The before and after on my framing hammer setup surprised me

I used to use a 22 oz Estwing for all my rough framing, but after 8 months of constant wrist pain I swapped to a 16 oz Stiletto titanium. The weight drop cut my swing fatigue by at least half and I can actually feel the studs better now. Anyone else notice a big difference going from steel to titanium in their tool bag?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaret_jackson732mo ago

22 pounds is an awfully heavy hammer, but is your wrist pain really from the weight?

logan2052mo ago

Man you're totally right, I was so focused on the weight that I didn't even think about technique or grip. That actually makes way more sense now.

hayden4661mo ago

Actually I gotta disagree on one thing. The weight itself can absolutely be part of the problem. A 22 pound hammer is way heavier than what most people need for regular framing or demolition work. Even with perfect technique, that kind of weight puts a lot of strain on your wrist and forearm muscles over time. I've swung sledgehammers heavy like that before and even with good form my wrists would start aching after an hour. If your technique is off it'll make it worse sure, but a lighter hammer like a 16 pound one would probably solve the issue faster than just focusing on grip. Plus you can swing a lighter one faster and more controlled, which actually makes the work easier on your whole body.