Replies

1. 
   SparrowHawk | Jun 28, 2003 12:39pm | #1

   Hi Fred,

   At last something I have some experience with! I'm new to fine woodworking but have experience in carving (caricatures, sculptures etc). I have tried both the round and square/rectangular heads and have gravitated to the round for three reasons. First, you can just pick it up and not worry about alignment. Secondly, they are better balanced - all the head weight is equally spread about. And third, they are wrapped in a cushioning plastic of some sort which is easier on the butts of the tools it strikes. You might think it would be mushy feeling compared to wood but I don't find it so. You are correct that the weight is determined by what you intend to use it for. I have found that 12 oz. is fine for anything I have attempted. It will tire you out quickly if you constantly have to lift extra weight that you don't need - same principle as with sledge hammers. If your gouges and chisels are sharp they should do the cutting ... not the blow - as opposed to sledge hammers. :+)

   HTH,
   Ken

1. 
   BG | Jun 28, 2003 01:07pm | #2

   Sparrowhawk,

   That is good info, thanks. Like Fred, I too have been searching for a mallet but have not known what to look for.  I've been using a rubber mallet which works but, as you indicated, orientation of the head has to be maintained.  Also, I don't like the top heavy feel...puts more strain on the wrist bones and tendons.

   Here is my question: There are metal head round mallets out there and wooden head round mallets....do you have a preference?..or is the reason for the different materials to add or subtract weight?  Thanks

1. 
   SparrowHawk | Jun 28, 2003 01:19pm | #4

   Hi BG,

   I have no direct experience with metal round mallets but I would avoid any metal for carving force. Wood is a forgiving material as is plastic so it will be far easier on your tools than metal. One advantage to the plastic over the straight wood is "healing". Sometimes you will strike a bit off and that will leave a gouge in the head - this is especially a fact of life with a round head. Gouges in wood are going to be there forever and if there are enough of them the mallet could be somewhat compromised in places. The plastic, on the other hand, seems to heal much better from such blows so that the mallet will have a longer useful life.

   Ken

1. 
   BG | Jun 28, 2003 01:44pm | #5

   Ken,

   Thanks, now I'll go out an buy the last one before Fred wakes up....lol

2. 
   BG | Jun 28, 2003 01:15pm | #3

   Fred,

   Lucky stiff..I'm dieing to try the Two Cherries...

   I can tell you the Sorby tip will roll if I use a mallet on a vertical chop...only the Japaneese has held up under vertical pounding.  I suspect the Two Cherries will hold up well too.  However, when ever possible I chop on the horitontal..which makes all my chisel tips last so much longer....and I save the Sorby for paring which it is great for...

1. 
   bjpearce | Jun 28, 2003 04:29pm | #8

   What sort of Sorby chisels bo you have BG? i've been looking for a replacement for my Marples Blue chips, and was wondering how the Sorbys would stack up agains the new up and coming Lee Nelsons.

   Ben

1. 
   BG | Jun 28, 2003 05:41pm | #9

   Ben,

   I've been testing different chisels...trying to buy one or two of each ...so I only own one Sorby, the 1".  However, others have complained about the edge rolling also when pounded.  The thin, flat, long blade on the octagon shaped handle has a nice feel for paring...at least for me.  I have three japanesse, love their sharpness and hardness but because of their shortness they can't meet all the needs either.  The Two Cherry may be a happy medium.  However, to be perfectly honest, I suspect what ever you get used to is more important than all the minor details....except of course when it comes to re-sharpening.

   Now, when it comes to the mythical LN chisels....wow, they are terrific...and right now cost nothing....lol

   Edited 6/28/2003 10:43:13 AM ET by BG

1. 
   SCFrankland | Jun 28, 2003 06:50pm | #11

   I just got a e-mail from LN and the stated that there new chisels will be out in a few months.  Cannot wait to try them out.  I am hoping they will be ready for the woodworking show here this fall.Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

1. 
   BG | Jun 29, 2003 12:05am | #13

   Scott,

   Thanks for sharing the news from LN.  Their fall starts about the middle of Augest..

2. 
   fredb | Jun 29, 2003 07:36am | #14

    Hi again all,

   OK – OK – While I was sleeping last night and cleaning a house full of windows "all day" today, were all the rubber covered mallets bought up? If so I guess I’ll have to sadly submit to a back order!

   I’m going to purchase the recommended round rubber-covered type. Since there will be carving in the future, it seems like a wise choice to start out with. I do have a lot of mail-order catalogs at hand but would greatly appreciate some hot tips on a good brand of mallet and possible suppliers (perhaps even “your” favorite model numbers).

   Thanks to all that have followed this thread chain. As a software developer that answers MANY questions in a different forum online, it’s nice to use this forum for “plain old fun”. There’s a world of knowledge here to be tapped into and I look forward to my time spent here.Kind regards - Fred

3. 
   jackiechan | Jun 29, 2003 08:18am | #15

   Fred,

   As you have decided upon a urethane mallet, I would recommend buying the Shop Fox brand from Grizzly.  They are identical to the ones that you see in most catalogs, with the exceptions that they are bright red (urethane) as opposed to the common green mallets, and for the fact that (as an example) the Grizzly/Shop Fox 18oz mallet costs $19.95, and the identical one (in green) cost $39.99 from Woodcraft.

   Here's a link to the Grizzly/Shop Fox mallets

   http://www.grizzly.com/products/items-list.cfm?&listtype=keyword&keywords=mallet&StartRow=11Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

4. 
   SCFrankland | Jun 29, 2003 01:53pm | #16

   Check out this link if you are looking to buy a mallet.

   http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=43688&category=1,41504&ccurrency=1&SID=Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

5. 
   BG | Jun 29, 2003 02:05pm | #17

   Scott,

   Both you and Ian mentioned turning your own mallets...I like the price of that....however, what I paid for 16/4 cherry yesterday ....$18 per foot.

   Anyhow, you mentioned using soft wood.  Can you share what the dimensions..and what the weight?...and if you wanted to add a little weight where would you do it (length, head size, etc.)?

6. 
   SCFrankland | Jun 29, 2003 11:10pm | #18

   I make my mallets out of both hard and softwood.  I prefer the hardwood for my Marples blue chip chisels where a harder blow is needed to cut dovetails or mortises.  I use softwoods mallets on my carving chisels most because the softwood will dent and take the brunt of the damage when striking the tool.  I have turned mallets out of branches, scrap blocks left over from projects, dried firewood or what ever happens to be around.  I always turn my mallets to a size that fits my hands so each mallet is a little different depending on what it is going to be used for.  Bigger mallets for chisels small mallets for carving. 

   I use pine for my carving chisel because it is cheap and very soft.  A mallet will usually last me a few months before it needs to be replaced.  I use birch for heavier work and they last for years.

   The mallet is 9" long 2 1/4" wide and the face is at a 5 deg angle.Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

   
7. 
   BG | Jun 30, 2003 12:36am | #19

   Scott,

   Thanks, that is very helpful.  I've got a hunk of 16/4 poplar about 3 feet long.  My hands are large also so maybe a 9-10" long with a 3.5 or so hitting end would work fine.  I don't do any carving......yet.  I guess i could always drop some threaded rod or something in the end if more weight was needed...but that probably won't be necessary. 

8. 
   SCFrankland | Jun 30, 2003 01:38pm | #20

   Unless you are into timber framing then I wouldn't worry to much about a bigger or heavier mallet.  Remeber you still have to swing it and if your are doing a lot of chisel work than you won't be sorry with a lighter mallet.Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

3. 
   Crunk | Jun 28, 2003 03:50pm | #6

   I've got a Beech square head and a round, urethane covered (18 oz.) mallet. 

   The wooden mallet makes an ear splitting crack when driving a mortise chisel.  I really only use the round head mallet now because the urethane cover substantially reduces the sound.  It was a little harder to get used to, but not that hard - say one or two practice mortises. 

4. 
   SCFrankland | Jun 28, 2003 04:24pm | #7

   I make all my own mallets.  I prefer the round heads because they offer better control.  I will always turn mine out of a soft wood that way the mallet takes the brunt of the damage.  I will turn several out of scrap blocks of wood or raid the neighbors firewood pile.  I custom build my mallets for my own needs, I have big hands so I like a to make the mallet so it fits in my hand so I can get the greatest amount of control.  I think the weight of my mallets is around 8oz to 12oz depending on what I need the mallet for.  Heavier mallets are for bench chisels lighter mallets are for carving.

   Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

5. 
   IanC | Jun 28, 2003 06:35pm | #10

   Fred,  Turning mallets is a simple and satisfying project if you have access to a lathe.  The one I use most often was made from a well seasoned dogwood limb.  As Scott said, you can personalize the handle and heft.  It seems like a round mallet would tend to glance off the end of the chisel but that is not the case at all. 

   Ian

6. 
   JeffKurtz | Jun 28, 2003 07:32pm | #12

   Fred,

   I believe the "square headed" mallets are designed for joinery applications such as chopping mortises, which can need a bit of a wallop.  The round headed variation can provide more subtle control, making it an excellent choice for carving applications.

   Jeff

7. 
   Michael6255 | Jun 30, 2003 02:49pm | #21

   Fred,

   I've got the round polyurethane mallet as well.  Eagle America has some on salew rught now.  Go to their Specials...or Closeouts and you'll find them.

   Mike

1. 
   Crunk | Jul 01, 2003 12:26am | #22

   Yep, Eagle America's sale price is about half of what I paid for mine.