Rip or claw hammer?

tomba26 · Post by **tomba26** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:35 pm

Noticed today a local supplier selling Vaughan hammers at a decent price, both traditional claw and rip claw. I've only ever really used traditional claw as I like the extra leverage over rip claw when removing nails, what's everyone using claw or rip?

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:01 am

sorry might sound a noob question but what do you mean by a "rip hammer" this the design of the claw?
traditional claw hammer being very curved
rip hammer being much flatter in apperence?

if so I have an eswing with a very flat style claw my mate baught back from the USA about 13 years ago, hadnt seen one like it over here until the last few years, still havnt seen one from eswing exactly the same over here yet, but dont mean they are'nt.
think its awsome. Had to keep my eye on it many a time...
much more versatile than the traditional claw in my opinion.

I know its different manufacturer but am i on the right line of your question?

sorry crap pic from my fone

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:33 am

Here you go teabag. Looks just like yours?

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:25 am

thanks

I've never actually looked on the net for it.
now I can tell my m8's to go buy one rather than keep trying to blag mine...

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:00 am

So .. what is the difference? does the 'Rip' have a flat bit for pulling nails and the 'Claw' one is curved so you can leverage better with the nail puller?

all my hammers with a nail-puller end are pretty well curved and I find the handle gets in the way a lot when try to pull up anything near to skirting and achritrave - tight PITA ands end up trying to use a pry-bar and/or a pair of nippers

Looks like I need a Estwing (but not at £40

)

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:54 am

the hammer I have pictured above, basically allows you to use it in many situations where a standard claw wont allow you to get to a awkwardly placed nail without the need to go get other tools out in many cases in most cases less leverage is required and nails are straight enouh to re use if needed, also the best advantage is you can use it to get under floor boards so only 1 nail bar is required to carry which is damn handy.

the hammer for me was a gift, before I had this one I would never of entertained spending that sort of money on a hammer, still wouldnt, unless I needed it full time. a quality hammer has a much nicer feel than many other hammers. unless you do a lot of nailing ie studwork, flooring ect you wouldnt appreciate the way a hammer swings and behaves on impact, your hands, wrists and forearms ache from cheap or unbalanced hammers as it means 3 times as many swings to achive the same result.
I prefer this type over the standard claw anyday

btw,
im still unsure if this is a classified as a "rip claw" hammer....

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:00 am

FWIW, I find this very nice to use

but like you say - handy to have a hammer that will do the job as well

I looked on Screwfix and they have a couple of Estwing hammers on there that look most unusual - virtually reinvented the design

searched for "Hammers" and all the claw ones look the same (except Estwing

)

chippymike · Post by **chippymike** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:29 pm

Hoovie, ive got that little bar and its so handy i use it all the time. Estwing hammers are by far the best imo had my estwing claw 5 years (im only 21) and its taken some beatings. Straght claw or (rip claw) hammers are good to have but not as good at pulling nails out as a curved claw hammer, unless you place a block of wood under the hammer head to give you that bit more leverage.

hammernob · Post by **hammernob** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:36 pm

try a douglas available at rutlands.co.uk ,df 18 best all rounder the claw is in between curved & rip but you also get a side nailpuller & a magnetic nail start if you use a hammer everyday then you'll feel the difference don't be put off by the timber handle less shock & feels great, expensive but so are rolls royce,vaughan are pretty good with the built in shockblock mine was stolen but douglas in a different league