Remember the new Dewalt MIG weld framing hammer we talked about last month? During a recent visit to Dewalt’s training facility, I had the chance to drive in a few framing nails with one of these bad boys. I couldn’t spend as much time doing so as would be needed for a proper review, but a few nails were enough to give me a positive first impression.
Here’s a video so you can see how quickly and effortlessly I was able to drive in a few nails. I figure that once I get used to the feel and grip of the hammer, I would be able to drive nails even quicker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bryk3-pBg2w
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trythis
It seems like an ordinary hammer. So what if it’s welded, cast steel or wood handled. Its a hammer, are yo excited because its a yellow and black and decker?
Stuart
Yes, it seems like an ordinary hammer, but after using it even in passing, I can say that it definitely feels different.
Try sinking a framing nail with an ordinary 16oz hammer and you’ll get frustrated real quick. A heavier hammer makes the job go quicker, but at the cost of greater arm fatigue.
Because the Dewalt 15oz framing hammer is welded together, a lot of unnecessary metal and excess weight can be removed, resulting in an easier swing.
It’s too soon to make solid judgements yet, but from what I can tell thus far, this is one sweet hammer. Dewalt is aiming to take a piece of the premium titanium market with this hammer. They might even be able to take a good piece of the 22 0z+ framing hammer market as well. Time and the many reviews that will pop up this month and next, will tell.
James
With my Daluge 16oz Titanium that nail would take 3 swings max. Either it’s the hammer or that guy needs to set his purse down then drive that nail.
sam
I’m curious as to why they don’t advertise the fact it simply welded. They are emphasizing that they use GMAW. Not a particularly new or uncommon welding process. The welding process, while interesting to some, is irrelevant to nearly all hammer users. I can even see this marketing decision being counter productive. A half-informed hammer buyer might see MIG listed and have mental images of bird crap welds from when he gave his buddy’s MIG welder a go one weekend.
Stuart
James, that’s not a purse, it’s an SLR strapped to me. The table was vibrating, and people swarming around everyone made me hold back. 3 swings might be pushing it, but I’m confident that I can do far better in a more comfortable setting. Like I said, I looked goofy, couldn’t much help it.
Although it doesn’t show in this clip, I actually missed a few times driving the first nail or two!
Sam, that’s a good question. I overheard a conversation where an engineer remarked that the process by which the hammer was MIG/GMAW welded is being patented. Perhaps this is why the hammer is being marketed in such a manner.
Once the hammer reaches stores, you might see it described simply as a “Dewalt framing hammer,” but for now all the literature I see has “MIG welded” in there, so I described it as such.
Alex M.
One of these days I need to get into tool blogging so I can get my balls busted by the internet, too. Looks like a lot of fun!
trythis
OK, gotta say a 16 oz hammer is a 16 oz hammer, whatever the weight of the handle. Wood, fiber glass, whatever. Proper balance, might help some people, but a guy the doesn’t swing a hammer everyday would not be any better with that than anything else.
Ok, what is the difference in total weight when comparing all hammer styles, (cast, fiberglass, wood, MIG welded, etc.) and what difference does it make for users? Remove brand names and have a test. Mythbusters, here we come.
Stuart
You hit the figurative nail on the head.
I won’t draw any solid conclusions until I have the chance to directly compare hammer performance to conventional hammer designs.
Yes, I’m easily excited about new tools, especially those that are claimed to be innovative, but I also look at the engineering and physics behind those claims. And once retail versions hit the market. we’ll do some comparison testing.
For the time being, after feeling how effort it was to swing, I still think that the welded hammer has potential.
Take a look at the many titanium hammers currently on the market; 14oz-16oz Ti hammers are all the rage, and for a good reason.
Leonard
Don’t forget that a framing hammer has a longer handle than a nailing hammer. Even though they both weigh about the same the head speed of the framing hammer will be higher resulting in more force – theoretically. Not sure why they went with a 15oz head instead of 16. Maybe to get the head speed up or just a marketing gimmick. I’ve tried a titanium hammer that a buddy owned and I liked it a lot. Not worth the price IMO, especially since the tip of one of the claws broke off a month after he bought it. Can’t wait to try one of these.
Stuart
That’s right. Greater hammer head velocity -> greater head momentum -> greater transference of momentum.
There are a lot of other factors involved in refining the design, but I doubt that Dewalt engineers will be willing or able to share these considerations.
I’m eager to do a side by side comparison as well. Hopefully the hammers will be readily available in July.
David
I’m excited to try this hammer! However, I have a 14-oz Stiletto (the older Ruger-cast one). It’s a beautiful hammer and it’s a great nailer. However, it doesn’t have the mass to drive a heavy, moving force into other objects like banging a framed stud wall into place or knocking out a 2×4. Once I realized this lack of capability, my Stiletto has sat in the toolbox most of the time. I am also afraid of breaking the claws as I hear often happens. I have a 20 oz. Stanley Anti-Vibe (the first version of it, not the ugly gray, dull-clawed, poorly cast ones they have now) and a 20-oz hickory-handled Dalluge which I go to when I am framing. I’m not sold on these lightweight framers but I think the DeWalt is a cool-looking hammer and I’m definitely buying the smooth-face.
Jim
I bought this hammer last week and worked all day Saturday at a Habitat build. The older I get, the less able I am to swing a 22+ ounce hammer. This new one from Dewalt was sweet. All the guys 60 and over were borrowing it and trying it out. I expect they’ll sell a few.
Cbass
I bought this hammer and I have been a carpenter for 12 years been swinging hammers all my life and let me tell you this is a sweet hammer can pound in a 3 1/2 inch double head nail in three strikes normally I would need an estwing 28 oz or a 300$ stileto hammer for that , hats off to dewalt that is a great hammer
Jim
A friend and I assembled all our hammers, a pile of 16d nails, and a length of 4X4. There’s no doubt the 22oz hammers generate a lot of energy when swung well simply due to their weight. Yet, with just a touch more speed, the Dewalt did almost as well. With normal rhythm and speed, it took an extra hit (or 2), but at the end of the session, we thought that would be worth it (we’re 60 & 72) for many. Ken said he was buying one for his wife for Christmas, but was planning on borrowing it right away!
Stuart
Thanks for your impressions, guys! From what I have seen firsthand and heard from other users, the new hammer is an incredible performer.