Thu, Jun 3, 2004, 1:34am (EDT+4) snipped-for-privacy@noone.com (Phisherman) gurgled: I found that an old rawhide hammer I was wondering what other woodworkers use.
I've got one rubber mallet (for some unknown reason) and 7 turned carving type mallets I made when I got my wood lathe. Seldom use the rubber mallet, usually use one of the smaller/lighter turned mallets. They range from a small, quite light one, made from a downed pine tree on my property, up to a large, heavy, dogwood one, of several pounds, also from my property. Dog got ahold of maybe the lightest one, and chewed it up some, but still usable. I plan on getting a dead-blow hammer, mostly for some metal working I'm planning on. Other than that, I'll be using my homemade mallets. If I ever need another, all I'll need is a chunk of wood big enough, and maybe 5 minutes. Oh, yeah, they're all from trees on my property, and are pine, holly, dogwood, and, I believe, a couple out of hickory, and maybe oak. I highly recommend making some. I made one of the laminated hammer type mallets
- once - and would never make another - or want to use one again. The round type are much handier, and much easier, and faster, to make. No plans needed, just a wood lathe. Or you could bandsaw or scrollsaw something similar out of a 4X4 or 2X4. No prob.
I drilled a hole in the end of the handles, with a rawhide loop, so I could hang them. I think better to just make a small open bin and just stack them in there. Quicker, and easier, to get to that way.
And, make them flat on the big end. That way you can stand them up. Handy. If you're worried about them rolling (i'm not), just pine, or sand, a flat edge on them.
JOAT If you're offered free wood, take it, period; figure out what to use it for later.
- JOAT