The Titanium Deathstick thread going on over in Tools section sparked a thought.
Do you remember the very first hammer you owned and called your own? Do you still have it?
Mine was a 16 oz Stanley with a blue fiberglass handle. It’s 30 years old this summer and still gets occasional use. Got it for my first paying gig at 14 years old working summers for my shop teacher doing whatever he told me to do.
Here’s a picture of my first and most recent.
Replies
leather grip 16oz Estwing..
middle to late 50's.. still got it...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Blue handled 20oz estwing.
20 years old.....still got it
Not an exponent of the DILLIGAF system.
12 oz Estwing finish hammer. Got it in '52 from my dad. It was my grandfather's, he was a finish carpenter. I still have it and use it all the time. Square face for nails and brads, wedge for brads and finishing nails. I don't use the wedge but love that small square head for tight places. I've got 16oz and a 20oz Estwings too and like them.
same here, leather Estwing.
i think mine was a 20oz. bent the neck on a cast pipe 6 months after i got it. helped for nailing around corners.
22 years ago.
it's now in the trunk of my sedan's mini toolbag.
carpenter in transition
My first was a lightweight Stanley (14 oz?), wood handle. Given to me by my dad's partner for nailing trim when I was 9. I had that hammer for 10 years 'til somebody grabbed my toolbox out of my truck one night. I don't miss anything in that box nearly as much as that hammer - and that was 30 years ago.
Replaced it with the standard leather Estwing. Handle is taped with electrical or with ductape depending on what's handy when I'm in the mood. Still have it - lots of Boss' personality. But I find myself using another Estwing framer more and more often. It's the same vintage, but belonged to the same old man that gave me my first hammer. It became mine when he passed.
Must have 15 hammers in the collection (mostly from Dad who loved tools).
Don K.
The first one I called mine was a 14oz Rocket. Tube steel handle. It was found in a house my parents bought when I was 10. Went in my first "new to me" tool belt at the age of 13.
I still have the hammer and it is in with about 10 others.
My kids all know that they can use any of Dad's hammer except for the T Bone Stiletto and the old rocket.
Would love to find other Rocket hammers, but have had no luck.
As far as naming tools, I don't think I ever have. But all the guys cal my hammer, "The War Club"I hope Chuck Norris never potato sacks me!!!!
bstcrpntr --- I hope to grow into this name.
My dad had a Rocket hammer. I think it was a 16 oz. one.
I don't know if it's still over at my mom's. I'll have to check sometime.
L'me know if you find it and want to get rid of it.
If it is a keepsake/heirloom thing I am not interested.I hope Chuck Norris never potato sacks me!!!!
bstcrpntr --- I hope to grow into this name.
My first construction summer job, 1968, age 17, building apartments for my stepdad. True Temper Rocket 22oz.. I still have that pup and use it on a regular basis for work. The rubber grip has gotten glued back on a coupla times and is cracking. I would sorely miss it should it go. I love my Rocket.
I used to keep a spare new grip in my toolbox for my rocket too. They always seemed to wear out quickly because they were somewhat soft. The back of the grip often got cut open by the sharp end of the hollow shaft tube. I used to cut v notches in the grip too to help me hold on.
The 22 oz was too slow of a rythem for me. I had to use the 16"/20oz for everything.
blue
I'll check. I was just at my mom's today, so it won't be for a while.
If it's there, it's yours.
I think I might have a rocket hanging around somewhere still.
Istarted with a 20 oz Rocket. I can't remember if Rocket was made by True Temper then, or if True Temper bought out the Rocket name. I used Rockets for at least ten years. The first five were great but the later years were average. The nice steel was gone in the new models and the shape of the opening in the claw wa average to substandard.
With my earliset versions of the rocket, I could keep a perfect edge on the claws...not too sharp and not too dull. I could easily drive the claws in under a sunken nail and rip it out with one stroke. We didn't carry nailpullers back then.....Occasionally on a stubborn nail, we would borrow the next guys hammer and gently tap it under the nail, but everyone on the crew usually just swiped it out like I described.
Ahhhh the olden days.....
I quit buying rockets after True Temper cheapened them.
blue
If I can find the digital cam I will post the pictures of my first love.
Wife came home from flea market with 20oz on sunday, she got it for $1.00.
She wasn't sure if it was right name brand so she had kids go through and find the "prized" one so she could compare names.I hope Chuck Norris never potato sacks me!!!!
bstcrpntr --- I hope to grow into this name.
There was a time when I'd have snapped up that 20 oz too, but not any more. For $1, I'd pass. Those 20 oz hammers feel like sledge hammers to me now.
blue
Would love to find other Rocket hammers, but have had no luck.
I just did a quick eBay search. I see three auctions for Rocket Hammers.
jt8
""The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." --Dave Barry
I first bought a 28oz estwing.
I thought I was the toughest dude around because I had the biggest hammer. The hammer worked great and I still have it in the truck. I can't use it anymore because it destroyed my arm.
Now I use a 22oz Stanley Antivibe.
gk
hmmm....My first real nail driver was a plumb rigging axe. It is on its third wood handle now and resides near the wood stove for waking up kindlingOne that I had my best relaationship with is a Plumb roofing hatchet - not the heavy beater they ssell now with holes for gauges. A lighter one with the turned blade. You hjave to be a shjingle layer to appreciate that feature. I think it is on its third handle now too. The head is worn down too far tho to see much use any more. The far end of the head is probably 3/16" shorter than the near side. Those sshingles are hard on steel and knuckles.when I got into carpentry more, I got an Estwing 20 oz, but I got ccured of that before it crippled me. I use it for concrete work so the thing has a lot of character...My daily swing fpr years now is an 18 oz straight claw Plumb. I picked up a helpers new hammer a few weeks ago for a minute and tht made me realize that I had pretty well worn that thing out. the claws are short and nowhere near sharp. The head is so round, it's suprising I can drive a nail with it, but the handle still fits...aAnyway, I've had this hammer in the rebuild bin forever - no idea where I got it. Looks likje a Vaughn or Plumb. I fitted it out with a new wood handle. The steel is pretty unused, and the balance is just right. this un-named one may be my swinger for the rest of my career, the way it feels right now.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I lost my first hammer down an open wall cavity while in an attic. I don't recall what kind of hammer it was, but I believe it had a fiberglass handle.The first hammer I owned that I REALLY LIKE is an Estwing 20 oz leather handle. And I just bought it a few days ago!! It has a good feel to it and good balance.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
20 oz Vaughn smooth face, straight claw, wooden handle
16 oz Stanley smooth face, curve claw, wooden handle, octagon shaped head and eight sided handle that's not a true octagon since the sides are not equal
Have both.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaire
Working in the office of a construction site, the forman gave me one of the hammers that they issued to the laborers. Simple curved claw smooth face head, probably 16 oz. The handled had been replaced with a hickory octagon. Still have it. That was 1974.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
The first one I bought was a cheap one made in Taiwan. The head broke after a couple of years.
The next one I bought was a 20 oz. Estwing. Still have it today.
.
Several years ago, my youngest Son bought me a new hammer for Christmas. He said he thought my old Estwing was pretty old, and looked kinda worn.
So I explained to him that a hammer like that had character, and was kinda like an old friend. So while I appreciated the new hammer, I wasn't going to give up my old Estwing.
The next year he had an Estwing hammer on his Christmas list. He said he thought he had outgrown his 16oz. wood-handled Vaughn. (-:
A 20 oz Stanley bought in '76 at Tarzian Hardware in Brooklyn when I was first starting as a carpenter. It lays somewhere at the bottom of the Hudson River where in a fit of rage one day about 20 years ago, I flung it as far as I could off the end of a long dock, swearing off my chosen trade forever. Or at least for that day...
My original hammer? Heck can someone help me find my new one? I used it to pry up some plywood yesterday while laying out, I think its on the third maybe fourth floor. Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
Stanley sleeps with the fishes!
jt8
""The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." --Dave Barry
Oh man, I remember it well. 1975 Plumb wood handle...12 oz., I think. Lost a few times but always found.
Current is a Douglas, took a little getting used to, but she's a fine hammer.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
My first real hammer was a 20oz fiberglass handled Craftsman. Bought it with my first paycheck as a floor sweeper.
I don't have it anymore, and I have no idea what happened to it.
Don't call me daughter.
20oz Estwing. 1982. 18yo. Got a job building trusses at Woodward Lumber Co. Las Cruces NM.
Got a little stess fracture in the neck and it broke one day while I was just barely tapping on something. Made a dagger out of the handle and had it till the cops pulled me over for speeding, seen it and took it away.
My first one was pretty much a toy----- 16oz stanley---- it was a present in the early 80's.
The first one I bought was a 25oz Vaughn rubber coated fiberglass handle, did 2 deck jobs with that then threw it away.
Switched to a Hart 25oz cal framer---- never looked back.
First thing I do when I get a new one is to sand the handle down 600 grit----- I like em smooth to be able to slide in my hand, but I'm a plumber who does small framing & deck jobs as sidework not as a full time career.
Liberals thank those that beg for peace. Conservatives honor those that fought for freedoms. BDW
16 oz craftsman with the tubular, square shaped handle.
Still have it.
Yadda yadda yadda
Ahhh, my first. A 20oz Stanley "old yeller".
I'd still have it if the thieves hadn't taken it to the pawn shop. :>(
Now I have "new yeller". He's a mix breed but he gets the job done.
There's a good thread, anyone name your tools?
I have
"rasputan", my drywall rasp.
The "Plaster Master" my drywall holesaw,
and of course "new yeller".
The first hammer I bought was a 28 oz. wood handled Vaughn, waffle-head in 1976. I was 18 and thought I was a bad-azz. Took the nail off my left thumb with a missed shot, still remember what that felt like! I still got it somewhere, but I bought a 22 oz. Estwing a few years later when we started using CC nails. I still carry that when framing, it's been a great hammer. Can't imagine spending $350 on a new one...
Kimball
My father was using that same exact blue hammer up until last year.
My first was a red Stanley with a curved claw. He gave it to me. I still have it out in my bucket.
16 oz Bluegrass -
handle later broken by a 'helper' -
it and the broken handle reside in g-g-grandpas tool chest -
a very pleasant to use tool in the right applications -
My first hammer was an Estwing 16 oz that I bought at my first real job with my first real paycheck when I was 15. Very mom & pop store that I bugged the owner to hire me long enough he finally did. He lived in my subdivision...
Hammer was around 20 or so bucks, took the check right to the register to cash it, bought my hammer and had about 10 bucks left.
Still have and still use the hammer.
My dad had two Rockets and when I got my first job where a hammer was needed I took one of them. Some SOB took it one time and I never seen it again, sure like to have that back.
I still have the other one and have never used it, as far as I know my dad was the only one to do so.
Now I use a 13 oz true value or something, its the handle that I look for in a hammer and this one fit nice.
Doug
First was a standard 20-oz smooth face Estwing, bought new in 1985 (?), stolen in 1986.
Second was a vintage True Temper Rocket, lost in the woods on a survey job about 12 years ago.
Now I have a whole pile of hammers but my favorite is a Vaughan 20-oz '999' with a new extra-long hickory handle.
13 &16 ounce plumbs matching pair .
Not only do I have them but they are on the truck! Still in use after 40 years.
Why do yall go buy new hammers?
Tim
I don't want to swing it. I have a 16oz stiletto for swinging. Rockets are for collecting along with other old tools.I hope Chuck Norris never potato sacks me!!!!
bstcrpntr --- I hope to grow into this name.
they're a fairly cheap fix when you're jonesing for a new tool.
they're a fairly cheap fix when you're jonesing for a new tool.
The only time I ever get another hammer is at the flea market or an auction. I do have several but they are antiques like me.
Tim
TIm
I know an old retired carpenter, he says that the only hammer that he used throughout his building days was a 13 oz Plumb, not different ones, the same one! I think he said that he had it for over 30 years.
He built houses from begining to end, said that he could never handle one of the framing hammers so he always used that 13 oz plumb.
Doug
Well, they are good all purpose hammers . To me they are anyway.
I have no idea what Im missing out on.
Ill take them to the end if nothing happens to them.
Ive never had one of those fancy framing hammers but I expect Ill see one somwhere and help um out .
Tim
Boy, some people certainly do collect 'em. This one's up to $20 plus shipping.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250015620917&fromMakeTrack=true
a good fist sized rock,but it broke, dont know what
happened to it, but I got anouther. then graduated
to a 20oz. estwing, sometimes still use a rock for fun.
My older brother took me shopping for tools at Canadian Tire when I started working with him in '89. I got this steal tube hammer with an ovular rubber handel and straight claw. Still have it, still use it. Must have cost twelve bucks at most. I bought a eastwing drywallers hammer a few years ago, hated it, I use it to bash stuff with when I'm doing demolition and need the sharp edge.
I lost my Can Tire special last year and was using a borrowed one when I found mine in the stairwell in some apartment building we were working in. I would recognise it anywhere. Man I was so happy to find that crappy old hammer. I think I'm more attached to that hammer than any of my trowels, some of which I've had for nearly as long.
Paul
I bought a eastwing drywallers hammer a few years ago, hated it, I use it to bash stuff with when I'm doing demolition and need the sharp edge.
Ive got one of those . I also hate it so I dont use it . I use a roofing hatchet for drywall.
Tim