My rock hammer head flew off at the worst time

I was out near Sedona last weekend trying to get a clean break on some sandstone. I gave my Estwing a solid swing and the head just flew off the handle, like a cartoon. It missed my foot by maybe six inches and landed in a prickly pear cactus. This thing is only two years old and I've taken pretty good care of it. I had to use my multi-tool to dig the head out of the cactus, which took forever and I got spines in my hands. The whole trip was basically over because that was my main tool. Has anyone else had a hammer fail like this? I'm thinking of just getting a whole new one instead of trying to re-handle it.

3 comments

3 Comments

lilykelly25d ago

Could the heat have messed up the handle glue too?

fox.derek1mo ago

Holy crap dude, that's some cartoon villain luck right there. The cactus catch is just the perfect insult on top of the injury, lmao.

simonh741mo ago

Check the epoxy holding the head on. I had a hatchet do the same thing, looked fine but the glue inside was totally dried out and cracked. The heat from your car or leaving it in the sun can wreck it over time. Might be worth splitting the old handle to see if it was a factory flaw before you buy a whole new hammer.