Eswting Claw or Rip hammer?

Question

I ve used his 16 oz claw hammer and I love with it so much I thought I d get my own. Some people say get the 20 oz rip hammer because it s also a nail bar And is better at studwork, joists, rafters etc. If I need a nail bar I would bring my own and I f I was doing joists or studwork I could easily get hold of a Paslode nail gun. I ve used the 16 oz claw hammer a lot and it s still great at doing studwork. It s also on sale at the moment for around £26 down from £44ish. I ll buy one tomorrow so some quick answers would be great. I m doing carpentry work for a living so that s everything from joists to skirting.

Answer 1

I'd recommend a rip hammer for rough or finish construction work....easier to pull longer nails or boards apart than a claw hammer although a claw hammer is more useful in twisting stud boards that are warped...the claw end grips around the stud so you can untwist it before setting nails with a nailgun. I also use a claw hammer to set nails in areas which are hard to reach with two hands such as on a ladder, etc.....insert the nail into the groove of the claw so the nail head rests against the back of the hammer head...then use a swift blow/swing of the hammer to set the nail in place, unhook the nail from the V groove and then turn the head around to drive it the rest of he way.I use a 16 ounce for most lighter rough work and feel it serves me better than a 20 or 22 ounce but I have one of those when needed for driving large nails faster. In most cases, I'm already using a nail gun so a lighter hammer is easier for other smaller work. I also found I can easily pull longer nails by working the hammer head sideways to pull them out a little at a time when pulling 16D's although it ruins the nail. I often helped my brother remodel older homes and we would pull nails before throwing old lumber in the firepit...I could pull them faster than he could with my method even though he had a larger hammer. He'd have to fight to get the nail pulled mostly out and then use a wood block under the head for more leverage whereas all I had to do was keep working the head back and forth and reset the V groove on the nail near the board edge as I pulled it out.



In the end, you may find you need three hammers ..a 16 ounce rip for lighter rough or finish work which is less tiring to carry and use, a 20 ounce rip for heavier work and a 16 ounce claw for twisting studs, setting nails, etc.. Rip hammers also work better at digging shallow locator holes for ladder feet in slippery soil...I often do that when working alone on a tall ladder so I'm sure the feet won't slip out on me. That only has to happen once to show you how important a stable ladder is.

Answer 2

Quite honestly Estwing hammers are yesterday. Although they are durable and offer great force, my preference is now a titanium hammer. They are easier to handle, great strength and a 15 ounce is as good as a 20 or 22 ounce. Stileto makes a great ripping or claw hammer. Ripping for construction, claw for finer work. Drawback is they cost about 250 Canadian.

Answer 3

Rip Hammers are made for ripping wood apart that has been nailed together and is preferred when doing construction work. The Claw Hammer's curved end is used to remove nails and is the average home owners choice. The weight will depend on how they feel in your hand. Comfort should be the first thing you look for in any tool.

I love Eastwing Hammers and they have cool axes/hatchets too! Hart is another one of my favorite hammers, their all shiny and pretty looking.

Answer 4

get what you’re comfortable with

all three of my hammers are 20 oz. straight claw, once you start using one the 16 seems like a toy

the straight claw is also handy for demo

don’t use a waffle face for trim work though

Answer 5

Sorry about the spelling mistakes. I'm on my iPad.