So this past weekend I broke my hammers. On both, the digging blade broke off while driving earth anchors. First was a commercial fiberglass handled version. I pulled the wood handled one I welded the flat bar on and it broke too. Rang like a ball before it turned loose.

On the store bought model you can see where the weld almost penetrated the thickness of the bar and it broke at this point. It's the weld under the flat stock.

So, who makes a hammer that will hold up ?

Freedom brand there a little too heavy but they haven't broke 4 years on it frozen ground trapping clay gumbo etc,there a beast just a little too top heavy.

Tom Stalker. I purchased a hammer from him last year. Great guy to deal with.

Josh over at Fur Shed Fabrications also.

estwing 28 ounce straight claw framing hammer. I have yet to break one


https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-Fram...ing+hammer&qid=1569574912&sr=8-1

Don't think they make a 32oz or 40oz Estwing rock hammer,but if they do/did that would be one of the best trapping hammer.

Josh at Fur Shed Fabrications is where I got mine. nice and heavy (maybe a little too heavy) and built to last. He uses an Estwing hammer (I think mine is a 4# sledge)

https://www.furshedfab.com/collecti...l-steel-estwing-big-blue-trapping-hammer

If he is sold out just message him and he is quick to respond. Great guy and great products.

I been using the orange and black handled one the mtp sells for six years, and not just on the trapline. Still hasn’t broken. I think maybe you just had a streak of bad luck with bad welds

I went to a 28 oz Dewalt framing hammer , all steel shank. I've broke every fiberglass and wooden handle hammer I've ever owned. I admit I've missed the driver a few times and hit the handle tho.

X2

I use that all metal towel and hammer combo. Has worked great for atleast one year.

im gonna try the 28oz framing hammer this year as well. starting to splinter the fiberglass handle on my mtp hammer

I will say I too have missed the driver and hit the handle at the base of the head many times.

I don't see how you can dig a decent trap bed with a claw hammer.

The claw is real close to the same width , I was surprised how well it dug the trap bed.

I destroyed a driver from one of the major suppliers last year on the same property, it had pipe cross pieces at the top that broke at the weld. Bought one from Tom Stalker that's held up well. Guess I need to upgrade the hammer too.

I've been using a hammer called The Ground Hog. MTP and F&T have them $20.

It's a 3 piece hammer in 1.

Hammer,chipper, and hole digger .

Had it for 6-7 yrs. Still going strong.

Ya but your digging bowl shaped trap bed. When it should the sides straight up and down and just about as big as the trap. The piece of metal that Is attached to the hammer head should be perpendicular to the head not at a angle. The site Acorn posted Is how a trapping hammer should look.

beav give it a try. it works and works good. grab it by the head and tap canines on the nose also. I got no problem with the hammers guys are welding up except they don't pull rebar stakes or hold up for more than a few seasons

Does it work good driving stakes into frozen ground or do you just use it for trap beds..i thought about going that route because it seems the claw angle and the thickness of the claw would dig in more.... im just not sure about driving stakes, seems it wouldn't have enough weight behind it...just wondering,