Swapped out my old claw hammer for a framing hammer last month
I used to drive nails with a 16oz curved claw and my wrist would ache after framing one wall. Picked up a 22oz straight claw at a garage sale for $5 and now I get them in three swings flat - anyone else find a heavier tool fixed their technique?
Man, I totally used to be a light hammer guy. I thought anything over 16oz was just going to wear me out faster, you know? But then I borrowed a buddy's 22oz for a fence repair and I felt the weight just do the work for me. It's funny how a little extra heft actually saves your arm because you don't have to muscle every swing. Changed my whole thinking on framing jobs.
Dude YES! Same thing happened to me last year. I was all about that 16oz Estwing forever, thought anything heavier was just showing off. Then I had to demo a old deck and grabbed a 24oz from a friend and man, the nail driving was just effortless. It felt like the hammer was doing all the work and my arm was just along for the ride. Now I keep a 22oz on my belt for framing and it's way better. Never going back to the light stuff.