The Best Carpenter's Hammers for Busy Builders

As a builder, the quality of your work comes down to your skill and tools. Working with less-than-ideal tools, especially something that you use every day, like a hammer, will slow you down. That makes it hard to win more work and grow your business. Do you need a new hammer? We’ve found the best five hammers on the market — all you need to do is choose the right one for you. 

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• 1. Best value - Klein Tools Ball-Peen Hammer
• 2. Best all-rounder - Estwing Claw E3-16C Hammer
• 3. Most heavy-duty - Estwing E3-20S Rip Hammer
• 4. Most shock-absorbant - Stanley FATMAX Next-Gen Curve Claw Hammer
• 5. Best for small jobs - Mr. Pen 80z Hammer
• 6. Get the most out of your tools

1. Best value — Klein Tools Ball-Peen Hammer 

For a quality tool that gets the job done without breaking the bank, the Klein Tools ball-peen hammer is an all-purpose hammer with some great features:

• 32–oz forged steel head — 15–inch or 38cm overall length. 
• Compact and lightweight — easy to transport to jobs.
• High-strength fibreglass — maximum shock absorption. 
• Durable, non-slip grip handle — extra comfort for long days.

2. Best all-rounder — Estwing Claw E3-16C Hammer 

Estwing hammers are rated highly by carpenters globally, and for good reason. This E3-16C model comes in two sizes, 12oz or 16oz, and has been thoughtfully designed for busy professionals:

• Curved claw — provides leverage when pulling nails.
• Crafted from solid steel — it’s durable and made to last. 
• Shock Reduction Grip® — reduces impact vibration by 70%.
• Unsurpassed balance — for ease and comfort on the job.

3. Most heavy-duty – Estwing E3-20S Rip Hammer

For more demanding jobs, Estwing’s 20 oz Rip Hammer takes the cake. With a similar design to its smaller model, the E3-20S is the go-to for jobs requiring a more robust and durable hammer, with some bonus benefits:

• Longer, heavier and more powerful model — fit for the most challenging jobs on site.
• Straight claw — perfect for demolition or prying jobs.
• High-quality materials and design — durable, made to withstand harsh conditions.

4. Most shock-absorbant – Stanley FATMAX Next-Gen Curve Claw Hammer

With an ergonomic design, the Stanley FATMAX Next-Generation Curve Claw reduces common arm and wrist injuries with these features:

• Patented tuning fork — prevents twisting and reduces harmful vibrations.
• Patented oversized strike face — versatile for a wide range of industrial jobs.
• Anti-slip soft grip handle — so you can work in comfort and control.

5. Best for small jobs – Mr. Pen 8oz Hammer 

For those more fiddly tasks, you’ll want a smaller hammer to tackle the job. At only 8oz, Mr. Pen’s Stubby Hammer is compact and lightweight with some smart design features to reduce potentially injury-inducing vibrations:

• Magnetic nail starter – handy for tight spaces.
• Ergonomic non-slip handle – for comfort on the job. 
• Made from high-density carbon steel – durable, anti-rust and made to last.

6. Get the most out of your tools

Whether you’re an apprentice builder or you’ve started a carpentry business, all good carpenters use quality tools for a high-quality finish. There’s no time to waste with poor–quality hammers that slow you down or injure you. An arsenal of quality tools, apps, and workwear is considered essential for builders — and will help kickstart your career and grow your best trade business. 

Best job management tool for carpentry business owners

Tradify is the most straightforward approach to job management, so you can avoid any major admin backlogs and focus on those all-important tasks that will help you market and grow your carpentry business.

Tradify features:

• Quoting and estimating — create quotes and estimates quickly from any device.
• Invoicing — create professional-looking custom invoices quickly and get paid faster.
• Scheduling — get a real-time view of project schedules, active jobs, and the locations of staff or subcontractors.
• Job tracking — keep track of time spent on jobs, organise work and create individual tasks.
• Timesheets — create and submit digital timesheets, record hours and track time.
• Enquiries — receive and respond to work requests and enquiries wherever you are.
• Automated payment reminders — automatically send follow–up emails for unpaid invoices.
• Subcontractor management — connect with subcontractors, organise jobs and easily share important job information.
• Creating an Instant Website — create a custom website tailored to your business.

Want to experience the benefits of an organised business? Sign up for a 14-day free trial with Tradify. No credit card is required. No commitment. Or visit one of our live demo webinars to see Tradify in action.