Question about mallets

[StephenK]

did anyone ever take Roy's class on the "Magical dovetail mallet?"

his new book, "Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker" Comes with a measured drawing of the mallet. Legend has it, playing the following video backwards one can hear the secret to cutting the joints without fail, every time.
http://blog.lostartpress.com/2014/11/26/roy-underhill-reads-calvin-cobb-radio-woodworker/

 

[Roy G]

I made one out of persimmon many years ago. Still use it and am amazed it hasn't fallen apart. i also made one about 18" long that i use to pound stakes into the ground when i need stakes around a post when I plumb up the post. i have some elm that I have been contemplating using to make a mallet.

Roy G

 

[SubGuy]

Just bought a 12oz Wood is Good Mallet. Like it so far!

 

[richlife]

I too prefer a poly mallet like this one: http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/141039/Wood-Is-Good-Mallet-18--oz-2-34-Head.aspx . I have both a 12 oz. and 18 oz. and use them pretty much exclusively. For me they are comfortable to hold and are much less tedious to work with. Switching from hand to hand is no problem at all. Also available from Amazon.

Rich

 

[SubGuy]

Zach, find a nice block of wood and send it South. I am sure one of your NCWW friends who owns a spinny thingie could make you one.

I appreciate the gesture, but I was over using a trim hammer and I just started upgrading my chisels. Got a set of Narex Mortise Chisels and didn't want to abuse the butt as my old cheap yellow Stanley's have a metal butt. I got the wood is good and I am happy. Maybe in the future I will get a mallet made or make one myself.

 

[danmart77]

Which is your preference for
a)chisel work
b)carving

I use the carving mallet. I have turned down some maple and walnut mallets that work well for what I do. The heavy mallets are just too much for the work that I do as a general rule. I guess the short answer is -- make several mallets for different jobs and see which one you use the most.

One recommendation: make the top of the carving mallet(round) flat or slightly concave. It makes it easy to rest in the vertical position when you set it on the bench top. I just can not ust mallets that are domed on the top and you have to lay them down where they roll around. Good Luck

 

[richlife]

Ditto on that recommendations, Dan.