A fine new mallet.

[derekl_1963]

hrollaug offered to teach a 'Intro to Turning' class, and being interested in turning I signed up... I spent Sunday afternoon in his shop under his (very!) patient tutelage, and without any bloodshed and a minimum of cursing made a simple mallet:



Thanks Ralph!

Comments

[courtierka.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful!

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!

...

What's it for? (Yes, I know, "hitting things." What type of things?)

[brenda333.livejournal.com]

It's fantastic!

[derekl1963.livejournal.com]

It's for my workshop, I'll use it for... hitting things! :) :)

What, you expected me to pass up a straight line like that?

Seriously, it's for tapping things into place where you want something that isn't as hard as your usual metal hammer. Also, the increased contact area (it's about 2-1/2' between the stripes) spreads the force over a larger area. These two together mean you are less likely to damage your workpiece.

The short handle means greater control.

The same (general) type of mallet has been used by wood and stone carvers since about forever...

[renartthefox.livejournal.com]

vera nice! I am certain Brenda will have many uses for it, may you ne'er wake to lumps on your noggin!

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

Very pretty!

I love the swirly grain of the wood.

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

I should have been even more specific. I've seen mauls like that used by wood and stone carvers; I wouldn't use it for leather because it would bounce too much.

[derekl1963.livejournal.com]

You can avoid bounce by making a 'deadblow' version of the mallet.

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

Yeah... but I have three poly mallets and two deadblow hammers. I think I'm all plussed up on striking implements.

In fact, my husband used one of my deadblow hammers to flatten veal cutlets for his version of weinerschnitzel tonight. YUMMY.