Dead Blow Hammers ? Why ?

[Mike83]

Originally Posted by Major Ramifications

I love my Nupla with the steel face on one side and the urethane face on the other.

+1 I use mine for everything from automotive to wood chisels. It really moves the object of you hammering!

[Chris Adams]

80% of my hammering is with the deadblows, useful around wood or metal.
15% of my hammering is with a body hammer, and the rest is divided among rubber mallets, ball peen, sledge, brass and claw.

I bought some deadblows at HF, they work fine, got others on line cheap, they also work fine.
Maybe the really nice ones that cost 5-15 times as much would work better, but I really don't see how.

Deadblows also don't sting your hand when you really wail it.

[Major Ramifications]

Yes, I was going to say it earlier. A dead blow is one of those things where a Harbor Freight branded one would be OK. I'd still prefer a Nupla, but at work we have cheap Performance Tool dead blows, and they work just as well.
While we are on the subject, does anyone else use the deadblow without a handle like this one?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...word=dead+blow

I haven't used mine much, but it has come in handy on occasion.

[fordracing200]

Originally Posted by Major Ramifications

Yes, I was going to say it earlier. A dead blow is one of those things where a Harbor Freight branded one would be OK. I'd still prefer a Nupla, but at work we have cheap Performance Tool dead blows, and they work just as well.
While we are on the subject, does anyone else use the deadblow without a handle like this one?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...word=dead+blow

I haven't used mine much, but it has come in handy on occasion.

Interesting, never seen that before. BTW I hate sears new web site..

[Danglerb]

Simple test, take a 3 lb dead blow, a 3 lb sledge, and give a center punch a whack with each on a piece of steel and compare the results.

The right tool for the right job.

HF is great for the dead blows, and I use my I think 3 lb a lot. I feel a bit safer taking a serious smack to something with it, which is what maybe some are confusing with more actual force. Almost bought the 2 lb last time on sale for about $8.

[georgiadave]

A lead hammer is fairly cheap and works well.

[-B-]

More power that is why !

I have , bronze, lead, lead/ rawhide, rawhide, UHMP, and urethane DB's
and lots of steel too unless pounding nail, tin, stone or cold chisel it is one of the many DB's that see duty.

[Weedwaka]

Another question . Why the use of brass on the ends of some of these hammers ? Is this because the Brass is softer and will not damage the item you are hammering ?

[Stephenw]

Originally Posted by Weedwaka

Another question . Why the use of brass on the ends of some of these hammers ? Is this because the Brass is softer and will not damage the item you are hammering ?

Brass hammers do not produce sparks.

[Weedwaka]

Never would have guessed that. Thanks.

[scottmlew]

Ok, you all have sold me on the dead blow hammers.

What size (weight) is most useful to start with?

[SportFury59]

I just used my big orange HF dead blow hammer today installing a 2x10 (54" length) window header. It was a tight fit and the db hammer persuaded the header to go in place.

[Danglerb]

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...dead&Submit=Go

HF apparently has two different lines, a Pittsburgh dead blow series of 4 hammers in black, and a series of 6 in orange, 1 to 4 lbs, priced $5 to $12 not on sale.

I have I think the 3 lb orange, looking to add the 1 and 2 lb also in orange unless there is some reason for black.

I also still use my $2 rubber mallets from time to time.

[south pier garage]

Nupla cross pien 30 ounce engineers hammer & block of hardwood.


"end of story"

[Frank Elson]

All the US deadblows I have seen seem to come in a one-piece (I've never seen one in real life, just in pics on here)
so, do you have anything like this one of mine?
It's more than 20 years old and was given to me by a friend who "liberated" it from his job as a tool-maker.
Mostly metal with screw in replacement plastic/nylon strikers. No name anywhere.

[Chris Adams]

Dead blows are usually in one piece.
They sell the interchangeable end hammers at HF. They are not dead blow.
I have an older one, don't remember where it came from, but I would have no idea where to buy new ends.



I have several dead blow hammers with brass on one end, but can't say I really need them. They were super cheap.

Dead blow hammer is not the same as a rubber, plastic, brass, lead, whatever hammer. If you don't use them you won't know how much different.

Closest might be soft lead hammer, but without out the pollution, marking and clumsy weight.

[wantedabiggergarage]

Originally Posted by Frank Elson

so, do you have anything like this one of mine?
I
Mostly metal with screw in replacement plastic/nylon strikers. No name anywhere.

Sears and Harry Epstien both carry them. Nupula (spelling?) I believe is the OEM.

[Frank Elson]

Seems I have it wrong then.
So, now I know what a dead blow is I'll have a look here for one.

So, tell me, what is mine known as then?
It is loaded with lead and it don't bounce, or damage what it hits...

[Diesel-Mech]

Originally Posted by Frank Elson

Seems I have it wrong then.
So, now I know what a dead blow is I'll have a look here for one.

So, tell me, what is mine known as then?
It is loaded with lead and it don't bounce, or damage what it hits...

Yours is a deadblow Frank, Its just a different variety that is not as well know here but they are found here. I believe the deadblows with the interchangeable heads are fairly popular with body men.

[Uncle Buck]

Originally Posted by Weedwaka

And that would explain why I have yet to see one in the shop

You do not have to spend tons of money to get a decent dead blow hammer. Your choice is not limited to Snap-on, every well equipped mechanics box should have several dead blow hammers. All dead blows do the same thing, some are just a bit pricier.

If you cannot afford Snap-on, but want a dead blow hammer then go to Harbor Freight and buy a cheap one, for some odd reason I have this notion it will work just fine.