Replies

1. 
   Samson | Dec 25, 2006 05:31pm | #1

   Round headed mallets are typically thought of as carver's mallets, to be used to drive carving tools with precision.  The advantage of a round head is that every side is the face, i.e., there is no need to spare even a glance to ensure the mallet is lined up and ready to strike properly as might be necessary with a square head flat-faced mallet.

   While round heads are usually thought of as for lighter work with carving tools, etc., larger round ones work perfectly fine for most any chisel driving task, including mortising and dovetails.  It's largely a matter of personal preference.

   Square head mallets are typically thought of as carpenter's and cabinetmakers' mallets.  A choked up grip on a 25 ounce (3 1/2 x 4 x 5 1/2 roughly) hard wood head is the preferred method for mortising and the other heavier chopping duties.  Again, I personally think it's a matter of what you like and are used to.

   
   

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   Edited 12/25/2006 9:34 am ET by Samson

1. 
   jazzdogg | Dec 25, 2006 08:37pm | #3

   "The advantage of a round head is that every side is the face, i.e., there is no need to spare even a glance to ensure the mallet is lined up and ready to strike properly as might be necessary with a square head flat-faced mallet."

   And because of this, I find a round mallet far less taxing to use because I can relax my grip on the handle during the up-swing; with a flat headed mallet my wrists, forearms, and hands fatigue more unless the shape of the handle enables me to maintain the correct orientation without looking (which enables me to relax my grip on the up-swing).

   Some may think I'm over-cautious, but I wear hearing protection whenever I use a hammer or mallet because the transients produced by hammer blows are loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage.

   My favorite mallet has a head made of lignum vitae.-Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

2. 
   AB | Dec 25, 2006 08:21pm | #2

   Merry Christmas sflund, Holly turns very well, it takes details good and its a bit soft for heavy mallet work. I would find another way to enjoy the Holly. You will love the way it turns.
   Cheers

3. 
   teabags | Dec 25, 2006 10:02pm | #4

   hello the round headed mallet is mainly used by carvers or in the joinerers shop for light driving of hand tools, the larger square headed mallet will be used more for assembling doors etc . The normal two flat faces will take some dents etc from chisel heads ( morticing etc ) so the sides which are usualy slightly barrelled are used for assembly work without leaving dents and bruising to the work.

          suggest square first round second.   turn a nice round lidded box from the holly.

       regards Teabag

1. 
   jazzdogg | Dec 26, 2006 08:29am | #5

   "the larger square headed mallet will be used more for assembling doors"

   I understand your preference completely. It's always interesting to see the tools and processes different people use to tackle the same task. I usually use a so-called Dead-Blow mallet and a rubber mallet for assembly, round mallets for carving and light joinery, and Square-headed mallets more for large-scale joinery , timber framing, etc.

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   sflund | Dec 26, 2006 03:01pm | #6

   Thanks for your responses. Maybe a chess set from the holly? (with some purchased ebony)

   Steve