One of the most essential tools in tools in home improvement is the trusty framing hammer. What sets the framing hammer apart from the other types is its longer handle and heavier weight, allowing it to drive your nails in the wood without much effort. So, what you’re going to need is a framing hammer with a good grip, greater durability, and the best design to make your work a heck of a lot easier. Here is an article on best framing hammers to help you out.
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What I’m going to feature in this article is the best framing hammers that I personally consider as some of the top quality products currently in the market. But before that, let’s tackle the most important things you have to consider before buying your new best friend, as we do with every buying guide:
What You Should Know Before Buying a Framing Hammer
1. Handle
This is one of the most important things you need to look at. A good handle is just the right length for you to feel a good balance when using it. What you want is to achieve maximum driving power when using your tool as to minimize the amount effort you have to do to drive a nail in, and you can do this when you have the right length of handle as well as a good grip.
The handle itself will need to be made with good material to ensure a tight and solid grip. So you also need to make sure that your handle won’t be slippery or falling off from abuse. Usually, a good quality rubber will get you a long way, and won’t be as uncomfortable as other materials.
2. Weight
We know from high school physics that force equals mass times acceleration. When applying it to this context, a heavier mass will have a better chance of equating to greater force. Thus, a heavier hammer can give you greater driving power as long as your swing and applied force is correct.
It is the best option to buy a framing hammer that’s just the right weight for you. Although, keep in mind that the heavier, the better. But buying a hammer that’s too heavy for your hand or too light wouldn’t do you any good.
A hammer that’s too heavy can limit the amount of work you can do, while a lighter hammer won’t have enough driving force for you to do your work effectively.
TIP
If you’re buying the hammer from the store, test its weight on your hand. Swing it around if you have to, and make sure the balance is perfect.
Top Recommended Framing Hammers
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When it comes to choosing the best framing hammer, there endless options to choose from. Thus, I’ve come up with a short list of the best framing hammers to help you out:
1. Estwing E20S 20oz Straight Claw
The Estwing brand has been with us for a century, and their hammers have been proven to be the most top-quality products in terms of design and durability. This particular hammer in the series is a straight-claw, heavy duty hammer boasting a traditional design.
Pros
- Genuine laminated, polished leather handle for durability
- Fully polished head and face
- Excellent balance for optimum swing
- Made from steel for added durability
- Nearly indestructible
Cons
- Has stickers that leaves residue
- Handle is fatter than traditional hammers
- No vibration absorbing technology—can be a little uncomfortable
Over the years, tool companies have been innovating their products to suit needs and wants better.
This Stanley hammer is an example of an innovated product that puts comfort, durability, and functionality altogether, steering away just a little bit from traditional hammers to reduce hand and arm fatigue while still providing you with optimum driving force.
Pros
- Torsion control grip to reduce torque on wrists and elbows
- AntiVibe technology to minimize vibration
- Excellent balance
- Rubber handle for comfortable grip
- Magnetic top that allows you to place nails
Cons
- Rubber is less durable than other types of material
3. Estwing E3-16S 16 oz Straight Claw
Another candidate by Estwing is a straight claw hammer with special shock reduction grip to keep your hammering comfortable and with less vibration.
Pros
- Well-designed rip claw can remove nails easily
- Fully polished head and handle
- Nylon-vinyl cushion grip for added comfort
- Solid steel body for durability and strength
- Shock reduction grip to reduce shock by 70%
Cons
- Not recommended for heavy jobs
Like a traditional Estwing hammer, this variant is also durable and will undoubtedly get the job done, for a cheaper price.
4. Stiletto TB15MC TiBone 15oz
Remember when I said that heavier hammers do it better? Well, with the Stiletto hammer, you can have the same driving force as a heavy hammer due to its lightweight, titanium material that also reduces recoil shock.
Pros
- Lightweight titanium material
- Reduces fatigue, recoil shock, and vibration
- Magnetic top for easily nail handling
- Ergonomically contoured handle grip for comfort and added leverage and power
- Replaceable steel for long life
- Can pull nails well with specially designed rip claw
Cons
- A lot more expensive than other brands
- Claw can wear out
The body of this hammer is made for performance, while its handle is indeed made for comfort with rubber grip technology.
5. Stanley 51-624 20oz Rip Claw Fiberglass Hammer
This product of the Stanley company puts comfort first, but without necessarily sacrificing durability and performance.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Textured rubber handle for easy grip
- Fiberglass handle to minimize shock and recoil
- Relatively durable
- Flatter rip claw to pry board apart
- Fits the hand well
Cons
- A little too heavy for multi-purpose use
- Can mar walls when pulling nails
What’s different about this particular item is its fiberglass handle to minimize vibrations and breakage against wood, and the heat-treated rim that’s also tempered for durability and safety. All in all, a good product with the cheapest price in this list.
Conclusion
There are so many hammers you can choose from, but in this list, we’ve highlighted the best framing hammers that you can buy. Now that you know that not all hammers are the same, it’s time to choose which product can fit both your needs and wants, without ripping a hole into your pocket, of course.
So many options, but you only have to choose one for now. After much thought into this, I have decided that the Stanley 51-163 16oz FatMaxXtremeAntiVibe Rip Claw Nailing Hammer is the top choice for this list.
This hammer is the modern take on tools, which specializes in reducing incidences of carpal tunnel and fatigue, so you can do your projects for a longer time without having to worry about your hand getting worn out.
Tried and tested, I also recommend this hammer for its durability and optimum performance with constant use over the years. Great to have for every contractor out there!
And we’re done. You can now choose the best hammer for you and your project, while keeping your individual needs and preferences in mind.
I hope this article helped you out. If it did, don’t forget to leave a comment below and share this with your friends. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for great tips!
Thanks Bre!