23 oz. Framing Hammer - Extreme Rip Claw
[DFR-2316CX]

This is not a hammer, this is a machine. I am a volunteer house leader with Habitat. I get a lot of good natured ribbing about the hammer (vague mutterings about Thor) but when folks really need to drive something home they always borrow my hammer. I have also used the claw to lift a 24 foot long section of wall sitting on a pad to align it with a corner. Just wedge the claw under and turn the handle sideways The one handed nail start is just too useful, I was up on a church roof in Biloxi after Katrina tarping it down while Rita was bearing down on us. The ability to nail down the firring strips one handed while keeping my balance in 40 mph gusts was priceless. This is the only hammer I will ever use. Great Job.

I look for a reason to use it. I am a cabinet maker/ remodeler so I don't have to use a hammer all that often, a couple times a week at best. I find myself looking for nails to hit because I like the hammer so much. The wide claw works great for removing nails without doing damage to surface. This is by far the best hammer I have ever owned, don't waste you money on another cheap hammer, if you use this tool to make your living it is worth every penny.

This hammer is worth every penny! I use this hammer all the time in framing and demolition on remodel jobs. I am convinced that the balance of the hammer and the thickness of the handle are important in reducing the stress on my arm while hammering. This hammer has saved me quite a bit of time by allowing demolition work to be completed sooner and the ability to drive nails faster than with any other hammer I've owned. This hammer has all the leverage and driving power you will ever need. The magnetic nail set is also very helpful. You may not need it every day....but when you do need it you are grateful to have it. I would recommend that you also get a finish hammer in a addition to this one. The large head does make it hard to work with smaller nails and in tight spaces.

These other reviews seem to me dead-on. I love this hammer so much that I even called Douglas to tell them in person that their 23 oz framer is great, but the claw is the worst I've ever used for almost everything. It's too fat. If the hammer had an Estwing claw, I'd bronze it.

Best hammer I ever owned. From the moment I used one belonging to a friend I knew I had to have one. I had never seen one before then and it handles like a dream. I looked all over town until finally searching on the internet to find and order one. That was two years ago and I still love this tool. The original had three thru-handle studs, but mine (and I guess all the newer ones) has two. I figure its probably a concession to the production process as its doesn't seem to make any difference. The waffle face is great...provides enough grip on nail heads, but doesn't tear stuff up (wood and fingers) like regular waffle faces do when you miss. The side pull feature is handy and the claws work fine for me. This is the most expensive hammer I ever bought...but I don't regret it for a second. In life, I've decided you only have to buy the best tools once. I may buy another and put it away some place safe just to make sure I always have one in case they stop making them again for some reason or someone steals mine.

The more I use it, the better I like it. When it first came out of the box I wasn't sure about it. I thought maybe I could have gone for the 20 ounce version and I wasn't sure that I liked the shortness of the nail pulling space between the claws even though I knew they had to be that way to integrate with the overall design. To my surprise both are perfect. I have been framing and finishing for over twenty years and I've seen a lot come and go and this is about the best. Douglas has solved every problem associated with framing hammers for professional use. Even the non-roundness of the handle gives better grip. I use the magnetic nail setter every day either doing fasia overhead or squeezing through a deck railing for rim joists. The side pull feature is really nice for grabbing nail heads before rocking them out with the claws. The reverse milled face is an excellent feature because it doesn't tear up fingers and finish work so much but give it some time to rough up to grip nail heads better. I almost hate to use it because it is so beautiful and I'm just scratching it up by making a living with it but it's still nicer than those ...ugly lightweights with ax handles (save those for the amatures). My next tool buy will likely be the 18 ounce finish version. If you like good tools to do your work you won't be disapointed.