Estwing E3-16C Claw Hammer

STOP! Hammer time!  Ok we couldn’t resist, but don’t worry we won’t be busting a move in our MC Hammer pants for this review.  We are covering a staple for every kit – the hammer.  Although it is probably one of the most used tools on the planet, few people put much thought into their hammer purchase.

The Estwing E3-16c isn’t pretentious.  It doesn’t try to do anything fancy or gimmicky. It costs around $20, placing it right in the middle of the hammer price range.  Estwing has a long established reputation of quality and excellence in the opinion of many tradesmen.  The E3-16c is comfortable, well balanced, light weight and durable.  This hammer will survive anything with it’s solid one piece, all-metal design.  Go ahead.  Try and break this thing.  It will laugh at you and keep on nailing.

We selected this hammer with the P80 kit in mind and realize that it is too light for a lot of framing or decking.  So if you’re planning to do a lot of framing you should definitely step it up to a 22 oz (or greater) framing hammer maybe even with a waffle face.  But that will be a subject for a separate review.

But wait, you’re asking, what if I already have a hammer?  Do I need to go and buy this one to replace the perfectly good hammer that I’ve had for 20 years?  The answer is no.  While a good hammer makes a nailing project much more enjoyable, chances are good that whatever hammer you already have will do most jobs just fine.  But if you do not have a hammer (you animal!) or if you’re looking to add a quality piece of kit to you or a friend’s collection, this is a good pick.  It is recommended as part of our budget P80 kit.

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