Stopped by to see my long-time friend Jack Fulton last week. Jack is by profession a photographer, also a builder. In the ’60s, Jack and I learned a lot about building from Jack’s uncle, Alec Fulton. A jovial Scotsman, Alec took the time to teach us novices. Among other things, he taught me how to join cast-iron drainpipes with hot lead (and oakum) — in the days just before ABS and PVC drain pipe replaced cast iron.
Anyway, Jack had just finished rebuilding the entire front wall of his house (termite damage, new continuous foundation), and these well-used hammers were lying around. The smaller has been my go-to tool belt hammer for many years. A Plumb 16″ with fiberglass handle. I like the straight, rather than a curved claw: better for de-nailing as well as digging in the dirt. Aesthetically, I like wooden handles, but the fiberglass has a bit of spring in it which is comfortable.
