With the growing popularity and adoption of pneumatic nail guns and impact drivers, hammers are no longer used as much as they once were. However, they are still a required tool on every job site.
We tested 6 different hammers and found the Estwing 20-ounce Straight Claw to be the best available for the tiny home builder. Its 20-ounce weight provides a good balance of strike force and low user fatigue.
This hammer also comes in a curved claw version. While the straight claw is not as efficient as the curved claw at pulling out nails, it is a lot more versatile. I can’t tell you how many times I have struck two boards with the claw of a hammer to split or separate them. You just can’t do that with a curved claw.
Our pick for the best all around hammer is the Estwing 20-ounce Straight Claw. The Estwing is a few dollars more than our runner up, the Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Rip Claw, which is also a great hammer. But this Estwing hammer will last you a lifetime and is made in the USA, which is always worth a few extra bucks in my opinion.
