I have used old stuff laying around shops im not a body man but would like some input on a kit or a brand. what would you guys buy or use .
Use Martin Hammers and dollies. Sold through Eastwood, a****st others. The steel composition of the dollies is far superior...Both Snap On and Proto make good Hammers, but I prefer my Fibergl*** handled Martin. Don`t forget to bevel/round the edge of the Hammer face so you don`t put marks in the panel you are trying to fix.....
Snap-on cross peen first. Then you can take your time and find some others types. Part number is BF604B, 60.65 off the truck.
i have a set of matco hammers, i wish i would have gotten mac or snap ons now. i believe that the mac hammers are made by martin bros. i have only used 1 martin hammer and now i want to through mine out. dont go with matco...
Dagger makes a kit that has 3 hammers and 3 dollies. The are very well built and priced well. I bought the kit at Sema this year and it was less than $130.00 and it comes in a hard case. I saw the same set of hammers in the Napa tool catalog when I checked on a price on them and they were on sale at the under $140.00. I have paid more than $80.00 for one snap on hammer. For the monney I don't think you can get a nicer set. Scott
Hey, Less see: Plumb, Plomb, Proto, Snap Off,Cornwell, Porter Ferguson, Vulcan,Fairmont,Stanley,Blue Point all are old line, top quality brands. Look for them at swaps, garage sales, and on ebay. Martin ain't bad, made to old Fairmont patterns, but they arn't up to old Fairmont's standards of balance or finish! S****ey Devils C.c. "Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"
almost ever body man i've met has at least a few martin. i took winfield's metal cl*** a few times and he uses the wooden handled martins (they are old, but they get used alot!!). sears sells a starter kit of martin's cheaper than eastwood...
I use all sorts of hammers. 2 of my favorite hammers are not even body hammers. it is so cool to see the look on a customers face when they walk in to see me metal finishing thier car with a claw hammer.
My fave is an old Fairmont pick with a Snap On handle. The thing rings like a bell. Also have Gray, Sykes Pickevant, Blackhawk, a bunch of decent no- names. Don't waste your money on the cheapo flea market trash. They're usually ****py soft cast iron heads. Make sure whatever you buy is steel.
Snap on hammers for sure,especially BF604b,i use it every day.Dollies may be different in brand here,but Picard,Snap-on and porter fergurson.Some Sykes Pickevant are ok also.
i dig snap on alot more then martin .. martin just seems to be a tad bit off ... any one know who carries martins full line lookin for a hammer with a very long chisel end cant seem to come up with it anywhere
I have 24 total body hammers at the shop some mac, snap on, and martin they all have a different purpose and I like the feel of them in my hand. It will be along time before you see anyone with this many hammers in a regular body shop nowdays most have only one or two and I could do what they do with a claw hammer. I have had bodymen ask why so many and after I show them one or two that should be used the right way they understand. Try to think what you will be doing first and then pick your hammer from there a universal heel and toe dolly will get you started. Stay away from the asian hammers and dollies the heads on the hammers will break off and cause injury. If you would like go to a snap on or mac dealer and ask to see the hammers in the catalog you will get a good idea then. Good luck and remember if you just work allittle more at it you won't need that much bondo.
My favorite hammer is a low crown Martin with a long straight pick on the other end. You can hear it ring when you're on the dolly like no other hammer I've had. All of my other newer hammers and dollies are Martin as well, but I try to buy old stuff when I can find it. I have a pretty large ***ortment of Pexto, Fairmount, Plomb, etc. hammers and dollies that I use everyday. I'm a big fan of Heller and Fairmount files as well.
This is a very useful post as I am TIRED of the cheapo set I bought. I found a tool box full of OLD plumbing tools at an estate sale. In it was a really old universal dolly. I had to buy the whole box of **** but that one dolly was worth it. You can tell by the weight of it that it is better steel than the other I have nearly like it... This is the Snap-on hammer mentioned. Definitely gonna talk to my Snap-on guy Tuesday... Can anyone tell me if that pick end is a pointed pich or a flat wedge that doesn't show from that angle?
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