I had never turned anything until learning how at the recent Stokes Stomp outreach, then helping a few kids make light sabers, this is the only thing I've ever turned. My buddy at work lives close to our work and he has a lathe. I had these rough chunks of walnut and something else (I think cherry). I'll be using the walnut for other mallet handles that I'll us the rest of this wood for (practicing mortising in the handles into the mallet heads).
I found a few mallet designs I liked online, roughed out the timber using the bandsaw and gave them to my buddy to rough out on his lathe. Today during lunch I turned the handle, finished shaping the head, and sanded. It fits my hand perfectly and has good weight. I can't wait to try it out with chisels !
I was thinking of putting a few coats of Danish oil on it but then again would that be a bad idea since I'll be beating with it ? Maybe just mineral oil instead ?
The mallet was turned from the timber in the middle in the pic below
I found a few mallet designs I liked online, roughed out the timber using the bandsaw and gave them to my buddy to rough out on his lathe. Today during lunch I turned the handle, finished shaping the head, and sanded. It fits my hand perfectly and has good weight. I can't wait to try it out with chisels !
I was thinking of putting a few coats of Danish oil on it but then again would that be a bad idea since I'll be beating with it ? Maybe just mineral oil instead ?
The mallet was turned from the timber in the middle in the pic below