means that they put more wallop in than a heavier hammer, particularly steel. This and the reduction in bounce means that there is less secondary grip when striking and more control over the impact. I have also have a 14oz all titanium version but I love the look of the fawns foot wooden versions which are also slightly longer.
I used to have a 24oz Vaughan  steel eagle but that was hard work!

 

[GhostFist]

http://www.stiletto.com/p-27-tibone-tbii-15-mc-w-replaceable-steel-face.aspx

That's the guy I'm looking at there. The milled face can be replaced with an interchangeable smooth face if that's your desire. I'd be using smooth more often than not but a nice option to swap the head out especially with the waffle head which I tend to wear down rather quickly. replacement faces i think are $30 or so.

 

[woodguy7]

I used to have one of those 24oz steel eagles.  It was hard work.  Don't think you will go far wrong with the 20oz blue handle Estwing but i now use a 20oz wooden handled Douglas.  Really nice to use.  JMB, never heard of that one you bought, have you a link to it ?  I could Google it but cant be bothered  [tongue]

 

[GhostFist]

Just so you know that 15 oz is supposed to drive like a 28 at almost half the weight.