Here’s a new 24oz demolition framing hammer from Irwin (model IWHT51024), featuring a rip claw and hook for straightening 2x lumber.
The hammer is also described as having “a larger strike face” for demolition tasks and “breaking through drywall.”
The Irwin demo hammer features one-piece construction, as well as a streamlined head and shaft profile for “improved efficiency and lightweight feel.”
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The built-in board claw can grab 2x construction lumber for straightening, bending, or repositioning.
The hammer also has a side nail puller, magnetic nail starter, and finger rest. Irwin says the handle is built to reduce vibrations.
Price: $24-28
Curiously, the Irwin demo hammer is appreciably less expensive than the Dewalt 22oz demo hammer, DWHT51008, which sells for $36 at Home Depot.
Irwin and Dewalt are both Stanley Black & Decker tool brands.
The Irwin is a 24 oz hammer, and the Dewalt ToughSeries is 22oz.
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Aside from the slightly different head designs, there could be a difference in length (these specs are not disclosed in the product descriptions).
If the construction quality is similar, I wonder what advantages, if any, might be presented by the more expensive Dewalt.
Jared
Those hammers certainly seem to share some design similarities – enough so that the price difference might be a reason to choose the Irwin, provided you want the extra weight.
If you’re going to have a lanyard hole, or at least what I assume is a lanyard hole, why make it so tiny? Seems like you couldn’t get something thick enough through the hole to be useful.
Stuart
I agree – the holes seem too small to serve as lanyard holes. Maybe they can be expanded?
If not, maybe the holes are there for “see, the steel construction goes all the way through the end of the handle” purposes.
fred
The Estwing (E6-24TM) alternative is 24 oz.
The Crescent (CHSMEM22) alternative is 22 oz.
Neither one seem to have nail pulling slots on the side of the head – while the Dewalt has 2 and the Irwin has 1.
Lenny
I believe that little hole is to hold the hammer shaft when the grip is molded over it. Otherwise the force from the plastic being injected into the mold would push the metal to one side.
Jared
Both yours and Stuart’s guesses make sense! I wonder why they just didn’t make it a proper lanyard hole though. Maybe it’s just the vestige of the manufacturing process, but it could have been something useful.
Jason
Had a hammer with a small hole like that years ago and it fit perfectly to hang on the wall with a small nail. Not sure if that’s the intended purpose but it worked well. (Not that 2 longer nails wouldn’t work with the face/claw side)
Paul
I was looking for the DeWalt last week for a project. At my local HDs, they used to sell the DeWalt on the shelf as the only option for demo hammers. They now sell the Crescent branded demo hammer in that spot. I know they are expanding the Crescent brand in store but they still sell the DeWalt online. I also noticed that they replaced all of the the drilling sledge hammer with Crescent brand as well. DeWalt no longer lists those on their website either.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/more-about-the-new-dewalt-exocore-carbon-fiber-sledge-hammers/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Jared
Maybe SBD is making the Irwin to hit a lower pricepoint because that’s what their retailers want. E.g. SBD’s cheaper alternative is responding to the same retailer desire that would cause them to switch to Crescent.
Ethan
Anyone that uses a hammer professionally probably won’t want anything to do with this hammer. While the ability to use your hammer as leverage in straightening a stud can be helpful, the hammer doesn’t allow you to put it in a hammer loop on your bags with the extra protrusion. And if you are able to get in your hammer loop, pull your hammer out will not be so easy. Seems gimmicky to me.
fred
An alternative is a Stanley’s FuBar – pry-bar,, stud tweaker and hammer-head combo:
https://www.toolup.com/Stanley-55-119-FatMaxFunctional-Utility-Bar-15
https://www.toolup.com/Stanley-55-099-Stanley-FatMax-Xtreme-FuBar-18
Also comes in 1 30 inch size as 55-120
M
We used to modify those to turn them into mini breachers tools.
Julian Tracy
Had one of those – never actually used it for much. Made for a crappy hammer, not a great prybar and overall just a poor ergonomic user feel.
OneLuckyBuilder81
I love my Fubar, but I have the big forcible entry tool extreme version. I also do a fair bit of demo work so I have plenty of opportunity to put it to use. Just bought this Irwin demo hammer and so far I’m very pleased. Feels a lot like Stanley’s antivibe
Blocky
Should work w a hammer holster without issue.
But any serious demo would call for dual-wielding, and I doubt the bearer would sheath the tool until the destruction is total and complete.
Michael
In my neck of the woods, Lowes “has” the Irwin – but not on the sales floor, not available for pickup, only available for shipping, and without a > $45 total sale, charging $6 to ship it, which brings it basically in line with HD’s Dewalt, which ships for free, regardless of the goodies in your bag
fred
It would seem that the Crescent is the least expensive alternative – about $31 with free shipping:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-22-oz-Steel-Demo-Hammer-CHSDEM22/318412444
Nathan
I was going to say I don’t know I would get this over using a fubar and a regular framing hammer. if I didn’t have either – maybe I’d buy one.
but I like my fubar.
one other note it looks like the irwin has the ability to grab a large sized nut with their “lumber hook” I wonder if that was on purpose.
meanwhile it’s neat but doesn’t tick a box for me.
Mike (the other one)
Lowe’s has an Estwing hammer with a similar lumber holder for $34.98, plus shipping.
It is made in the USA.
fred
Acme Tools list the Irwin as being made in Mexico
Zoro – lists the Dewalt also coming from Mexico
The Crescent has US-Flag-Like image on its packaging – but says Made in China
Ryan
I bought a DeadOn ANNIHILATOR as a splurge a few years ago and I loved it when I demo’d a basement. It’s got a few dumb gimmicks but it fits nicely in a hammer loop.
fred
DeadOn (one of the 3 companies that along with Bucket Boss and Maasdam Pow’r-Pulls are part of Pull’r Holdings LLC) had a flurry of activity several years back. It looked like that wanted to innovate in the hammer and pry-bar area. But today – their current catalog of offerings has a copyright date of 2018 – so it looks like nothing new in the last five years. It looks like the Maasdam catalog has also stagnated at 2018. I’m not sure about Bucket Boss.
Blocky
I’m still waiting for a hammer with a led so I can see what I’m hitting.
Wayne R.
Where’s the upvote button?
JoeH
Here you go!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqdK9QsOFif/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
John
What’s the point, I know what my thumb looks like