I use this hammer every day professionally as a trailer mechanic to install or remove metal parts from other metal parts. For this purpose it worked very well. My last hammer was a steel head with a wooden handle, and I worried about the safety of everyone around me every time I swung it. I was afraid to use a full metal hammer because of the vibration, but the rubber material absorbs vibration surprisingly well. The hammer itself is very well balanced and its movement feels natural. The finish comes off easily with metal-to-metal contact, which is what I use it for, but the hammer doesn't appear to be physically damaged. I highly recommend this hammer. I use both 2 and 4 pounds.