Dewalt has officially announced their new line of ExoCore sledge hammers and axes, which feature carbon fiber composite handles
Why carbon fiber? Dewalt says that their carbon fiber and composite handles will contribute to tool durability, overstrike protection, and light tool weight.
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We had a quick look at the new Dewalt ExoCore carbon fiber-featured sledge hammers and axes at their last media event.
The tools definitely had a high-end feel to them, not to mention a striking appearance. Ha – did you see what I did there?!
There will be 10 new products in all:
Dewalt ExoCore Carbon Fiber Sledge Hammers
- 4 lb Drilling Hammer DWHT56024
- 4lb Blacksmith-Style, DWHT56025
- 4 lbs, DWHT45026
- 6 lb, DWHT56027
- 8 lbs, DWHT56028
- 10 lb, DWHT56029
- 12 lb, DWHT56030
Dewalt says the 4 lb sledge hammer has a 12″ handle, and the 6 lb, 8 lb, and 12 lb hammers have a 32″ handle.
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Dewalt ExoCore Carbon Fiber Axes
- 20 oz, DWHT56031
- 3.5 lb, DWHT56032
- 4.5 lb, DWHT56033
The 20 oz axe has a 12″ handle, and the larger sizes have a 32″ handle.
Prices of all the new ExoCore tools range from $30 to $55.
Buy Now(A couple of SKUS have started popping up on Amazon)
The new sledge hammers and axes are currently on the way to Dewalt dealers.
Hilton
Stuart said “The tools definitely had a high-end feel to them, not to mention a striking appearance. Ha – did you see what I did there?!)”
Yep you sure hammered that point home.
Chris
Yeah he really hit the nail on the head with that one. Of course I’m still split on whether I should get the little hatchet though. It looks cute, but I don’t camp or anything. But it looks cute.
Hilton
I don’t think you have to be camp to get hammered, maybe drilled though 🙂
Koko The Talking Ape
I really appreciate the blow-by-blow reporting.
Bruce
Wood handles absorb vibration better. If you want a hammer for occasionally driving a stake, this is probably great. If you use a hammer for a larger portion of your day, buy wood.
The yeti
Also wood tends to not be lethal when the head suddenly flies off the plastic handle.
Wood handle just breaks. Does not shoot the head of the hammer off like a rock from a sling.
I do like the look of the yellow and black on the axe however.
Does anyone think this will be Dewalt trying to take on Trusty Cook , Estwing , Vaughn and the like.
The hammers pictured look more like a drillers hammer. We would use these for all sorts of work on the rigs. Hammering hammer unions and hammer wrenches .
Because of the nature of swinging a 3 lb hammer inches from a mans face and hands as he holds a hammer wrench for u . A good wood handle is key.
Dewalt is missing a large market by putting these slippery handles on
pete
Thats funny- i’ve found the exact opposite about sledge hammer handles.
Ive found that plastic sheathed handles with a fibreglass core to be safer. When you overstrike is usually when the handle breaks and the fiberglass core doesn’t crack like wood, instead it just bends and the head becomes floppy. Ever seen wood break and splinter? I’ve seen quite a few wooden handles become sharp lethal spears that go flying with a 12# rock attached to them.
I’ve also found that wood transfers the energy to my hands more than a fibreglass/plastic/rubber overmolded handle. I’ve also found that a rubber overmolded handle has more traction when using gloves. Sure if your hands a sweaty everything will be slippery.
Cottenboy
Where’s you’re rebuttal Yeti????
Craig
“Dewalt says the 4″ sledge has a 12″ handle, and the 6 lb, 8 lb, and 12 lb hammers have a 32″ handle.”
I think this meant to say the 4 lb sledges have 12″ handles. However, the length difference between the seems longer than 20″ judging by the picture with the three together. Maybe it’s just the photo angle.
Also, your pun was quite striking.
Stuart
Press Release: “Available in 6-, 8-, and 12-pound versions with a 32” handle and 4-pound with a 12” handle.”
There are (3) 4 lb sledge hammers of different styles, but I wasn’t about to make the assumption that they all have the same handle length.
I’ll work to confirm things.
David
But u said 12″ hammer I believe was his point.
Stuart
Ha! No, that was a second mistake. *Fixed* – thanks!
First mistake – I said 4″ sledge. Fixing that momentarily.
I thought he was pointing out that “4 lb sledge has a 12″ handle” should be “4 lb sledges have a 12″ handle,” but I intentionally made it singular until I hear back otherwise from Dewalt about the two other 4 lb sledges.
I completely missed the 4″ instead of 4 lbs mistake.
Nathan
sorry but prove that.
Don’t get me wrong I love a wood handled tool – I have a few. I use them on occasion.
But wood is a composite in technical terms. So its quite feasible – that a purpose build layup on woven carbon fibre and even fibreglass would be as good or better in absorbing vibrations.
To that end I like to see the devices – won’t say I’m in the market to run out and get one. But when I am – I’m sure interested in trying one.
pete
Ya, i’ve found that fibreglass/plastic/ rubber overmolded handles absorb vibrations better than a hickory handle.
Raoul
This seems like an odd place for carbon fiber. Have you seen what happens to it with blunt force? Like if you miss what you’re whacking? I would think a metal guard over the carbon handle would be better.
Travis
There is no real carbon fiber in these, it is listed as a carbon fiber composite.
Wayne
I’ll just say I’m glad I’m not in a field where the use of big hammers is regularly necessary. And I’ll add that, from the videos I’ve seen, anyone working on a drilling rig and who goes home with all his fingers seems a very lucky person.
Joe
We will definitely be getting these sledgehammers, have you seen a baseball bat crack and fly at the pitcher ? Now add a weight…hmmmm I’ll stick with these….
pete
absolutely, we don’t buy wood handled sledges anymore for that reason.
Brian A
Dewalt seems to be on this carbon fiber streak, wonder if its more gimmick than functional
Would like to see a comparison test of these versus my Wilton BASH hammers.
pete
Holy crap, i’ve used one of those bash hammers and they transfer the hit to your hands like no other.
Lance
Is this a real carbon fiber weave, or just a cheesy texture molded into the surface like their “carbon fiber” hammer tracker?
Nathan
I believe it’s actual carbon fibre – I’d love to get a cutaway but I suspect inside the core of the handle shaft is a axial wound CF core – think golf club shaft only thicker with thicker wall and stiff to a fault. – then there’s a fibre/cloth weave layup as the outer shield.
Reason I suspect that – CF shafts are remarkably cheap to buy and when designed right stronger than their steel counterparts.
Altan
I wish they were made of one piece of metal like Estwing sledge/club hammers, I have never seen sledge/club hammers made of one piece of metal bigger than 4lb, I was always thinking of a 8 or 12lb sledge hammer like this but I know it can be quite heavy, I would make it with one piece of metal and then drill it from the end of the handle to empty the handle partially to reduce the weight and then weld a piece of metal on top of the hole and grind it later, of course with a rubber on the handle. Would be a tool for a life and extremely safe. I never liked wood, fiberglass or carbon fibre for demolition tools, I don’t feel too safe with these materials.
Stuart
I think that cost, weight, and performance would be a problem with a tool like that.
Even if steel pipe or tube stock is used for the handle, it would contribute to a lot of weight.
When swinging a sledge hammer, or any striking tool, there are 2 major moment of inertia contributions – one coming from the mass at the end of the handle, and another coming from the weight distribution along the handle. Increase either component, and the hammer becomes harder to swing; it takes more energy.
What would the wall thickness have to be, for a long steel shaft to be strong and rigid, but also light enough where it doesn’t make the hammer too fatiguing to use? That’s not even talking about vibration damping.
Altan
I have demolished a lot of 4″ and 8″ brick walls with club hammers which were made of one piece of metal like Stanley and Estwing, 2-4lb. I was OK with them, just I wish the handle would be longer so I could stand a bit far from the wall while I demolish it 🙂 Pipe or tube stock is not a good idea, I was thinking of doing it by myself, but the handle would not have a rubber cover on it and would be slippery, Yes, I know it would be heavy but not for me (I am 190cm tall). Cost is a problem, I agree with you, but there are always some buyers for good tools, I would pay £100 for a hammer like this if it was made of one piece. There is an English saying says ” We are not rich to buy cheap things” when you buy cheap things you just keep buying the same thing :)) I remember in one project I had to buy three club hammers with wooden or fibre glass handles, they just keep breaking them, the cost the hammers was not a problem, but the cost of the time that I had to waste to go and buy another one was a problem. In UK and I am sure in US as well, time is more expensive than the tool itself in most cases.
Randy
Looks nice and it’s a good price point but Even at a significantly higher price I’m sticking with my 4lbs. and 8lbs. Wilton Bash sledges. Is the DEWALT axe a splitting axe or a general purpose axe?
Russell
They need to make an 8 and 10# hammer with about a 16″ handle for stake driving. I wouldn’t think anyone would want to cut down a carbon fiber composite handle.