EstwingAL-PRO Aluminum Framing Hammer - 14 oz Straight Rip Claw with Milled Face & Shock Reduction Grip - ALBKM , Black

I got this because I didn’t want to follow the trend for a Martinez or stiletto and I’m very pleased so far.It’s the perfect trade off between a timber handle which is lighter but fragile and a titanium which is very pricey.It’s not the best nail puller on the market but that’s what a claw is better suited to be bashed with.If this is the first expensive hammer you have considered, do not try to justify it, a paslode is far superior, this hammer is for those who appreciate the finer joys of building. It’s the equivalent of a businessman having a premium pen to sign off with.I’ll probably buy a martinez eventually to add to the collection but I’m very happy with the al-pro for now.If you see anyone knocking this hammer for it’s price its probably because they can’t afford it and would rather sit at home playing COD than trying to get better at their craft.I also recommend pairing this with the new toughbuilt hammer holster which is much better than a hammer loop bouncing around all the time and hitting your leg.

Great hammer for ever day use. Worth every penny

The media could not be loaded. I purchased this hammer in February of 2018. It’s now accrued over 5 years of daily use. I have used it to frame & build a 2800 sf new construction home, remodel 4 houses, build over 900 storage buildings/garages/sheds, reroof several roofs, pull thousands of nails, separate/pry apart all kinds of lumber, drive a hundred #5 rebar stakes 24” long into red clay, butt ended hundreds of 4” concrete cap blocks into position on the ground under sheds. It’s been thru rain storms, hammered siding with fresh wet paint on it, been stuck under walls laid flat before lifting them in order to give a finger hold, and I’m sure other trials that I have long forgotten. I still get comments from others in the trade that they like this hammer and ask where I got it. I alway reply, Amazon of course. I haven’t ever seen it anywhere else.Other than side scratches and dings in the aluminum head from side nailing in tight spaces, it has remained in considerably good condition. I would have long ago broken a wooded handle from demo work and prying. I often use the claw to pry lumber apart by leveraging the hammer sideways and yet both claws are still intact. I can’t say that of my last hammer which broke a claw doing that. It had a titanium head and I should have known better, but when the work needs to get done and you’re in the zone you sometimes ask more of your tools. This hammer hasn’t let me down yet.The grip and balance is very good, the handle is tough. Not sure why others are experiencing broken handles. I guess I got a good one. The rubber is very durable even when used on concrete blocks. I did stop using it for that recently though as it was beginning to wear a hole in the end. You can see from my photos and video the condition of it. Yes it is expensive for a hammer, but it is less than half the price of most titanium versions and as someone who has both, I consider it just a good and more versatile. I don’t know where to purchase a new face and claw, and I don’t really feel like I need to replace them yet, but it would be nice if they were listed here on Amazon.I can truly say that this is one of may favorite hammers. I have had many expensive hammers over the years and so far this one has been the most durable. Faster swing, lighter weight, drives nails with power, no ringing sound, excellent vibration reduction, and overall a workhorse. I can only give it 5 stars as I haven’t found any dislikes about it. My elbows, arms and wrists thank it too!

Broke the claw after 1 year of use. Overall a good hammer. Sad to have to part ways. I swing a hammer with cuplock scaffold, pretty much all day long. Overall not a bad hammer. Just not good for guys who swing ultra hard all the time or just really strong in general.

I bought this as a compromise with my Wife because she didn’t want me paying 350 for a competitors brand. I bought this and with a coupon I got from Amazon at the time ended up with it for 80 dollars. Now I was not expecting what I received for such a low price point but I will be honest and say I would have paid 300 for this hammer. This thing swings like an absolute dream and it’s light. I am towards the end of my thirties and do carpentry full time so I am extremely choosy about my brands and especially the weight of things I use, work smarter not harder. This thing causes almost no vibration in my elbow and I can swing it for days on end pain free, which is worth it’s weight in gold as is to me. I went with the waffle head as I already had a 15 ounce Estwing smooth face and wanted a lighter hammer for framing. This thing is amazing for framing simply put. The head is big and makes a rugged contact. I use it for everything from demo to joist hangers. Absolute monster and it took me right out of the market for the much more expensive brand. Would recommend to any tradesmen I know.

It is the best hammer ever for driving nails. The wider area on the head allows you to drive trim and other wood tight without the use of a small block of wood. The dead blow feel allows you to drive nails in tight quarters such as bridging between joists. It is very light and feels amazing in your hand. That being said...the price is a lil steep and the it's not good for leverage such as trying to pull against a post or beam with tons of force do to the fact that it's made with aircraft aluminum. All in all best Hammer i have ever owned. Thank you East Wing.

I love this hammer. 55yr old Carpenter

Okay, so I'm more than a bit of an Estwing fanatic - I've lost track of how many of their hammers I own. It's at least a dozen different models and styles. I *LOVE* this hammer! It's so light - it makes hammering *FUN*! Sure, if you want to knock stuff apart, this is not the tool for that job - but seriously, at $100+, who would use this hammer for that rough work? I've got (a bunch of) other hammers that I use for that sort of stuff.The point is, if you love hammers, you'll love this one. Estwing got it right!