Ballpeen hammer

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Who makes a professional grade ballpeen hammer? Want perfectly weighted, wood handle hammers, both small and medium sizes. Nothing at Home Depot or even quality local hardware store.

[asphaltgambler]

Snap-On. They have both 'no-bounce' which has plastic handle filled with sand and conventional wood handle. Very nicely made BTW, but a little costly. I have both types as well as a few wooden handle body hammers all of which I've had for 25+ years.

[Paul T]

Hazet?

[asphaltgambler]

^^^^^Possibly but Snap-On has a huge selection of varying sizes, weights, heads. Definitely feel quality and balance in your hand.

[craigster59]

I've always been a fan of Vaughn hammers.....

https://www.jbtools.com/vaughan-18710-5-piece-ball-pein-hammer-set/?gclid=CjwKCAjw95D0BRBFEiwAcO1KDKia3ZjVigKN5ZwFbnV slCLYm7YNNdq-cOdL0PEPp0hVGvrGBEN24hoChUUQAvD_BwE

[vash]

please describe a "perfectly weighted" hammer.

i assume they all carry the bulk of the weight in the head..what else? is there a perfect handle:head ratio?

i dont get it.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by vash

please describe a "perfectly weighted" hammer.

i assume they all carry the bulk of the weight in the head..what else? is there a perfect handle:head ratio?

i dont get it.

I think he's trying to equate "Finesse" with "Hammer" and that just ain't going to happen.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by vash

please describe a "perfectly weighted" hammer.

i assume they all carry the bulk of the weight in the head..what else? is there a perfect handle:head ratio?

I don't know if there is a "perfect" ratio - it probably depends on what you are doing with the hammer.
I have used hammers that had a terrible ratio. We used them to pound out castings at the foundry I worked at. The handle was 1/2 EMT about 10" long with 5 or 6 ounces of lead for a head. They felt terribly awkward to use and difficult to direct the blow. We would use them until the head was too badly deformed, then melt them down and make more.
I also have a hammer around there somewhere with a full-sized handle and a tiny 2 oz. head. It's awkward to use also.

[vash]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I don't know if there is a "perfect" ratio - it probably depends on what you are doing with the hammer.
I have used hammers that had a terrible ratio. We used them to pound out castings at the foundry I worked at. The handle was 1/2 EMT about 10" long with 5 or 6 ounces of lead for a head. They felt terribly awkward to use and difficult to direct the blow. We would use them until the head was too badly deformed, then melt them down and make more.

that's just it. it depends on the person wielding the tool. me and my office worker hands need a vastly different tool than say..THOR.


i had this contractor foreman that would have a ritual at the beginning of every highway project. he would take a sledgehammer (11lb?) and cut the handle down to around 12 inches. that would be his baby sledge!!! i tried to swing it and almost had to take a day off. the man was a mutant.

[bkreigsr]

I'm still using my grand dad's. Grand dad was a blacksmith at Std Oil, NJ, Bayway refinery in 1910.
Sure, I've replaced the head several times and fitted about four wood handles over the years. But, it's still my grand dad's hammer and works like a charm.
Bill K

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks AG and Craig. Craig, at that price I'll just get them and see how they feel.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by vash

please describe a "perfectly weighted" hammer.

i assume they all carry the bulk of the weight in the head..what else? is there a perfect handle:head ratio?

i dont get it.

Can't describe it. It's a know it when you pick up a hammer and feel it kind of thing. No love at HD and Coolidge Hardware. Have had a lot of hammers. Some feel like an extension of your arm, like my 2.5 lb mini sledge that I can use delicately and with finesse and some just feel wrong when you pick them up. Could be just me. I do a lot of delicate hammering and want something more substantial than a tack hammer at times.

[Scott Douglas]

These are two that I have in my tool box.
One thing I noticed is the 'ball' on the old one is a lot rounder than the 'ball' on the newer one.
The old one is older than I am as it has my dad's initials on it from before he changed his name.

[sc_rufctr]

I've used multiple brands over the years and the best IMO are Estwing.

https://www.estwing.com/collections/specialty/products/ball-peen-hammers

[doug_porsche]

[LWJ]

So many of my tools are pawn shop / garage sale specials. I have some good hammer and some hammers that I just smack at stuff I need to hit.

If you have time, the old ones can be really nice. I don't have many (any?) new tools that I treasure.

[gtc]

McMaster has a bunch.

[1990C4S]

I think the $22 set at Harbor Freight is fine. But maybe you want to go upscale...

[nota]

Originally Posted by LWJ

So many of my tools are pawn shop / garage sale specials. I have some good hammer and some hammers that I just smack at stuff I need to hit.

If you have time, the old ones can be really nice. I don't have many (any?) new tools that I treasure.

+1
I have a hand sledge I call thor
never have named a new tool

[nota]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I think the $22 set at Harbor Freight is fine. But maybe you want to go upscale...

NO china steel can shatter

quality in stuff you HIT HARD is necessary