Why you don't buy the 8 dollar hammer at the hardware store...

[replicant_008]

Another in a intermittent series of public safety messages from Replicant (semi-retired from AF but popping occasionally for a visit)...

This is what happens when you purchase that 8 dollar (well that's NZ Dollars so it's about 5 Dollars US) hammer out of the discount bin on the end of the aisle at the hardware warehouse... Yep, the fibreglass shaft broke catastrophically (i.e. completely, at once and without prior warning).

Fortunately, the steel head missed me but it did clear the boundary fence and I had a rather interesting discussion with the neighbours about how I wanted to retrieve the end of my hammer from their backyard (whilst they had some preschoolers running around in that particular yard).

The lady at the customer services at the deliberately unmentioned hardware warehouse did give me a refund though. So I did upgrade the hammer to a thirty dollar one - but not the hundyfifty one (I don't use one for a living though it could come handy at board meetings when I want to get a commitment from marketing).

I was smiling on the inside when the guy in front of me in the check out bought a 8 dollar hammer though... and the new hammer wants me to wear safety goggles when I use it... I tell you if the shaft snaps on another hammer, a set of safety goggles ain't going to stop a hammer hitting me...

[ericn1300]

I was in the checkout line at the tool store today and the guy ahead of me had three of the same hammer pictured above. They were sale priced just under $4 US. Since you can never have to many hammers I checked it out and felt the balance wasn't quite right, the rubber handle was too small for my grip, and the shank seemed a little thin so I passed on this great deal. Glad I passed, thanks for the info replicant.

[dave92cherokee]

That's why I like a hammer that's all one piece molded steel. I paid about $20 US for mine but it was considered a "business expense" so my company reimbursed me for it. But I've used this hammer to drive bolts into concrete blocks and not so much as a chip off the head or any deformation.

[G.A.S.]

sounds to me like you missed your target.
thats besides the point though.
a good hammer is about 25 bucks, you already have the head so go to your local hardware store and get a good handel for replacement

[blazee]

Originally Posted by dave92cherokee

That's why I like a hammer that's all one piece molded steel. I paid about $20 US for mine but it was considered a "business expense" so my company reimbursed me for it. But I've used this hammer to drive bolts into concrete blocks and not so much as a chip off the head or any deformation.

I love estwings.

[BeZerK2112]

I have 2 $2 hammers. One with a wood shaft and the other fiberglass. I've been pounding with them for over a year and nothing has borken yet!

[2.2 Straight six]

Blue-Point hammers are pretty good. we had one at work that received and gave a lot of abuse.

i need to buy one, the cheap Sealey one i bought is crap and a total waste of a very small amount of money.

[sivic02]

Plumb hammers are the way to go! Everyone I work with has one and you cant break them! Plus they are only about $15

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by blazee

I love estwings.

estwing also makes a killer I Beam prybar, the best I've ever found. had mine over 20 years and never seen another that comes close.

http://www.estwing.com/product.php?product_id=4000

[Toksin]

I got a $4 hammer from Bunnings and it works a bloody treat!

[J-Ri]

I once bought a $9.99 double bit axe from Menards. I wish I could remember the brand (I think it's the only one they carry). I was helping a friend cut a tree down. We both had an axe and were taking turns. When it was my turn to chop (the very first time that axe was used), we switched spots so he was standing behind me. After only a couple swings, the head goes flying off and misses my friend by only a couple feet.

[stieh2000]

My dad has his dad's slege hammer, and after a few decades of service the shaft finnaly went. We went through about 3 more fiberglass shafts untill we found an unbreakable one.

"They dont make them like they used too."

[Steel]

It's made to bash in skulls, it'll handle your wimpy little nails without breaking a sweat.

[Dboy23]

Originally Posted by BeZerK2112

I have 2 $2 hammers. One with a wood shaft and the other fiberglass. I've been pounding with them for over a year and nothing has borken yet!

I really REALLY don't think you can "borke" a hammer, I've never tried personally but yeah.

Haha sorry couldn't resist. But um yeah some of the cheaper ones are decent but you just gotta find the right one. Is it just me or do some of the cheaper ones seem to be different even though they look identical?

[replicant_008]

Originally Posted by G.A.S.

sounds to me like you missed your target.
thats besides the point though.
a good hammer is about 25 bucks, you already have the head so go to your local hardware store and get a good handel for replacement

Well if only that were true - nope 75mm galvanised nail (3 inch) thru 1 inch x 3 inch tanalised pine into a treated timber stud on my pine shed - nothing special just softwood pine - didn't miss the target since I bought the hammer 3 months ago and apart from building the shed, some boxing for the concrete slab and around the raised garden bed that's all it was used for.

Haven't tried it for concrete nails just nails into timber which is why it was completely unexplained - unless you consider my apparently superhuman strength... not!