Trusty Cook hammers are the way to go. The name sounds chinese, but they are made in USA, and are incredibly affordable. I heard years ago that they manufacture Snap on dead blows. They look nothing like them, but are phenomenal hammers never the less.
Trusty-Cook Stubby’s Cousin is by far my favorite hammer. Soft on one side, flat hard face on the other. And dead blow. As long as you don’t need a claw hammer it’s really the best thing you can have.
The orange one is identical to the HF. Fantastic tool. Have the 3lb for almost 4 years. Use it almost every day. It takes the punishment and only 10 clams
I have both Snap on and Tekton. In the morning, I’ll have to give the Tekton the magnet test. Snap on definitely feels the best and for me I don’t mind paying for the best, but with that said, I think Tekton is probably the best of the lower tier dead blows. My .02 I always appreciate your analysis Doc.
I would absolutely bet money who makes the dead blow hammers for HF makes that Titan, same color even. I used a HF deas blow when I worked at Caterpillar bashing pins on equipment and it did the job. But I still prefer my Snap On. The Milwaukee dead blow isn't bad either.
I bought the heaviest harbor freight deadblow when building a retaining wall. I tapped the blocks to settle them together, actually broke a block or two giving er a little too much. I think it was the right tool for the job there. I dont know how I feel about the wide flat head on the estwing. I'm guessing it does not like to land on the corner. Does it twist itself square and abuse the user when thst happems?
The Snap On dead blow hammers have a free non restricted flow of the shot in the head. The other dead blow hammers the handle goes all the way into the head blocking the flow of the shot, think of an hour glass verse a regular glass with a lid on it, Turn both the class over and the hour glass at the same time and watch how fast the shot moves in the glass vs the hour glass, it works the same way in the dead blow hammer heads. Advantage Snap On, there is more technology that went into the Snap On to make it durable and work better while leaving the head free flowing. Also the handle not having a metal rod running the length of it helps to insulate the user from the impact transferring from the head and up the handle resulting in less user fatigue.
FYI - if USA made is your thing and Snap On prices aren’t, there are a handful of plastic dead blows on Amazon under different names for a reasonable price. Gearwrench has a 45 ounce total for about $33. Also Seen Tekton, Ares, and other brands made in USA. Thinking they are all made by the same company like Trusty Cook? I am a Tekton fanboy, and they have a 53 ounce hammer for $59, which I what I would go with if I needed a larger size, mainly because Tekton warranty is hands down the best I have ever used.
I've got the Estwing eurothane hammers..much stronger than polypropylene hammers (the cheap HF , Titan..etc..).. I have a couple of the cheap HF and Performance Tool hammers as beaters..literally..steel in the hammer doesn't matter if they shear the plastic open and fall apart...
I like my Tekton branded & made in USA Trusty Cook but I've been really impressed with the Taiwanese made Sata deadblow's for the price. I believe they are also sold under the Gearwrench brand too (looks like there is also a Trusty Cook rebrand line under the Gearwrench banner too)
The only time I ever busted one of the HF hammers is by abusing it on a piece of rebar. And I just picked up another one at HF rather than asking about a warranty.
I have a brass, steel and plastic snap on dead blows all of them the plastic have just dried out and literally fell apart in my tool box. Ive replaced them with Tekton. I guess time will tell how long they’ll last. The snap on brass faced is the only one I havent found an alternative for.
@@shark61111 two dealers I’ve dealt with over the last decade would not warranty them. Granted they have replaced them dozens of times in the past when they’ve just exploded. But not when the plastic dried out and crumbled, they said I just needed to buy new ones. That’s when I went on a search for a different brand.
I had some Snap-On Dead Blows & the plastic DISINTEGRATED! I've had other Dead Blows do the same, Stanley for one, as well as some shoes where the plastic/rubber after a year or so DISINTEGRATES!!! turns to chunks & powder! so yeah, not a fan of Dead Blows Enjoy The Collapse 🤪 The Fall Of The Empire 😠😡🤬💥💀
Trusty Cook hammers are the way to go. The name sounds chinese, but they are made in USA, and are incredibly affordable. I heard years ago that they manufacture Snap on dead blows. They look nothing like them, but are phenomenal hammers never the less.
Trusty-Cook Stubby’s Cousin is by far my favorite hammer. Soft on one side, flat hard face on the other. And dead blow. As long as you don’t need a claw hammer it’s really the best thing you can have.
Trusty Cook is also re-branded by Tekton - Quite affordable
No, Trusty Cook doesn't make the Snap On dead blows, Snap On makes them. Trusty Cook is a good USA made option.
Background tools are always interesting. Previews of things to come...
The orange one is identical to the HF. Fantastic tool. Have the 3lb for almost 4 years. Use it almost every day. It takes the punishment and only 10 clams
I have both Snap on and Tekton. In the morning, I’ll have to give the Tekton the magnet test. Snap on definitely feels the best and for me I don’t mind paying for the best, but with that said, I think Tekton is probably the best of the lower tier dead blows.
My .02
I always appreciate your analysis Doc.
I would absolutely bet money who makes the dead blow hammers for HF makes that Titan, same color even. I used a HF deas blow when I worked at Caterpillar bashing pins on equipment and it did the job. But I still prefer my Snap On. The Milwaukee dead blow isn't bad either.
I would recommend using a mallet with a hickory handle. Watch for straight grain along the length.
I bought the heaviest harbor freight deadblow when building a retaining wall. I tapped the blocks to settle them together, actually broke a block or two giving er a little too much. I think it was the right tool for the job there.
I dont know how I feel about the wide flat head on the estwing. I'm guessing it does not like to land on the corner. Does it twist itself square and abuse the user when thst happems?
The Snap On dead blow hammers have a free non restricted flow of the shot in the head. The other dead blow hammers the handle goes all the way into the head blocking the flow of the shot, think of an hour glass verse a regular glass with a lid on it, Turn both the class over and the hour glass at the same time and watch how fast the shot moves in the glass vs the hour glass, it works the same way in the dead blow hammer heads. Advantage Snap On, there is more technology that went into the Snap On to make it durable and work better while leaving the head free flowing. Also the handle not having a metal rod running the length of it helps to insulate the user from the impact transferring from the head and up the handle resulting in less user fatigue.
FYI - if USA made is your thing and Snap On prices aren’t, there are a handful of plastic dead blows on Amazon under different names for a reasonable price. Gearwrench has a 45 ounce total for about $33. Also Seen Tekton, Ares, and other brands made in USA. Thinking they are all made by the same company like Trusty Cook?
I am a Tekton fanboy, and they have a 53 ounce hammer for $59, which I what I would go with if I needed a larger size, mainly because Tekton warranty is hands down the best I have ever used.
I've got the Estwing eurothane hammers..much stronger than polypropylene hammers (the cheap HF , Titan..etc..).. I have a couple of the cheap HF and Performance Tool hammers as beaters..literally..steel in the hammer doesn't matter if they shear the plastic open and fall apart...
They fall apart and thousands and thousands of tiny round BB's go everywhere.
I like my Tekton branded & made in USA Trusty Cook but I've been really impressed with the Taiwanese made Sata deadblow's for the price. I believe they are also sold under the Gearwrench brand too (looks like there is also a Trusty Cook rebrand line under the Gearwrench banner too)
Gear wrench do at 54oz? that I thrashed on jobs to give my 56oz snap on some longevity on shafts with small sharp chamfering.
I like the wiha or pb swiss shock absorbing hammers far more because they virtually last forever because you can Change the parts that meet the object
Can you comment on that green multi-bit screwdriver I see towards the top left of the screen? Brand and model?
It's a Snap-on 7 in 1..
@@boosted2.4_sky I have only seen the Snap On model with a black handle. I have never seen them with a green handle.
The only time I ever busted one of the HF hammers is by abusing it on a piece of rebar. And I just picked up another one at HF rather than asking about a warranty.
Titan reminiscent of hf Pittsburgh.
Sae cheapy hammer manufacturer..Performance Tool also..
I have a brass, steel and plastic snap on dead blows all of them the plastic have just dried out and literally fell apart in my tool box. Ive replaced them with Tekton. I guess time will tell how long they’ll last. The snap on brass faced is the only one I havent found an alternative for.
Look into the pb swiss or wiha dead blow hammers. I can only recommend them even for industry use. Only metal and hickory for the importaint parts
Snap On will replace them under warranty.
@@shark61111 two dealers I’ve dealt with over the last decade would not warranty them. Granted they have replaced them dozens of times in the past when they’ve just exploded. But not when the plastic dried out and crumbled, they said I just needed to buy new ones. That’s when I went on a search for a different brand.
take a look at Thor hammers for deadblow and soft face , they have been the industry standard for manys a year.
I had some Snap-On Dead Blows & the plastic DISINTEGRATED!
I've had other Dead Blows do the same, Stanley for one, as well as some shoes where the plastic/rubber after a year or so DISINTEGRATES!!! turns to chunks & powder!
so yeah, not a fan of Dead Blows
Enjoy The Collapse 🤪
The Fall Of The Empire
😠😡🤬💥💀