The One Tool That Lets You Tear It Down and Build It Back Again

DeWalt, a U.S. manufacturer nearing its centennial, is best known for its standout 20-volt MAX power tools. The inspiration for the 22-oz. Demo hammer came from job-site visits, where product development, engineering, and research teams observed residential construction workers turning to chisels and crowbars to handle slightly bent boards. A regular hammer isn’t as effective when you need to punch through drywall or twist and knock away loose framework. DeWalt’s uber-hammer has the ­built-in capability to wrangle 2x4s, plus a larger strike face to drive nails, a side nail-puller to use in confined spaces, and an enlarged claw to give you better leverage.

A common claw hammer will set you back from $10 for a basic fiberglass model to $200 for a titanium one from Stiletto Tools. But those looking to do some damage will usually turn to a heavier-duty framing hammer with a straight claw—better for prying and other demolition work. Professional crews use 2-pound hammers such as the Vaughan 707M or the Estwing (both about $30), which have steel handles and milled faces to grip framing nails. Then there’s the $70 Stanley Fubar, a prototype crowbar, wrench, and lumber-grabber. But its 8-pound weight doesn’t function as well as the 22-oz. for pounding nails. Pricing its hammer at $29.99, DeWalt is betting there’s a market somewhere in the middle.