Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum My first attempt at a one piece mallet

I keep looking for a hornbeam tree where the branch grows straight out from the trunk forming a perfect handle and allowing pounding on the end grain. This would be the ultimate mallet.

I have used a number of these club type mallets. Most have worn away and cracked after a couple of frames. I do like my end grain mallet I have now. A chip knocked off the side reveals a very gnarly, woven grain, Lignam Vitae I am told. It is a well used mallet picked up at a yard sale, most likely older than I am.

Tim