When I took on the first day at my new company It was in the middle of January and the ground was frozen solid. Well luck would have it that our hammer drill broke, and we had to use an Olympia 8lb Fiberglass Sledge to drive a steel chisel into the ground for points that needed to be set.


Description

8 LB, Sledge Hammer, 36" Double Injected Fiberglass Handle With Shock Absorbing Grip Zone, Integral Overstrike Protection, Drop Forged, High Carbon Steel, Hardened & Tempered Head, Machined Striking Faces & Chamfers.


Features

• 8-pound sledge hammer
• Reinforced 36-inch fiberglass handle
• High carbon steel head
• Polished and chamfered striking faces


Personal Experience

I have to be comfortable with the tools I am using or my work suffers greatly. The handle is my major issue as the construction fiberglass, but the sledge head is composed of high carbon steel and performed well. I did make some modifications to the handle as it was unbalanced and very long, so I cut it down to about half the size, then used duck tape towards the bottom to give it a griping area. The sledge worked well for drilling points into the ground, and I have slowly learned how to be comfortable with the tool.


The Swing

With a longer handle and a heavy head the hammer itself does more of the driving work. Although the hammer itself is a bit heavier, nearly 8 lbs, once you learn how to swing a sledge hammer your days work will become easier. The handle claims to reduce shock, but my experience was typically the opposite when the head of the hammer slammed into a metal chisel or concrete surface. Keep in mind many people swing a sledge differently some have the over the shoulder method, other use the drop knee method, and I have seen some people come completely over their head method.


Durability

Because the head is composed of hard steel it continues to take harsh abuse and punishment without replacement or repair, but the handle is indeed ready for replacement. I am fairly certain that the hammer head could easily last a lifetime without replacement.


Handle

The Olympia 8 Pound Fiberglass Sledge Hammer, handle is comprised of fiberglass with a plastic exterior, one or two good misses will damage the plastic and expose the fiberglass. Fiberglass handles, in my experience leaves you with small slivers that irritate your skin after a missed swing, once the fiberglass is exposed and suffers several other blows the handle will easily snap and require replacement. Plastic handles chip, ding, and do not reduce vibrations caused by heavy swings or hard hits. I personally do not prefer the handle, as the plastic is difficult to grip and does not reduce vibrations from hard hits. For some reason I prefer a wooden handle as it is lighter in weight and easier to grip.


Recommendation

When it comes to sledge hammers I usually recommend a swing guard, which is a rubber piece that fits over the handle up to the hammer head and provides protection in case of a missed swing. This is a wise investment for under $10. The hammer did provide a decent amount of force to do the job, but I have used other sledges in the same category with better results and a higher level of comfort.


Final thoughts

The durability of the hammer head is easily my favorite aspect, along with a heavy swing for driving points into the frozen or hard earth. I prefer a 10lb or 15lb sledge if available, but seeing this came with our equipment my choices were somewhat limited. The hammer could easily be used for assistance in chopping lumber, breaking up slabs of concrete, and pounding in almost any point that requires a larger amount of force than a standard hand hammer.

I am just realizing how many different tools I have used for both my job and at home, hopefully this was helpful for you. Thanks for stopping by.


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Recommended: No