The Best Hammers Are Still Made In The U.S.A.
A story I remember hearing as a kid was about one of life’s lessons learned by my Dad when he was a young apprentice to a carpenter. He was going about his work, hammering nails at the time and, as was his custom was holding the hammer about halfway up the handle. This, he said, gave him more control over the swing. The master carpenter came over to him, grabbed the hammer and calmly cut it in two.
Obviously, had he been using a metal-handled tool rather than one made of wood this lesson would have been tougher to demonstrate but, hey, they make saws that will cut metal too. The point is, the tool was rendered useless for the day and had to be repaired with the fitting of a new handle before it was useable again. After that, Dad learned how to swing a hammer properly and this eventually increased his speed and power.
A well-made tool may seem fairly expensive when compared to a low-cost imitation but the difference in use and function is significant. Those who make their living using hand tools will gladly pay the extra to have something that actually works and works well. Good tools should last a lifetime and the best ones will be guaranteed to do just that.
It’s nice to know the best hammers are still American made, although the market is flooded with cheap imitations that are produced in volume from all points East (read: China). Estwing Hammers are a sterling example of a quality-made tool. They have made innovations in the technology responsible for producing what may be said to be the most ergonomic hammers available. Their patented, shock resistant grip takes the pain and drudgery out of an often monotonous and painfully repetitive task.
Stiletto is another acknowledged leader in this market and Stiletto Hammers are basically in a class of their own. Made from titanium, these hammers weigh about half what a normal hammer weighs but are still capable of delivering the same force when striking. This high-tech, lightweight material (titanium) is also exceptionally strong and produces a recoil shock of about one-tenth that of a typical hammer.
Recoil shock is a major concern for those who make a living swinging a hammer and a ninety percent reduction is a pretty big deal. Common complaints from those who use a hammer on a regular basis are tennis elbow and carpal tunnel. These problems are virtually eliminated with the use of an extremely lightweight, shock-absorbing tool.
You know cheap things aren’t good and good things aren’t cheap. This especially holds true with hand-tools where cheap isn’t only worse, it’s useless. When buying tools it pays to spend a little more to get the best. Now you know!
Bob Proctor has been writing articles since 2006 and is an expert on drywall hammers, however he also likes to write about chisel hammers
