Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Dec 18, 2009 06:59pm | #1

   Mallet - isn't that a hair
   Mallet - isn't that a hair style worn by woodworkers? ;-)

   My preference is 0°, so the "interface" is consistent with other hammers.

1. 
   jeffs | Dec 24, 2009 08:54pm | #6

   Philip Lowe had a article in FWW a couple years ago- check it out for his suggestions on dimensions.

   https://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolGuide/ToolGuidePDF.aspx?id=27778

2. 
   Eef | Dec 18, 2009 08:26pm | #2

   zab,
   am i trippin' or is that
   zab,

   am i trippin' or is that 4.5" length a tad short? metal mallet maybe? three of the six mallets in my digs are wood/lathe-turned affairs that serve me well. very fun to make one's own. i suspect you've an intuitive grasp on that three to five degree pitch. are there no mallet specs on line perhaps? let us see how you did.

   eef

3. 
   gdblake | Dec 18, 2009 08:42pm | #3

   Zabo:

   You are correct in your assessment that those mallets with an standard angled face are at 3 to 5 degrees. I would suggest that you make a mallet or two out of junk wood and vary the angle from none to 5 degrees until you find the sweet spot for you. When I have turned mallets on the lath I liked to give them a slight bulge so that by changing the distance from my wrist to the work I can make adjustments that allow me to strike the chisel or whatever squarely.

   gdblake

4. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 19, 2009 07:51pm | #4

   Just what I do.

   My favorite mallet is a very old. I made it from a large branch of a Maple tree that broke off. Yes, it was a dead branch and hard as a rock! It was rough formed on a bandsaw with four flat faces and then I hand carved the handle.

   Note: I drilled about a one inch diameter hole in it the depth of the approximate six inch long striking surface and then filled it with molten lead I had left over after installing new cast iron plumbing drain (Yes, my plumbing work passed inspection). No explosive issues with the lead pour because the wood very dry. I added a glued on cap.

   Three faces are flat and one with a slight radius. Not sure what the degree is but it is slight. I think I just made it like my favorite long handle framing hammer.

   The slight radius is flat in most places now...

   I still love that old hunk of junk... In fact, it split in half once and now held together with glue and wooden hand made maple dowels.

   I can smash things with it all day long and it never gives up! I am not sure what kind of Maple tree it came from but I think NOT rock maple.

   I call it a silver maple. I have three out front and all grew old as multi trunk. Two as two main trunks and one as three trunks. I love those trees but all year long they are spitting down to the ground something! They sure make a mess in Spring, Summer and Fall.. Winter time they can stand ALOT of ice and only the dead branches break off.

   I would say.. Forget all I said above but be SURE, whatever you make.. FIT the handle to your hand! Make it feel comfortable in your hand.. The striking surface, if hard, will work whatever it is.

5. 
   TomHigby | Dec 24, 2009 05:42pm | #5

   I've used mallets with and
   I've used mallets with and without angled faces, without noticing the difference. Just make the mallet and start pounding!

   Tom

6. 
   BG | Dec 25, 2009 05:45am | #7

   Zabo2,

   My experience has me coming at this question from a different point of view. About 5 years ago I made up several mallets, maple, oak and a scrap piece of poplar. The maple and oak were bandsaw cut and very nice. The poplar was turned on the lathe, about 12" long, 4-5" head tapered from about 3.5" to 2"...a shaped handle. I've never used anything but that crappy poplar mallet, Ha.

   The truth is I think lighter is better. I have very little occasion to pound away on my fine chisels. Gentle taps work well and preserve the edge. The one time when I did pound away (building workbench)it bent my Japanese chisel.

   So for me it doesn't make sense to be holding some big heavy mallet at an awkward angle and then use about 2% of its mass. I use lighter and the slope keeps my elbow down with less stress on the wrist.

7. 
   Zabo2 | Dec 26, 2009 02:22pm | #8

   Thanks for all the comments. I think I'll go with a slight angle of 3 degrees and try that. I'm using some very hard old oak which I had laying around the shop so if it doesn't work there's nothing lost and I'll try something else.

   Thanks ZABO