Hammer

Tools of the Trade, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Clayton DeKorne

I use Norwolf's 18-ounce "A-hammer" for everything--demolition, framing, and finish work--and it's the best hammer I've ever swung: the balance is great and I swear I drive nails faster and easier with it than with other hammers. That may sound subjective, but my impressions are grounded in Norwolf's deliberate engineering. The tool's head is forged from the toughest commercially available steel in America--a 4340 alloy that's heat treated straight through to a Rockwell Hardness (Rc) of 44 to 50. (Most striking tools are made of case-hardened steel with an outer surface at a brittle Rc 60 and an inner core of a more malleable Rc 15 to Rc 20.) The punch line is that it's unlikely the striking face will ever chip, even if you strike all the things you shouldn't with a hammer.

The handle is solid aluminum alloy with zinc, copper, and a bit of titanium--go ahead, use it as a pry bar. The handle is isolated from the head by two rubber O-rings, then pinned with a steel dowel made of invincible 4340 alloy. The result is a rock-solid connection that absorbs vibration and provides effortless nail pounding.

* Norwolf Tool Works. A-hammer: $38. 201-666-6655. www.norwolf.com. Circle #214.

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