DEWALT DWHT51054 20 Oz. Rip Claw Hammer

Product Information

After countless hours of pounding, pulling, and tapping nails, we’re confident that the Estwing E3-16C is the best hammer for around-the-house use. This allows for a nice line of sight when hitting a small picture hanger nail or brad, while still packing enough heft to bury a framing spike in a manageable number of swings. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The E3-20S also has a straight claw (as opposed to a curved one, like on our other picks), so this hammer is better suited to demolition work and serious prying. During my 10 years working in the construction industry, I saw more carpenters using this hammer than any other model.

I have an Estwing hatchet with this style of grip, and after years of use, the coating has become cracked and is starting to chip off. In my own extended use of various Estwing hammers, I’ve found the negative effects from vibration don’t really occur— with occasional use.And smaller hammers will struggle with larger nails and projects like building raised beds or a garage workbench, or for deck repair. This is the 12-ounce version of the E3-16C, and though it’s smaller and lighter, it’s still well balanced, indestructible, and just as comfortable to grip and swing. Compared with steel hammers, these models are lighter in weight, and they have increased striking power and better shock absorption.

The 16-ounce curved-claw Estwing E3-16C (left) compared with the 20-ounce straight-claw Estwing E3-20S. Like the other Estwings, this hammer is simple, with a very nice grip and a balanced feel in the hand.At 1 pound 10½ ounces, it was one of the lightest hammers we tested (weights ranged up to just under 2 pounds). He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. The handle is also extremely squishy, and there’s a seam along the middle of the grip area where it transitions from the squishy part to hard plastic. But the handle isn’t as nice, and the logo carved into the neck is little more than a grime collector. Curved Claw Finishing Hammer is only about an ounce and a half heavier than our pick, but it feels out of balance in comparison.