I’ve gone for years with wooden mallet that is falling apart. Every instructional video I’ve ever seen uses a plastic faced mallet for hitting bikes. So I’m going to complete my tookit with one.

But which?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thor-714-Nylon-Hammer-2-Lb/dp/B0001P0YFA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_diy_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=06N5XFGPXEME3TQMGC1J

I didn’t realise there would be so much choice. Is biggest best?

Thor . Just pick yer weight.

^^ Still time to edit and replace that with a GIF…

I’ve got an ancient Thor which I got from my grandad, he probably stole it from the RAF in about 1947. I think it’s this exact one:

http://www.thorhammer.com/Hammers/Copper/Hammer_id_04-316

You can spec different faces for it, mine has nylon and aluminium (I’d rather have an iron face on it but I can’t find one). Hope I have a grandkid who’ll get good use from it.

I have one of these Thors:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thor-Soft-Faced-Hammer-31-712r/dp/B0001P0YF0/ref=sr_1_2?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1426681273&sr=1-2&keywords=thor+soft+faced+hammer

The two faces are slightly different hardness, which is good depending if you need a tickle or a ****. So to speak.

If you had a hammer, at what time of day would you hammer? Whereabouts would you hammer? What would you hammer, and where?

The real deal…

I prefer dead-blow mallets to the plastic ended ones. Get a much nicer feel to what you’re whacking.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range/guid/55509803-0562-4C90-9293-A9A46C06F75C

Oh, and LOL @ tillydog 😆

The nylon ends on the thor you posted cut up pretty easily, I’d also say that the hide and copper ends are a bit hard for bike stuff. Personally I’d go with the deadblow above, I have one and it’s fine. I also have a Nupla one and it’s nice too. I’ve used Thors at work for years too but as I say would choose a deadblow.

The nylon ends on the thor you posted cut up pretty easily,

I quite like that aspect of them though, good for ensuring I don’t damaging the thing i’m hitting that isn’t supposed to be hit…

When all you have is a hammer, all you see is nails

Get down your local DIY store and test swing a few

I have a brightly coloured hammer from machine mart that cost under a fiver I think. It’s a plastic face on one side and rubber on the other.

Not sure I’d view it as other than ‘disposable’ for use at work, but for bike fettling it’s perfectly adequate.

Thor for me, and I really should get some new end caps, much better than the rubber ended hammer I had before and much safer that std metal (nail) hammer

This is timely.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/g1923/the-23-hammers-everyone-should-know/?src=spr_TWITTER&spr_id=1457_158036770

Thor and Eastwing for me

Maurizio Arrivabene: “Kimi, you are like a hammer…”

Well that popular mechanic links shows we definitely have it easy on here advert wise!

Got my Dad some of the leather handled Estwings, was severely tempted to keep them, lovely things.

Got to be this one, for the travelling bike mechanic!

http://cycleworx.co.uk/collections/abbey-bike-tools/products/team-issue-ti-hammer

Park tool ones top notch

Blimey, i have a hammer with similar dimensions and weight to the ti hammer above, including replaceable plastic ends. I use it occasionally to tap in/out bearings and the odd ht2 type crank. It was A bit less than £110 though, iirc about £2 from toolzone.

Will be singing this all day now, your fault

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl-yszPdRTk[/video]

Park tool ones top notch

Have to agree there, in true Park style it’s hardly the most subtle of implements but it can certainly administer an almighty thwack when required.

Very much this one.