Tommy Swaan has been a commercial builder in The Netherlands for more than a decade. From his first day on the job, he has been obsessed with collecting the very best gear and tools for every aspect of his trade. And Estwing tools are among his favorites.
But Tommy’s connection with Estwing is a bit more personal than just liking great tools. He inherited his first Estwing hammer from his godfather who passed away when Tommy was just a teenager.
“My godfather was a carpenter all his life and used the same Estwing hammer his entire career. When I started working in construction, his wife gave me his beloved Estwing,” Tommy said. “I was so happy and proud, especially thinking of what he had built over the years with that hammer. I used it every day for four years, and it was the most prized tool in my belt.”
“My godfather was a carpenter all his life and used the same Estwing hammer his entire career. When I started working in construction, his wife gave me his beloved Estwing.”
Unfortunately, Tommy’s company van was stolen and his cherished hammer along with it.
“When I saved enough to buy tools again, the first thing I bought was the same type of Estwing my godfather left me, a claw hammer with leather grip,” Tommy said.
When he needed something with a bit more kick for heavier jobs, Tommy bought an Estwing pick hammer with a leather grip.
“I was doing some concrete work at the time and some stick welding here and there, so it was a good hammer,” he said. “But I’m a hammer-holic, so I added an Estwing Ultra Series framing hammer, 19 oz., to my toolbelt.”
The next hammer on his wish list is the AL-PRO™.
“I know all my hammers will last me a lifetime,” Tommy said. “Thank you, Estwing, for making such iconic, strong and durable hammers. They will be in my toolbox forever.”
