Magna-Matic has come out with a new dead-blow precision machinist hammer, model PSDB1. This is a CNC-machined steel hammer that is said to be a serious hammer for serious work, and Magna-Matic also says it’s the world’s only all-steel hammer of its kind.
Also check out their new precision screwdriver!
5 years ago, a GJ forum member produced small scale batches of a beautiful machinist hammer. It seems he stopped making and selling them. There were plenty of buyers for the $130 hammer, but maybe he just couldn’t find the time. This new Magna-Matic hammer reminds me of Paulding’s, but only smaller and available for a fraction of the price.
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The hammer comes with three faces – brass, hardened steel, and Delrin plastic. Two attach to the hammer head, and one attaches to the bottom of the handle. All three faces can be screwed to any of the three positions.
Any of the interchangeable tips can be screwed into the bottom of the handle for when only a gentle tapping force is needed.
Each interchangeable face comes with an o-ring to help ensure they don’t back off or loosen during use.
Inside the hammer head, a powder coated solid steel slug provides the dead-blow action that multiplies the striking force. It should also help reduce recoil and vibrations.
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The one shown here has a silver powder coated finish, and there is also one with a black zinc finish, and one with a green zinc finish.
Replacement hammer faces are available for $6-9. Additional (optional) faces are also available, such as one with a cone-point steel tip and one with a round nose steel tip. Those are $9 each. I’m told that a rawhide head will also be available later in 2015.
First Thoughts
I really like how this machinist hammer was designed to have 3 positions for the interchangeable faces – this feature could be very handy for tasks that require gentle or more controlled force. It looks to have the same nice knurling as the screwdriver too.
If you don’t need dead-blow functionality all the time, why not take the steel slug out of the tool? That makes this a 2-in-1 machinist hammer. Maybe the steel slug can be stored in the handle, and if not maybe they’ll read this and consider the idea.
Price: $55.49 (silver), $56.49 (green, black)
Buy Now(Silver hammer via Magna-Matic)
Buy Now(Other hammers and replacement tips)
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Nathan
wny mention of weight – or possible interchangeable dead weights?
IE, 8oz and an optional X oz slug of tungsten. something like that.
beautiful work.
fred
I had an uncle who worked in an aircraft factory during WWII. It closed up shop soon thereafter. One of the tool legacies that he left to me were a couple of tungsten bucking bars.
rhyino
Info from Magna-Matic CS Department:
Dimensions: 1″ diameter head – 10.5″ long – 3.5″ head width
Weight = 1 lb 9 oz (total weight)
http://www.magna-matic-defense.com/product-p/psdb1z.htm
Scott
From the product description on the website http://www.magna-matic-direct.com/product-p/psdb1z.htm
“If you have a job where light gentle tapping is required, you can remove the steel slug, and store it in the handle of the PSDB1.”
PatrickA51
Not a bad price for either their Screwdriver or their Hammer.
Kevin smith
Awesome! I was unemployed during the Paulding’s hammer release. I just ordered a Magna-Matic.
Jim popiel
Ugh. Bought it. Head cracked in half during first use, driving aluminum tent peg as a wedge, to free trim board. (I bought it for my compact high end tool box. Wera, Knipex, etc. A t-shaped aluminum tent peg weighs little and takes up virtually no space, if nested). Two emails to magna matic remain unanswered. Maybe I’ll machine a new hammer to take their fittings, as it’s a useful design for my purposes.
Jim
Magna- matic replaced the hammer body, so all is well.
Stuart
Thank you for the update! I’m glad to hear everything worked out well for you, and that they stood by the product.
Jim
Yikes. After three more uses on medium duty jobs, the new hammer broke in a similar spot! I’ll let the company know but I’ve lost confidence in the construction.