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Rating: 5/5
I started building a small deck last year and had to drive a few dozen 3½-inch framing nails into the narrow-grained lumber. After hitting the first one with a claw hammer, I knew I needed a bigger hammer. I spent some time shopping around and settled on a Crescent 22 ounce framing hammer. It has a 22-ounce steel head with a milled face, magnetic nail starter, and a rip claw. The 16-inch handle is made of hickory wood and has an ergonomic “fan’s foot” curved grip. It’s a pro-style hammer at a price point.
Crescent
Framing hammer
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Professional framers build faster with less wear and tear on their bodies when they use a framing nailer instead of hammering in each nail with a framing hammer. But buying expensive nailers made no sense to my little project. I chose a framing hammer because of its multi-purpose nature. In different situations, a framing hammer can be a convenient alternative to a nail gun, pry bar, or hand sledge—a 3-in-1 tool that’s easy to carry in a tool belt. Even with a nail gun, sometimes the gun doesn’t seat completely on the nail, and a hammer can be used to drive it in or drive it out. Framing hammers can also be used for aligning framing assemblies or for demolition work.
I couldn’t justify the cost of a framing nail gun for the rare moments when I could use it, but the hammer cost less than $30. It didn’t put a huge dent in my project budget, plus it’s not collecting dust like a heavy-duty nail gun. Since completing the backyard project, I’ve used it to hammer nails into solid shapes, disassemble wood pallets, and pull, pull, and hide jobs around the house and yard.
The wooden handle looks great. Even when I pound thick spikes, it deadens the vibration that other handle types transmit to the hand. The head weight and handle length seem to be a perfect pairing, and the forward curve at the handle base adds a little extra leverage. Even after a 10-hour workday, I don’t feel arm and wrist fatigue like I’ve experienced with my claw hammer.
Buying a crescent framing hammer was cheaper than hiring a framing nailer for a day, and it kept turning a profit. This quality hand tool is built to last. The shorter handle and heavier head provide more power to drive larger nails with less swing when I use my claw hammer, and it allows me to pull at least as much as my 15-inch pry bar and get the most leverage for it. I find myself reaching for the framing hammer all the time.
Where to Buy a Crescent Framing Hammer
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