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Talked to an old timer at a hammer-in last weekend. Changed my mind about power hammers.

Guy was using a 50lb Little Giant from the 1920s. Said he could feel the steel talking back to him. I always figured power hammers were cheating. Thought they took the soul out of the work. He let me try his for 10 minutes on a leaf project. The control is different. Not easier. Just different. You still gotta read the metal. Still gotta feel the hits. Now I'm saving up for one. Anyone here use a mechanical hammer versus a pneumatic? Which one teaches you more?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_karen3d agoTop Commenter

Heard something interesting from a guy at a guild meeting who said mechanical hammers feel like a direct extension of the crank with a solid thud that's hard to beat. Read that pneumatics give you more consistent hits but lose some of that raw feedback from the machine. One thing I keep seeing pop up is that old mechanical ones like your Little Giant need more maintenance but teach you how a hammer actually works under the hood. I'd say go mechanical if you want to really feel the metal and learn the deep stuff, not just finish work faster.

lee.cole2d ago

Don't forget the noise factor. Those old mechanicals sing louder than a pneumo ever will.