Found out my framing hammer was way too heavy after a full week on a roof job

I was up on a roof re-framing a dormer in Austin last month, swinging a 28-ounce Estwing all week. By Thursday my elbow was killing me, and I just figured that was normal for the trade. But I googled around and found out that for roof work, a lot of guys swear by 20-ounce hammers to save your joints over time. Has anyone else made the switch to a lighter hammer for overhead work?

3 comments

3 Comments

williamb2927d ago

Jump right in and say I've been swinging a 22-ounce Vaughn for over ten years now and my elbow feels fine. In my experience, the weight of the hammer matters way less than how you grip it and swing it. I've seen guys tear up their arms with a 16-ounce because they death grip the handle and swing from the shoulder instead of the wrist. Your mileage may vary, but I think a lot of that elbow pain comes from overcompensating with a heavy hammer on an unfamiliar angle, not the hammer itself. Maybe try a 22 or 24-ounce before going all the way down to 20 and see how it feels.

emery19927d ago

I switched to a 24-ounce Estwing after fighting elbow pain with a 20-ounce and it made all the difference for me.

milessmith26d ago

That 10 years bit, you ever switch grips mid-project or stick with one?