Estwing MRW20S
Score: 88/100
Vaughan Soft Face Hammer
Score: 88/100Rankings
The Estwing Sure Strike 20 oz is a professional-grade hammer designed for framing, roofing, and demolition, featuring a drop-forged solid steel head and a traditional hickory handle. While it offers excellent balance and vibration reduction, the hickory handle requires more maintenance than synthetic alternatives. It is best suited for professional tradespeople who need a durable rip hammer for high-impact work.
The Vaughan SF12 is a versatile 12 oz soft face hammer featuring interchangeable red Kraton and yellow Avalon faces for surface protection and driving power. Its heavy total weight of 5.13 lbs may cause fatigue during prolonged fine detail work. It is ideal for woodworking and finish carpentry professionals needing non-marring impacts on sensitive materials.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
20 ozbest | 12 oz | |
| ↓ lower better | 20 ozbest | 82 oz |
13.63 inbest | 12.5 in | |
13.63 inbest | 13 in | |
1.28 inbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Handle & Grip(3) | ||
Handle Material | Hickory | Wood |
Handle Length (in) | 13.63 in | 12.5 in |
Grip Type | Cushion | PVC |
Core Specifications(3) | ||
Hammer Type | Rip Claw | Hammer |
Head Weight (oz) | 20 oz | 12 oz |
Overall Weight (oz) | 20 oz | 82 oz |
Head & Face(3) | ||
Claw Type | Straight | None |
Face Type | Smooth | Replaceable |
Head Width (in) | 1.28 in | in |
Features & Build(5) | ||
Construction Type | Triple Wedge | Drop-Forged |
Overall Length (in) | 13.63 in | 13.0 in |
Intended Use | Framing/Demolition | Woodworking/Finish Carpentry |
Warranty | Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Finish | Silver | Yellow/Red |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers and editors praise the Estwing Sure Strike hammer for its strength, professional design, and unsurpassed balance. Sources highlight the solid forged steel head and lightweight handles as ideal for tradesmen, with specific recommendations for framers and roofers due to the vibration-reducing grips and ease of use.
Everyday users commonly praise the hammer's balance, comfort, and durability. Recurring themes include ease of use for daily tasks and satisfaction with the quality of materials like hickory. There are no major recurring complaints regarding performance, with users giving full endorsements after months of use.
“perfect, well balanced, with a nice smooth face and quality hickory handle”
“extremely well balanced, easy to use, lightweight”
