Hand Tools: Tiny Titan

Reviewed by:
Scott Gibson, Contributing Editor

One axiom of carpentry has always been the bigger the nail, the bigger hammer you'll need to drive it. Stiletto sought to upend that thinking, and make life more comfortable for carpenters, by introducing hammers with light titanium heads to replace the steel that's traditionally used.

According to the manufacturer, the Titan 12-oz. hammer develops the same driving power as a 21-oz. steel hammer, but is much less tiring to use. Stiletto says the design also produces less recoil than a steel hammer. The hammer has a magnetic nail holder for starting nails when you have only one hand to spare. It's available with a smooth or milled face. In December 2004, the Titan 12-oz. cost about $80.