DSCN2342 Five Mallets
I made all of these except for the delicate little antique model on the left, which was given to me just last summer.
'The Persuader' was made for setting small paving blocks, ('Unilock'), and originally the head was bound at each end with copper bands. Since the wood hadn't actually dried completely when I turned the tool it shrank a bit more and the bands became loose. By this time I knew I didn't need them, because the beech showed no signs whatever of splitting or fraying, so I took the bands off. The wear seen here represents about 4000 square feet of laying paths and driveway. Nowadays it is still in frequent use, mostly to drive tomato stakes and other plant supports in the summertime.
The 'General Purpose' is used primarily with straight chisels, when chopping mortises, cutting dowel ends off flush and so on.
I should never have made my first carving mallet out of walnut. The wood frays badly into sharp splintery slivers, as you can see; but I love it just the same because it is beautiful and well-balanced and I have done lots of bas-relief and some full round carving with it down the decades.
I made the little carving mallet above just last summer, needing a lighter tool for some very delicate panel decoration I was carving.
I cannot tell from what the sweet little mallet I was given is made. The patina of age has obscured the figure and original colour of the head, but I rather think it may be made of apple, or some other fruit wood.
DSCN2342 Five Mallets
I made all of these except for the delicate little antique model on the left, which was given to me just last summer.
'The Persuader' was made for setting small paving blocks, ('Unilock'), and originally the head was bound at each end with copper bands. Since the wood hadn't actually dried completely when I turned the tool it shrank a bit more and the bands became loose. By this time I knew I didn't need them, because the beech showed no signs whatever of splitting or fraying, so I took the bands off. The wear seen here represents about 4000 square feet of laying paths and driveway. Nowadays it is still in frequent use, mostly to drive tomato stakes and other plant supports in the summertime.
The 'General Purpose' is used primarily with straight chisels, when chopping mortises, cutting dowel ends off flush and so on.
I should never have made my first carving mallet out of walnut. The wood frays badly into sharp splintery slivers, as you can see; but I love it just the same because it is beautiful and well-balanced and I have done lots of bas-relief and some full round carving with it down the decades.
I made the little carving mallet above just last summer, needing a lighter tool for some very delicate panel decoration I was carving.
I cannot tell from what the sweet little mallet I was given is made. The patina of age has obscured the figure and original colour of the head, but I rather think it may be made of apple, or some other fruit wood.