Estwing Ultra hammer review: Best hammer for a professional remodeler?

When it comes to hammers, there’s a best hammer for how you work. Here’s my pick for a professional remodeler.

MyFixitUpLife, I want to talk tools. Specifically, hammers. I’m a professional remodeler and it’s been a long time since I bought a new hammer. What are you using these days? Is it a ‘best hammer? Or just one you like? Thanks, -AC

AC—

I’m a hammer geek. And for a pro, I think this is a great question. DIYers listen up too.

Unless you’re just hanging pictures and whacking down a few deck nails, a hammer is not—and should not—be a cudgel.

The best hammer is a (sort of) precision assembly and disassembly tool with subtle design features that will help you do your work better. Don’t believe me, check out the effort Jimmy DiResta and Chip Wade give their set-ups in this tool video.

I’m presently toting a 19-ounce Estwing Ultra Series with a throwback leather handle and I cannot lie, I’m loving it.

It’s one-piece steel construction like we expect from Estwings. I had my last Estwing for a preposterously long time. This one seems similarly durable, and light years better than my E-20. Here’s a breakdown on this Estwing Ultra hammer review.

The claw

First and foremost, the Estwing Ultra’s claw. This is a nexus where tools and how-to smash into each other with blunt-force-awesome.

A hammer is a main frame demo tool for me, whether that’s punching in through a hunk of drywall so I can hook my hammer behind it and pull or to wedge carefully behind at piece of trim—or even under a door to keep it still.

The best hammer has a claw with a shallow fetch. Opposite of a curved claw hammer by contrast, a claw with a shallow fetch is more like a blade than a claw. A good one enables me to pierce which is what you need to get started most un-building projects and it’s impossible with a deep fetch.

Sized

The Estwing is also right-sized for remodeling, which is what I do too. Reno is a great proving ground for tools and how to do better work in challenging environments and it’s hard not to think of the master, Tom Silva when typing this.

Not too long and not too short, I’ve used larger, more expensive (titanium head, hickory handle) hammers and they’re great for remodeling. I honestly love them—yet they’re proportionally lighter and more expensive. And I’ve reviewed many hammers.

Power

The Estwing hits hard. The head is suitable for whacking spikes for toe-nailing framing (97% of the nails I drive come out of a gun), small enough to tap in a few finish nails and gnarly enough to blast whatever needs blasting. And tough enough to pull nails without bending or breaking.

And the tool steel is engineered to be light without being weak, 19 ounces or so delivers a big wallop. It doesn’t matter so much swinging the hammer as it does tugging at my back all day in my tool pouch. I can feel the difference a lighter hammer makes.

Handle

I also dig the throwback leather handle. It’s smooth (slick with a finish when you first get it; that wears off) and isn’t grinding skin off my hands like a rougher, rubber handle if I have to use it a lot. The Estwing handle bumps on the floor when I kneel down sometimes. That has as much to do with where I keep it—on the back of my right hip—than the hammer length itself. Also, after breaking a wood handle, I got busy and never replaced it. Busy may mean lazy. Either way….

Hope this Estwing Ultra hammer review helps.

Mark

A licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor, he writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

See Full Bio