This is the most versatile work station you will ever use
Articles Forums Gallery Marketplace Videos

WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Identify and use hundreds of woods

Wanta Make a Mallet

Posts

Wanta Make a Mallet

#1

Wanta Make a Mallet

Bob Hutchins in Central Texas

>Howdy All!

Got this cut-off of red oak that's 2.5" wide and about 30 inches long. Thought that might make a mallet to use with my chisels an' such.

My plan is to crosscut 3 sections about 4.75" long that I will glue together to make the head. Thought I'd rip the remainder to make the handle. IIRC, someone posted a pic of just such a laminated mallet where the handle was shaped to ensure that it interlocked with the head by flaring it out and then notching it to fit in the head. (Sorry, poor description but that's the best I can do.)

Does this ring a bell with anyone? I'd like to get dimensions for the pieces and parts but a pic would do.

Another question: could I make the part of the handle only 3/4" thick? Would this be too insubstantial for use as a mallet? I don't have any means to turn a handle and thought I'd just shape one to fit my hand out of the ripped stock.

TIA

BobH

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#2

Re: Plans *LINK*

Dave Mount

>There are dimensioned drawings at the link below. FWIW, not discouraging you from getting fancy if you're so inclined, but a simple friction fit with a tapered mortise is as secure as it needs to be. Hold the mallet upside down, bump the top of the handle on the bench, and you won't be knocking it loose.

Best,

Dave


Mallet plans

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#3

Thanks, Dave!

Bob Hutchins in Central Texas

>

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#4

Hmmmm?

Ron, Neosho, Wi.

>Not to be a nay sayer, but is Red Oak the best choice? Most mallets are made of very tight grained woods which cannot be said of Red Oak. Unless it is super tight grained I'd suggest waiting until you got a hold on something that is. I certainly have been wrong before (although nothing springs to mind), but if you were to do some really heavy hitting the oak night shatter.

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#5

Re: Hmmmm? - You're Absolutely Right

Bob Hutchins in Central Texas

>but I thought I'd practice on this scrap. It isn't meant to be an heirloom. When I get it right, I've got some dogwood that I'll use for the head.

Thanks for the response.

BobH

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#6

Oak mallet

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I made an oak mallet a few years back, and it seemed to work fine. The end grain compressed rather than splitting.

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#7

Re: Oak mallet

Warren Mickley

>I made a dogwood mallet that has endured twenty years of regular use. I made a one inch hole all the way through and secured an ash handle with a wedge. It has never loosened. The oak will work, ut it won't last.

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#8

here's the pic

Tom Sontag - St. Louis

>The center piece of the laminated head is crosscut on an angle that makes it fit right against the flared handle (you flip one of the cut pieces over). I did this to avoid the protruding handle end you see on those wimpy beech versions I saw at the woodshow this weekend. This allows you to stand it handle up. Glue it up and trim after the glue dries and Bob's your, well, Bob's still your name.


img

Re: Wanta Make a Mallet

#9

Thanks, Tom. And My Uncle was Robert

Bob Hutchins in Central Texas

>but that's pretty close.

Really appreciate the pic.

BobH

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.