Hand hammer warranty

[teknik]

Hello, I´m working for a company on a new hand hammer development, and I hope you can help me. I have a question about warranty. What is the normal warranty applied on hand hammers? I have seen that some brands offer lifetime warranty, what does it exactly mean? because a hand hammer is a tool for striking and it can be broken. Does it cover the expected life of the product? I have seen on the internet that the expected life of a hand hammer is around 10 years.
Appart from this if a hand hammer exceeds the ASME B107.400 standard, what would be the correct warranty? Also, do you know if there are any more rigous standard than ASME B107.400?
Hope you can help me with this.
Thanks a lot.
Regards.

 

[johnwc812]

Hi
Most firms that give a "lifetime warranty" expect a very small % of claims especially if no moving parts/electrics/electronics are involved.
Who can find a invoice from 10 years ago? Tends to be a good bit of advertising with very little cost.
Cheers John

 

[teknik]

Thanks for your comment johnwc812, good point of view.
Regards.

 

[twothumbs]

The problem...not with hammers......is that you can usually find some abuse in a tool that breaks, so a bit of an out there. I support the idea of still having a receipt from your apprentice days as you approach retirement. If tools lasted for ever no one would need to make any new ones. Designing a new hammer is bit like designing a new eating fork. Very interesting. Best wishes.

Added...I had a Record no 40 dado plane I think it was which after a week old fell of a table and the handle broke. One call to Record and a new handle came through in the post...no charge. That was 40 years ago.

 

[Jacob]

About 50 years ago I bought a socket set "guaranteed for life" . Well the ratchet has gone in the ratchet handle, but I can't find the receipt! If I can remember who the ferkers were I'll be round there like a shot!

Talking of hammers - having just bought a Stanley FatMax Xtreme Anti Vibe Curve Claw Hammer 570g 20oz 151164 and an Estwing Straight Claw Framing Hammer/Vinyl Grip - 30oz neither of them guaranteed for life but I think they'll see me out.

 

[jimi43]

I have a Trotter hammer which must be at least two lifetimes old and it hasn't broken yet.

Mind you...it's had three handles and two new heads in that time! :mrgreen:

Coat? Ok...bye....

Jim

 

[Cheshirechappie]

About 50 years ago I bought a socket set "guaranteed for life" . Well the ratchet has gone in the ratchet handle, but I can't find the receipt! If I can remember who the ferkers were I'll be round there like a shot!

Well, if the ratchet's broken, it's life has ended, so it's out of guarantee. No need to find the receipt!

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Years ago, when nobody thought twice about putting a new handle on a hammer head (and ironmongers stocked handles and wedges as a matter of course) the question of guarantee on a hammer would only really apply to the head. If one of the striking faces were to chip, or mushroom, a decent manufacturer would regard that as defective material or workmanship and replace it without charge.

Nowadays, everybody is so used to disposable everything that when somebody breaks a hammer shaft, they'd as like as not just buy a new hammer. (Indeed, I have several excellent ball pein hammers for just that reason - got the discarded heads out of the scrap bin, bought new handles and wedges and fitted them.)

Even with hammers having the head and shaft forged as one piece, there's the question of life of the handgrip. No easy answer, really!

 

[Dovetaildave]

According to a motor mechanic friend he buys snap*n tools as they advertise lifetime.....He says if you approach them (van or Headoffice) with the broken item they'll change it there and then, without reciept as they know its theirs, nothing to do regarding the retailer and where/when you bought it.

When I was training in carpentry and joinery 585.1 the Stanley sales rep came and did a demonstration.....spell binding worked that Yankee, boring, countersinking ect....poetry in motion, answering questions, jokes without missing a beat...fantastic ! He went on to say that one of their hammers (metal tublar shaft, black rubber perforated handle could withstand a 5 tonne presure, ie digger driving over it.

 

[RogerP]

According to a motor mechanic friend he buys snap*n tools as they advertise lifetime.....He says if you approach them (van or Headoffice) with the broken item they'll change it there and then, without reciept as they know its theirs, nothing to do regarding the retailer and where/when you bought it.

I can confirm that - even ones bought at a car boot :shock:

 

[pip1954]

hi all i suppose what is a life time if you get put away it's 10-15years so it depends who life .
i bought eswing 20 ounce (hammer) reason was reputation .
i think you need a name a lot of big companys start by ether selling cheap to get a lot out there or a lot of advertising to get the name known.
all the best
pip

 

[teknik]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I appreciate it.
I have been making some tests. I can comment you some aspects. In the static tensile test, which consist of putting the hand hammer in an horizontal plane an load a weight at a distance of 10 in. Depending of the weight of the hammerhead there are some requirements. According with the Asme standard and the weight of the hammer (between 20 and 32 oz (566 - 907gr) the weight of the load must be 150lbs (68kg) - I have made some test with this size & weight (small size) adding different weights and the handle support 340 lbs (154kg) with no problems. After loading 384 lbs (174Kg) it resists with no problems during 10 minutes but it has a little permanent deformation after removing the load weight. I have been adding some weight until the breaking point, which is between 428 lbs and 450 lbs (194Kg - 204Kg). The permanent deformation can be a kind of advise for the user.
I have also made some test with the big one. The Asme standard says the weight should be 175 lbs (79,4Kg) and the results are very similar.
I have to continue making several test, before launching the product.
Appart form this, at this moment I am evaluating the price, do you know how does the hand tool market work? I mean do you know which are the normal margins (for profit)? For example if a company sells a product at 10 units (pounds or euros) which is the final price of the product? I suppose it can´t be the same if it´s a direct sell to the shop/retailer than if there is a distributor. I know it is not an easy question, but if anyone can help me I would appreciate it.
Thanks for your time.
Regards.