Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Mallet wood identification
Wayne Leach
>After setting up my old Rockwell lathe yesterday and practicing beads and coves on a spindle until my arms ached, I wanted to try something else.
In my wood junk pile I spotted what I think was my wifes grandfathers old mallet head so I turned it to new wood and its beautiful, BUT, I need help in ID of it.
I spent a lot of time on ID sites but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated!
Waayne
Re: Mallet wood identification
Wayne Leach
>The PIC did not make it on first attempt!
Teak?
Jorge Castaneda ~ Downeast Maine
>
Re: Mallet wood identification
Jim Davies, Clayton, NJ
>Many of the old mallet heads were made from birch.
Re: Mallet wood identification
BJ
>At first glance the mallet head looks like Butternut to me. Some Elm has about the same color and would most likely make excellent mallet heads but the pores and how the growth rings are laid out, I am going to stay with Butternut.
Hickory Heartwood?
Dan Moening
>
Hickory or Sourwood or...
tdaniel
>something else. It is hard to say becuase the colors change as wood gets older. Is the wood heavy?
TD
Sure looks like Red Oak though
tdaniel
>
Re: Hickory Heartwood?
John Lucas
>Looks like Hickory to me as well.
Re: Mallet wood identification
Edward
>The wood looks as if it is ring porous. Judging by the color, I'd vote for hickory. Many mallets, were/are, of course, made out of hickory
Re: Hickory Heartwood?
Brad Vietje
>I'm on John's team(s):
Tennessee Hickories
Tennessee Tampers
Hickory Hammers
Hammerin' Hickories
Hickory Nuts (?)
Well, just having some fun -- I'd say the pore structure looks a lot like Hickory. Though there are a number of different Hickories, most of which do not grow here, they aren't all that diffrent from each other. The Red Oak I have has more medullary ray structure than the photo shows. I'd rule out Butternut because I surely wouldn't make a mallet out of it -- too soft.
Safe Spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
Re: Hickory or Sourwood or...
Wayne Leach
>The wood is not porous and medium heavy and the color is almost exactly as the image shows. Large growth rings in it!
I know it is NOT red oak, teak or birch. Not sure about maple but not like any maple I have.
I'm not real knowledgeable about hickory but it sounds like a winner and I wuill look further into it on the web.
Thaanks for taking the time to give me some clues.
Wayne
Re: Mallet wood identification
Ed in No.VA
>Wayne
Maple is difuse pourous so the rings would not show like the picture. Could be ash but I would also vote for hickory. Hickory was the wood traditionally used for mallet heads in this country.
Re: Mallet wood identification
Wayne Leach
>Thanks for input, I think it is hickory and I went online looking at pictures and its the closest I can find to a match. Its got a birch handle now as thats all I had!
Wayne
Re: Mallet wood identification
adrien
>Put it in a bowl of water and let us know if it floats or sinks.
Re: Mallet wood identification
William Westbrook
>Wayne I am going with OAK. I have several versions of oak on my property Burr Oak, Post Oak, Water Oak, and Red Oak. I also have Hickory. It looks a lot like Post Oak to me. The heart wood is dark and totally dense. Your picture, especially the end grain convinced me. Just my two cents.
Re: Mallet wood identification
Walter Ahlgrim
>Looks like ash to me
Re: Mallet wood identification
Wayne Leach
>I would like to thank everyone for their suggestions. For now it shall remain unknown as I am unable to positively identify it.
Regards,
Wayne
