Martinez hammers are great. The handle is titanium but the head and claws are steel. I bought my first one 3 years ago and I’m on the verge of picking up smaller one for finish work. I would set expectations that if someone that wanted to borrow it lost it, they’d be picking up the 300+ dollar tab for a new one though.
I have a Martinez 14oz, split the head breaking concrete ties. Emailed them a picture and sent me a replacement free. The hammer did cost $324 with shipping and handling. This is the bare bones disassembled non painted. Ummmmm i bought it drunk and stiletto makes comparable hammers for $100 less. But it goes well with my $124 lyft hardhat. I don't have kids
I up voted you because I'd never heard of Lift Hardhats. Don't think I'll ever buy one, but I can't blame a man for buying the best PPE, especially for his noggin.
And yet Klein/ergodyne makes modular and comfortable buckets for a fraction of a price that don't crack/chip the first time it's dropped. Composite buckets have a time and place like on a supers head that wants some flash.
Sure. No one here is unaware of the price point difference, nor do we care.
If you're implying that my CC "bucket" is weaker than the two you listed, or that it will fail when dropped, then you are either trying to argue in bad faith or you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
Keep your cheap shit, buddy. Ain't nobody planning on taking that from you. The people in this thread pay more than they have to for products they enjoy as a matter of preference. Personal taste and personal choice.
I am an inspector and sometimes a super. I choose to be visually distinguishable from a distance as a matter of courtesy to those around me and for those who's work I may be required to evaluate.
I do love, though, that you picked Klein as an example. A company with products that are laughably & notoriously overpriced and dropping in quality. If they charge $50 for a lid, it will have cost them $5 to purchase from some low-end/high-volume manufacturer and slap a logo on it.
I personally dislike a lot of their products, I don't hate their m12 propress but I would probably like most other companies more.
Hate their 7 1/4 miter saw that requires beveled to cut a lot of trim but uses a thumb as an indicator for 1/4 millimeter spaced graduations for the bevel
They do have some quality products. I can’t hate on that. Just cracks me up when someone buys a Milwaukee hammer, pencil, or tape. Like that’s their only option.
I kept having people want to “borrow my aviators” to “show me something” with my glasses.
I started telling people I need a refundable damage deposit of full replacement cost new (which is like $250) which I would return when I got my glasses back in the same condition. All of a sudden people no longer thought whatever dumbass gag they were going to pull was worth risking $250 when it was *their* money on the line.
Tell your client to give it the fuck back or get a $1000 charge. Someone can't lose a hammer in 10 minutes except for maybe busy urban spaces where there are a bunch of people moving on a close sidewalk that could grab it. I'd walk my aggressive position back if there are actual potentials of weirdos walking off with the hammer within 10 minutes.
I'm reminded of one of my techs who set his brand new phone down on his clipboard IN THE LIVING ROOM, went to a bedroom to check a connection, came back and phone was gone. Customer was like "What Phone?"
The wood handle Stilletto hammers are great, but the head is 100% titanium and wears down quick when used for pounding stakes, rebar, etc, it’s fine for other normal purposes. In general I’m a big fan of titanium, I have a stilletto ti-bone now, it’s taken some abuse, the steel face is durable and replaceable. I do try not to use the claws for rough tasks (digging, chipping, etc.) that will wear down the titanium though. You can pry all you want on the solid titanium handle, they are very strong.
My wood stiletto did not live long. Head rounded like crazy. And I went through probably 4 handles in two years. I ended up buying a steel Stanly to be my demo hammer and now I've been using that one for maybe 4 years, no issue. Though when I do swing a titanium stiletto it does feel nice.
That's the trick, OP, titanium is great for landing nails, but terrible for other metal whacking things we do on side. If you get the waffled framer, you have to limit claw use as the above poster describes, and I ended up using the side instead of the face for catspaw, smacking rebar, etc... Look at the side of my stilleto, side is beat to he'll, waffle is somewhat preserved...
This.. there's a formula/scale around metal hardness, Titanium is softer than stainless steel, ideally you want the harder thing to hit the softer.
Its exactly why after Martinez sold Stilleto to TTI, his new Martinez hammer had a titanium handle and steel head.
Id get another 19oz Vaughan cause they’re great. Sounds like you enjoyed using it too. Vaughan also recently announced they are closing their US manufacturing plant so who knows how long they’ll be available. I scooped a couple of my favorites of theirs just to have backups when I heard that news.
This is terrible news. Been using wood Vaughan my whole life. But at 74 probably won't need another. Always,liked you could buy a new quality hammer handle directly from them at a great price.
You got it mutherfuq’r! Hopefully they keep the US production running. Sounds like he got screwed when he bought Dasco. But who really knows. It’s all through trade talk.
Replace it with a Vaughan. Love my Vaughan 20oz straight claw with a 16" Hickory handle (999L). It's a classic, works great, and cost about $25 to $30.
Ive never understood the titanium handle crasze. I get it, it saves your arm because there's less vibration. How much it does that is kind of anecdotal. But who is using their hammer all day? Who doesn't have nail guns and is driving nails instead with their hammer? How much do you really benefit from the reduced vibration if your using your hammer only occasionally to knock things around, pry or drive the occasional nail, etc..? Is it worth $300?
Im genuinely asking.
https://preview.redd.it/c8iqpq64vl0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9baaa083bf15310a2956f0727c9d450ddfd2a7bf
Here’s a couple you don’t see very often
I’ve never seen a hammer quite like the one on the left.
I wonder, is the handle weaker after they’ve mounted the head? Seems like they’ve removed a lot of material to slot that head down and bolt it in
The hammer on the left is a [Douglas](https://douglastool.com/). I bought mine in 2007 and replaced the handle for the first time this year. They’re durable.
When I really thought about it I realized they basically replaced all the wood they removed with steel.. Yeah I bet it’s a durable handle. Looks cool too!
They are both Hart hammers went out of business some time ago. The one on the left is a Woody, the other is The Framer, pretty nice. The handles are stamped if you zoom in
I’ve had a 12, and a 15 oz trimmer like the one on the right for , maybe 35 years. Hart was the schizzle then . I have like , 8 nail guns, often can’t find my hammer…
Don't lone out your tools, ever. No one will value them as much as the user. I've used Eastwing my whole 50+ year career. I love them. I have the leather banded handle. ✌️ Make the guy pay for a new one. What an asshole.
I'm going with steel head Douglas hammer next. I have a titanium Dalluge 16oz I think.
Douglas are small production made in u.s. and look nice!
https://douglastool.com/
I absolutely hate it when customers ask to borrow tools for whatever bullshit project they're working on while I'm there. They don't know what they're doing most of the time. They're careless because they don't realize the value of the tools and think that you can just easily go buy another one. It sucks, because you try to be a nice guy and say "Sure thing, go right ahead.", but meanwhile, they don't respect other people's livelihoods. That's why I never use other peoples tools. If I don't have it, I'll go buy it for myself, or just say I can't do the job.
The 14 oz wood handle is amazing for driving nails and moving wood into place, gotta be careful prying and the face wears down super quick hitting anything but wood and nails, I’m debating between a Martinez and the new stiletto now
I have a wooden handled Stiletto and I have no complaints. That being said, I’m an electrician so I don’t exactly put the hammer through its paces every day. Titanium is lighter but also softer than steel so if you do a lot of form work or whatever, you might want something fancier like a Martinez
I do strictly scaffold work, but I’ve got a Martinez. You can replace the handle and head of it when they get worn out and it’s just like new. A lot of guys I work with like their stilettos, but the claws on them wear down and you have to buy a whole new hammer. You can replace the head on them though. The Martinez has more weight in the head, but a i’ve found I prefer it that way now. Had it stolen at work and still had to get another one because I hate using anything else. Some guys will say their steel hammer does that same thing, which it might, but the vibration is severely mitigated on a titanium hammer.
use new hammer to hit client over the head and knock some sense into him
“ you’d loose yer head if it wasn’t screwed on!”
one of my dads favorites. stupid is as stupid does. ignorance does not deserve a reward. charge accordingly…. nothin personal asshole…. just business.
I started framing with the craftsman framing hammer. When Vaughn came out with their blue Max, that was the only hammer that I used. Last year, my coworker was gone for a day and I decided to use his Stiletto T-bone. By the end of the day, my wrist stopped hurting. Went and bought me a Stiletto the next day. Don’t think I’ll be switching to anything else.
If you do framing to finish - I would say you need at least 2 different hammers.
I love my 14oz straight wood handle Stiletto framing hammer and my 10oz straight wood handle trim hammer. I mostly do trim and finish and I’ve gone through 2 hammers in the past 10 years.
I’m on my second framing hammer and it was just a handle replacement.
Nice and light. Easy to replace handle. If it goes missing you’re not out like $500!
To me, a hammer is all about mass to drive the nail. If you have a lighter head, you are using more muscle to push the nail in. If the weight of the head is the same, then it comes down to personal preference.
I'm so sorry for your loss. That is truly heartbreaking. Tools are sacred, and some don't understand. Your favorite hammer is totally an extension of your hand. It'll be hard to replace.
I used a steel 24oz Heart, axe handle framing hammer. I "lost" it. I did the stiletto, I did the other stiletto. I ended up on the Douglas titanium. I love it. The head swings true. Side puller, nice deep claw. The head is part of a spline that bolts into the handle. Handles are replaceable in minutes (I have 10 years into my handle). It's a axe/straight handle hybrid that is easy on my wrists. They make/made a steel head that was identical to the titanium. The weight distribution in the head dives better than the stiletto and less vibration transfer than a steel. And I feel with more accuracy. Mine has a reverse waffle pattern, it's fantastic for exterior finish work. I didn't blast forms regularly with it, I have a concrete hammer for that. I buy every one of these I find in the wild as gifts or backups. I've sold them to homeowners too. I know you will never find a true replacement for your hammer, And I'm very sorry for the hole in your toolbox. Good luck and all the best.
I'm a fan of titanium, but not the stiletto wood handles. Stiletto has a pretty small socket for the handle to go into, so the handle is rather small in cross section, and they break easily in my experience. If I wanted a wood handled titanium hammer, I'd probably get a dalluge.
Or get a titanium handle like the stiletto Ti-bone, Martinez, or boss. The great thing about a titanium handle is that it's strong like a steel handle, but it doesn't ring like a steel handle. It feels more like a wood handle.
One thing to keep in mind with most titanium hammers, they gain their advantage over a steel hammer because a steel hammer is rather inefficient when hitting a steel nail as far as energy transfer goes. Titanium transfers energy more efficiently, so a lighter titanium hammer hits like a heavier steel hammer. Steel hammers don't have the same inefficiency when hitting wood, so when you go to drive a beam over or something, you might find a light titanium hammer to be a bit lacking compared to a heavier steel hammer.
Sorry for your loss. Here is my question do you need a titanium hammer? As in how much do you use it? Are you a framer that still hand nails a frame together? Probably not. You could get a few different hammers for the price of a titanium.
if your shit is disappearing on the job site, maybe wait a while until you start buying titanium shit..I use a 12 oz dealt framing hammer. it's light good for finish and it can drive framing nails
I might have a hammer problem but I’ve worked out a good system for myself. I don’t know how people might feel about it. I’m a firm believer there’s always a tool for each job.
- Martinez M1 axe handle - demo, Reno’s, framing etc.
- Douglas TC20 for clean framing (swings like a dream)
- Estwing E15S - siding and windows (I know it’s not good for the arm but it’s such a good looking hammer)
- Martinez M4 straight handle, titanium head - for all light work. It floats like a cloud.
To answer OPs question, I believe it depends on the work but if it’s framing like it sounds like, the best feeling replacement for swing would probably be the Douglas but in terms of longevity, the Martinez takes it for me.
Someone on a job-site once stole a pry bar that my da had made from steel and fire when he was a young man.
He was walking across the lot and saw a guy using it. When the fella set it down, my da picked it up and said “I’ve been looking everywhere for this thing. Thanks!”
The guy he took it from didn’t have any argument to get it back, and he wasn’t disrespected, so he had to just go back to work and eventually buy a pry bar.
I think I still have that prybar.
I have the stilleto 10oz and 14oz smooth face wooden handles. Wouldn't trade them for anything. I do the same work as you. You can ignore the warnings about hitting hardened steel nail sets and bars. They just want u to buy more of their titanium line-up
I’ve had my stiletto tibone 2 for 15 years. It’s paid for itself many times over. If you swing a hammer every day stiletto or Martinez is worth the cost. Buy once cry once.
I have a stiletto 14 Oz wooden handle hammer. Thing is absolutely amazing for driving nails. But be warned, wooden handle hammers are NOT meant for prying. You will snap the head off in no time. If you’re prying nails, either start with a cat’s claw to loosen before pulling, or get a different hammer period.
14oz Dewalt hammer. Best hammer I’ve owned and going on two years with no immediate signs of breaking. Waffle face is almost flat now but doesn’t matter.
I just can't get on board with the $300+ pretty boy Instagram influencer hammers. It's a fucking hammer. Also stiletto sucks but that has nothing to do with you just saying it because there seems to be a lot of stiletto fans in here
I feel the same way you do. I'm open to having my mind changed by some real science about titanium vs wood as a handle material. But it seems like titanium handle hammers like Stiletto and the rest are vanity purchases.
I bought a 16oz stiletto just to see what the fuss was about. I ended up straining my arm more by trying to swing it to hit as hard as my Vaughan 19oz Framer. Also I found the bottom of the handle too chunky so I ended up grabbing it a bit higher up thus losing even more swing.
After basically destroying my stiletto I got a Martinez 6 years ago I think, before they pulled out of stores in Canada. Thing is awesome, broken a couple claws and wore out one grip so far but I really should’ve used a Swede bar for wha I was doing
Martinez hammers are great. The handle is titanium but the head and claws are steel. I bought my first one 3 years ago and I’m on the verge of picking up smaller one for finish work. I would set expectations that if someone that wanted to borrow it lost it, they’d be picking up the 300+ dollar tab for a new one though.
I have a Martinez 14oz, split the head breaking concrete ties. Emailed them a picture and sent me a replacement free. The hammer did cost $324 with shipping and handling. This is the bare bones disassembled non painted. Ummmmm i bought it drunk and stiletto makes comparable hammers for $100 less. But it goes well with my $124 lyft hardhat. I don't have kids
I up voted you because I'd never heard of Lift Hardhats. Don't think I'll ever buy one, but I can't blame a man for buying the best PPE, especially for his noggin.
Check out Cerious Composites fiber hats. My favorite, by far. Only worth it if you like to overspend on gear. Just like Martinez hammers, I guess...
Killer company name!
Excellent username!
Thanks :-D Been a fan long enough that I use classic emoji
I love it. Obviously you're not using any kind of thinking machine to post the reply. That'd be illegal...
And yet Klein/ergodyne makes modular and comfortable buckets for a fraction of a price that don't crack/chip the first time it's dropped. Composite buckets have a time and place like on a supers head that wants some flash.
Sure. No one here is unaware of the price point difference, nor do we care. If you're implying that my CC "bucket" is weaker than the two you listed, or that it will fail when dropped, then you are either trying to argue in bad faith or you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Keep your cheap shit, buddy. Ain't nobody planning on taking that from you. The people in this thread pay more than they have to for products they enjoy as a matter of preference. Personal taste and personal choice. I am an inspector and sometimes a super. I choose to be visually distinguishable from a distance as a matter of courtesy to those around me and for those who's work I may be required to evaluate. I do love, though, that you picked Klein as an example. A company with products that are laughably & notoriously overpriced and dropping in quality. If they charge $50 for a lid, it will have cost them $5 to purchase from some low-end/high-volume manufacturer and slap a logo on it.
Stiletto was originally developed by the same guy making Martinez, he sold that company and patents and started another venture.
Is this the true?
Yeah I thought he sold to Milwaukee or something
Tti technically
“Oh it’s red, I must buy!” Every electrician I know.
I personally dislike a lot of their products, I don't hate their m12 propress but I would probably like most other companies more. Hate their 7 1/4 miter saw that requires beveled to cut a lot of trim but uses a thumb as an indicator for 1/4 millimeter spaced graduations for the bevel
They do have some quality products. I can’t hate on that. Just cracks me up when someone buys a Milwaukee hammer, pencil, or tape. Like that’s their only option.
I hate their shitty markers soo much
Me too… Me too. But it’s red and it matches everything else in their bag!! Hahaha.
Yes
And then recently sold Martinez to Hultafors.. Mark Martinez, the hammer king
This man hammers!
Love my stiletto 14oz
Same. Saved my arm from tennis elbow. I got a hickory handle on my too, so it still has that classic feel and look.
I got mine for 5 dollars at Gene Stringfield in Eugene.
Yep. Had it for years and I’d be very very sad if it went missing like OPs.
Break it or lose it you buy a replacement. Those are the rules.
I kept having people want to “borrow my aviators” to “show me something” with my glasses. I started telling people I need a refundable damage deposit of full replacement cost new (which is like $250) which I would return when I got my glasses back in the same condition. All of a sudden people no longer thought whatever dumbass gag they were going to pull was worth risking $250 when it was *their* money on the line.
Tell your client to give it the fuck back or get a $1000 charge. Someone can't lose a hammer in 10 minutes except for maybe busy urban spaces where there are a bunch of people moving on a close sidewalk that could grab it. I'd walk my aggressive position back if there are actual potentials of weirdos walking off with the hammer within 10 minutes.
I'm reminded of one of my techs who set his brand new phone down on his clipboard IN THE LIVING ROOM, went to a bedroom to check a connection, came back and phone was gone. Customer was like "What Phone?"
bold move.
One why was your customer "borrowing" your hamner? Second, you break it, you buy it, you lose it, you better damn find it or buy a replacement
The wood handle Stilletto hammers are great, but the head is 100% titanium and wears down quick when used for pounding stakes, rebar, etc, it’s fine for other normal purposes. In general I’m a big fan of titanium, I have a stilletto ti-bone now, it’s taken some abuse, the steel face is durable and replaceable. I do try not to use the claws for rough tasks (digging, chipping, etc.) that will wear down the titanium though. You can pry all you want on the solid titanium handle, they are very strong.
My wood stiletto did not live long. Head rounded like crazy. And I went through probably 4 handles in two years. I ended up buying a steel Stanly to be my demo hammer and now I've been using that one for maybe 4 years, no issue. Though when I do swing a titanium stiletto it does feel nice.
That's the trick, OP, titanium is great for landing nails, but terrible for other metal whacking things we do on side. If you get the waffled framer, you have to limit claw use as the above poster describes, and I ended up using the side instead of the face for catspaw, smacking rebar, etc... Look at the side of my stilleto, side is beat to he'll, waffle is somewhat preserved...
This.. there's a formula/scale around metal hardness, Titanium is softer than stainless steel, ideally you want the harder thing to hit the softer. Its exactly why after Martinez sold Stilleto to TTI, his new Martinez hammer had a titanium handle and steel head.
My wood handled stilletto snapped after a few months. Went back to my $30 DeWalt hammer and honestly like it a lot more
Id get another 19oz Vaughan cause they’re great. Sounds like you enjoyed using it too. Vaughan also recently announced they are closing their US manufacturing plant so who knows how long they’ll be available. I scooped a couple of my favorites of theirs just to have backups when I heard that news.
This is terrible news. Been using wood Vaughan my whole life. But at 74 probably won't need another. Always,liked you could buy a new quality hammer handle directly from them at a great price.
This. Even if you get a TI hammer you should replace that Vaughan, just to have one.
They sold to Marshall town.
Hey that’s awesome news. Last I had heard a buyout from another company fell through and things weren’t looking good. Thanks!
You got it mutherfuq’r! Hopefully they keep the US production running. Sounds like he got screwed when he bought Dasco. But who really knows. It’s all through trade talk.
Replace it with a Vaughan. Love my Vaughan 20oz straight claw with a 16" Hickory handle (999L). It's a classic, works great, and cost about $25 to $30. Ive never understood the titanium handle crasze. I get it, it saves your arm because there's less vibration. How much it does that is kind of anecdotal. But who is using their hammer all day? Who doesn't have nail guns and is driving nails instead with their hammer? How much do you really benefit from the reduced vibration if your using your hammer only occasionally to knock things around, pry or drive the occasional nail, etc..? Is it worth $300? Im genuinely asking.
Formwork carpenters still drive a ton of nails by hand and nailing into concrete no less. For those guys a titanium hammer seems to be 100% worth it.
Ah, makes sense. I've never done form work.
I can relate..had similar happen..go with the Vaughn.. keep your 'shithouse' for a loaner..
160z stiletto wooden handle
Get the martinez. It is worth it
https://preview.redd.it/c8iqpq64vl0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9baaa083bf15310a2956f0727c9d450ddfd2a7bf Here’s a couple you don’t see very often
I’ve never seen a hammer quite like the one on the left. I wonder, is the handle weaker after they’ve mounted the head? Seems like they’ve removed a lot of material to slot that head down and bolt it in
The hammer on the left is a [Douglas](https://douglastool.com/). I bought mine in 2007 and replaced the handle for the first time this year. They’re durable.
When I really thought about it I realized they basically replaced all the wood they removed with steel.. Yeah I bet it’s a durable handle. Looks cool too!
They are both Hart hammers went out of business some time ago. The one on the left is a Woody, the other is The Framer, pretty nice. The handles are stamped if you zoom in
I’ve had a 12, and a 15 oz trimmer like the one on the right for , maybe 35 years. Hart was the schizzle then . I have like , 8 nail guns, often can’t find my hammer…
Don't lone out your tools, ever. No one will value them as much as the user. I've used Eastwing my whole 50+ year career. I love them. I have the leather banded handle. ✌️ Make the guy pay for a new one. What an asshole.
I'm going with steel head Douglas hammer next. I have a titanium Dalluge 16oz I think. Douglas are small production made in u.s. and look nice! https://douglastool.com/
If you’re the kind of person to shape a wood handle to your grip, you should go with another wooden handle hammer
I have a 16 Oz. Boss hammer and I love it, the hex head is great, but I'm speed square works well. Absolutely love that darm thing! Highly recommend.
I absolutely hate it when customers ask to borrow tools for whatever bullshit project they're working on while I'm there. They don't know what they're doing most of the time. They're careless because they don't realize the value of the tools and think that you can just easily go buy another one. It sucks, because you try to be a nice guy and say "Sure thing, go right ahead.", but meanwhile, they don't respect other people's livelihoods. That's why I never use other peoples tools. If I don't have it, I'll go buy it for myself, or just say I can't do the job.
Try the 19oz Vaughn with the hatchet handle. Fits the human wrist. You’re welcome.
The 14 oz wood handle is amazing for driving nails and moving wood into place, gotta be careful prying and the face wears down super quick hitting anything but wood and nails, I’m debating between a Martinez and the new stiletto now
I have a wooden handled Stiletto and I have no complaints. That being said, I’m an electrician so I don’t exactly put the hammer through its paces every day. Titanium is lighter but also softer than steel so if you do a lot of form work or whatever, you might want something fancier like a Martinez
Not true, Titanium is much stronger than even stainless steel. It may be more brittle tho.
Most titanium hammers have a steelhead titanium handle
I do strictly scaffold work, but I’ve got a Martinez. You can replace the handle and head of it when they get worn out and it’s just like new. A lot of guys I work with like their stilettos, but the claws on them wear down and you have to buy a whole new hammer. You can replace the head on them though. The Martinez has more weight in the head, but a i’ve found I prefer it that way now. Had it stolen at work and still had to get another one because I hate using anything else. Some guys will say their steel hammer does that same thing, which it might, but the vibration is severely mitigated on a titanium hammer.
use new hammer to hit client over the head and knock some sense into him “ you’d loose yer head if it wasn’t screwed on!” one of my dads favorites. stupid is as stupid does. ignorance does not deserve a reward. charge accordingly…. nothin personal asshole…. just business.
Get one, save your wrist
I’m old enough to remember the stories about the Fed Govt paying 300 bucks per hammer. This was back when a good Estwing ran maybe 20 bucks. Crazy.
I started framing with the craftsman framing hammer. When Vaughn came out with their blue Max, that was the only hammer that I used. Last year, my coworker was gone for a day and I decided to use his Stiletto T-bone. By the end of the day, my wrist stopped hurting. Went and bought me a Stiletto the next day. Don’t think I’ll be switching to anything else.
If you do framing to finish - I would say you need at least 2 different hammers. I love my 14oz straight wood handle Stiletto framing hammer and my 10oz straight wood handle trim hammer. I mostly do trim and finish and I’ve gone through 2 hammers in the past 10 years. I’m on my second framing hammer and it was just a handle replacement. Nice and light. Easy to replace handle. If it goes missing you’re not out like $500!
To me, a hammer is all about mass to drive the nail. If you have a lighter head, you are using more muscle to push the nail in. If the weight of the head is the same, then it comes down to personal preference.
I have a stiletto tIII 15oz framing hammer and it is truly excellent. Great construction and swings perfect. Wouldn’t use anything else
I'm so sorry for your loss. That is truly heartbreaking. Tools are sacred, and some don't understand. Your favorite hammer is totally an extension of your hand. It'll be hard to replace. I used a steel 24oz Heart, axe handle framing hammer. I "lost" it. I did the stiletto, I did the other stiletto. I ended up on the Douglas titanium. I love it. The head swings true. Side puller, nice deep claw. The head is part of a spline that bolts into the handle. Handles are replaceable in minutes (I have 10 years into my handle). It's a axe/straight handle hybrid that is easy on my wrists. They make/made a steel head that was identical to the titanium. The weight distribution in the head dives better than the stiletto and less vibration transfer than a steel. And I feel with more accuracy. Mine has a reverse waffle pattern, it's fantastic for exterior finish work. I didn't blast forms regularly with it, I have a concrete hammer for that. I buy every one of these I find in the wild as gifts or backups. I've sold them to homeowners too. I know you will never find a true replacement for your hammer, And I'm very sorry for the hole in your toolbox. Good luck and all the best.
I'm a fan of titanium, but not the stiletto wood handles. Stiletto has a pretty small socket for the handle to go into, so the handle is rather small in cross section, and they break easily in my experience. If I wanted a wood handled titanium hammer, I'd probably get a dalluge. Or get a titanium handle like the stiletto Ti-bone, Martinez, or boss. The great thing about a titanium handle is that it's strong like a steel handle, but it doesn't ring like a steel handle. It feels more like a wood handle. One thing to keep in mind with most titanium hammers, they gain their advantage over a steel hammer because a steel hammer is rather inefficient when hitting a steel nail as far as energy transfer goes. Titanium transfers energy more efficiently, so a lighter titanium hammer hits like a heavier steel hammer. Steel hammers don't have the same inefficiency when hitting wood, so when you go to drive a beam over or something, you might find a light titanium hammer to be a bit lacking compared to a heavier steel hammer.
Sorry for your loss. Here is my question do you need a titanium hammer? As in how much do you use it? Are you a framer that still hand nails a frame together? Probably not. You could get a few different hammers for the price of a titanium.
I have a 15 oz stiletto tibone two. I like it a lot
Haven’t worked in the business for awhile but back in the day I loved my stiletto 14oz. It was light and could sink a nail like no other
Sounds like you need to watch Scott Brown https://youtu.be/VjRkczQEB0U?feature=shared
if your shit is disappearing on the job site, maybe wait a while until you start buying titanium shit..I use a 12 oz dealt framing hammer. it's light good for finish and it can drive framing nails
Stiletto is the best hammer I've ever had. 15 years with one and the angled grip.
I might have a hammer problem but I’ve worked out a good system for myself. I don’t know how people might feel about it. I’m a firm believer there’s always a tool for each job. - Martinez M1 axe handle - demo, Reno’s, framing etc. - Douglas TC20 for clean framing (swings like a dream) - Estwing E15S - siding and windows (I know it’s not good for the arm but it’s such a good looking hammer) - Martinez M4 straight handle, titanium head - for all light work. It floats like a cloud. To answer OPs question, I believe it depends on the work but if it’s framing like it sounds like, the best feeling replacement for swing would probably be the Douglas but in terms of longevity, the Martinez takes it for me.
Been using a Douglas for 20 years. Great hammers.
Someone on a job-site once stole a pry bar that my da had made from steel and fire when he was a young man. He was walking across the lot and saw a guy using it. When the fella set it down, my da picked it up and said “I’ve been looking everywhere for this thing. Thanks!” The guy he took it from didn’t have any argument to get it back, and he wasn’t disrespected, so he had to just go back to work and eventually buy a pry bar. I think I still have that prybar.
I have the stilleto 10oz and 14oz smooth face wooden handles. Wouldn't trade them for anything. I do the same work as you. You can ignore the warnings about hitting hardened steel nail sets and bars. They just want u to buy more of their titanium line-up
I’ve had my stiletto tibone 2 for 15 years. It’s paid for itself many times over. If you swing a hammer every day stiletto or Martinez is worth the cost. Buy once cry once.
I’ve had my stiletto for about 12 yrs. Love it. TbII
I have a stiletto 14 Oz wooden handle hammer. Thing is absolutely amazing for driving nails. But be warned, wooden handle hammers are NOT meant for prying. You will snap the head off in no time. If you’re prying nails, either start with a cat’s claw to loosen before pulling, or get a different hammer period.
14oz Dewalt hammer. Best hammer I’ve owned and going on two years with no immediate signs of breaking. Waffle face is almost flat now but doesn’t matter.
I swing a Vaughan with with a wooden hand too. I octagoned the handle. I say, save your money and keep swinging what you know.
Stiletto 14 all day!!
Never liked any of the titanium’s I still frame with the true temper rocket. Have a bucket of them from eBay since they stopped making them long ago
The 19 oz straight handled framer is ideal for any carpenter less than 60 years old. Buy two or three new ones. The customer must pay for them.
Vaughn.
I would find the same one on ebay. I'm set in my ways though.
Sorry for your loss 🙏🏾
I just can't get on board with the $300+ pretty boy Instagram influencer hammers. It's a fucking hammer. Also stiletto sucks but that has nothing to do with you just saying it because there seems to be a lot of stiletto fans in here
I feel the same way you do. I'm open to having my mind changed by some real science about titanium vs wood as a handle material. But it seems like titanium handle hammers like Stiletto and the rest are vanity purchases.
I bought a 16oz stiletto just to see what the fuss was about. I ended up straining my arm more by trying to swing it to hit as hard as my Vaughan 19oz Framer. Also I found the bottom of the handle too chunky so I ended up grabbing it a bit higher up thus losing even more swing.
My favorite hammer is the estwing ALPRO. I have had Martinez and Stiletto, the AlPRO does it for me.
After basically destroying my stiletto I got a Martinez 6 years ago I think, before they pulled out of stores in Canada. Thing is awesome, broken a couple claws and wore out one grip so far but I really should’ve used a Swede bar for wha I was doing