We got our hands on a new Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer. Actually, we got our hands on a couple of them. We want to know what all the buzz is about when it comes to these premium framing hammers.
But a hammer is a hammer, right?
Sure, and a car is just a car… unless you’ve driven a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster. If I have to explain it, you just aren’t going to get it. While the world’s most authoritative car collectors aren’t about to let me anywhere near their prized possessions, Stiletto is happy to let me take a swing with their top products – without a driver’s license and proof of insurance.
So here’s the deal, my go-to framing hammer of choice has been the Hart 25-ounce Milled Face Steel Framing Hammer. Clint decided to hand me a Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer – 11 ounces less weight at just 14 ounces. Some tools, like hammers, need a little heft to them. There’s confidence in knowing the tool is well-built.
My friend Physics is also involved – swing two separate weights the same speed and one will carry more kinetic energy than the other resulting in greater driving force. Is that skepticism I feel creeping up?
We know the guys behind Stiletto’s hammers (it’s owned by Milwaukee Tool), so I know there’s substance to any claims they make. It was time to do a little internet research followed by some real-world testing.
First Impressions
It was in 1998 that Mark Martinez invented the first solid titanium framing hammer. The following year, the first Stiletto branded model was introduced. The concept is still going strong 17 years later. With the Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer, evolution has taken it to a place that claims the hammering strength of a 24-ounce framer with 10 times less recoil shock. Stiletto makes the shock reduction claim based on titanium’s natural dampening characteristics.
Stiletto’s signature magnetic nail starter is in place. If you haven’t used a hammer with one of these before, you’re really missing out. A solid strike drives the nail deep enough that your fingers don’t have to be at risk during any part of the driving process.
The handle is 16 inches long and made from hybrid fiberglass material. The bottom half is coated with a TPR grip (thermoplastic rubber) and a thumb divot helps create an ergonomic and easy-to-find hand placement.
The head, of course, is made from solid titanium. In addition to the 14-ounce, milled face Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer, Clint also brought by a 12-ounce, smooth face model.
Performance
Skepticism about weight aside, there’s no doubt that this hammer feels great in my hands. The light weight is the first thing I noticed, followed by the secure grip with my ungloved hand. Not to worry, I haven’t gone over to the Dark Side with David C. Smith and his safety third crew. If I was going to feel the difference in vibration, I didn’t want anything affecting my ability to sense it.
I grabbed a box of standard 8D nails and switched between my Hart hammer and the Stiletto 14-ounce every few minutes. Both hammers feature a magnetic nail starter, so there was no advantage to either side at that point. There was significantly less vibration in the Stiletto hammer – that was immediately noticeable.
I began to consider the striking strength of each hammer, still expecting to find the 25-ounce Hart to have Physics on its side. In swinging with the same technique and speed (or as close to it as I could consistently replicate), I found that the heavier hammer held the advantage. That’s not the end of the story though. When I went back to just finding a rhythm and working, the lower weight of Stiletto’s titanium hammer naturally lent itself to a faster swing and matched the driving efficiency of my heavier hammer.
Conclusions
As I wrapped up my project for the day, it was pretty clear that the Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer is superior to any other hammer I’ve used. The claims of reduced vibration with equal strength and lower weight are absolutely confirmed from my experience.
The real benefit here is the sum of the parts – the combination of features leads to overall reduced fatigue. Your arms won’t be screaming at you the way it does with a traditional framing hammer. It’s going to be even more noticeable if you come across overhead applications throughout the day.
There are two points that will make some users step back and consider for a moment. The first is price. The 12-ounce model is priced at $134.99 and the 14-ounce will set you back $149.99, though street prices are closer to $110 – $120. The other consideration is the warranty. Stiletto hammers are warrantied for one year as opposed to the lifetime warranty that can be found with other brands. Like most guarantees, both only cover defects, not abuse or wear and tear. I haven’t come across any complaints about failure that would be covered, so I’m not personally worried about it.
I can confidently recommend the Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer to any professional looking to reduce fatigue with a premium hammer. While the price point is pretty steep for the DIY crowd, someone looking for a Father’s Day gift that will drop Dad’s jaw can look here as well.
Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer: 12 Ounce Smooth Face
- Model: TI12SC-F
- Head Weight: 12 ounces
- Face: Smooth
- Head Material: Titanium
- Handle Material: Hybrid Fiberglass
- Price: $124.99
- Warranty: 1 year
Stiletto Titanium Poly Fiberglass Hammer: 14 Ounce Milled Face
- Model: TI14MC-F
- Head Weight: 14 ounces
- Face: Milled
- Head Material: Titanium
- Handle Material: Hybrid Fiberglass
- Price: $134.99
- Warranty: 1 year
