The best thing since my first hammer
I have used a 22 oz. Fatmax framer since I was 17, and never thought titanium hammers were worth much, considering the cost, until I started working with my current employer, a barn builder, who will use nothing else. After a few days of comments along the lines of, "Your hammer is so slow," and, "Your elbow is going to fry," (we drive all our fasteners by hand, by the way - all the climbing and moving among other things) as well as the numb sensation from my right elbow down, I thought, "what the heck?" and bought me one.
After a few weeks, I'm spoiled rotten!
Having a full sized hammer weighing only 14 oz. lets me swing a lot faster, with less effort. I highly recommend one to anyone that uses a hammer as a regular part of life; if for no other reason than it's lighter to carry on your belt!
There are two cons that I would like to point out. One is unique to the tool, the other general to the material used.
First, the magnet for the one-hand nail starter slot is really too far back towards the claw, making nail 'flip-out' an annoying something extra to have to watch out for. Not a deal-breaker, just mildly annoying.
Second, Titanium is harder than steel and this, of course, means it is more brittle. So, both the face and the claw wear out faster. Don't expect to buy one and use it for the rest of your life. I'll drive over 500 nails a day for several days a week with mine, and expect to get 2 years out of it, at the outside. Not that it'll be useless, just enough that I'll retire it and get another.
Next time maybe one with a replaceable steel face, for comparison.
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