Mortising chisel mallets
#19675
05/13/09 04:47 PM
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Thane O'Dell
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What are the best mallets for driving a mortising chisel? The wooden ones that I make don't last.
Thane
Life is short so put your heart into something that will last a long time.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Thane O'Dell]
#19680
05/13/09 05:30 PM
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,687
Jim Rogers
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I made my own hardwood head mallet some 8 or 9 years ago. And it's still going strong, though I don't use it every day. But I have used it every job since I made it....
I have just a 4"x4"x5" piece of red oak and a 1" dowel for a handle..because nine years ago, I didn't want to spend $46 for a carvers mallet at the tool store....you know the one with the round plastic head.....
What are you using that isn't lasting long?
Jim Rogers
Whatever you do, have fun doing it!
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Gabel]
#19690
05/14/09 10:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 53
kfhines
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I'll second Gabel's rawhide mallet. They are a lot easier on chisel handles as well.
kfhines
"When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right." Victor Hugo
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Thane O'Dell]
#19692
05/14/09 01:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
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daiku
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We sure love these Urethane Mallets
-- Clark Bremer Minneapolis Proud Member of the TFG
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: daiku]
#19695
05/14/09 02:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Gabel
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Clark, have you tried a garland?
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Gabel]
#19696
05/14/09 03:00 PM
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Posts: 344
Joel McCarty
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Garland is a fine old Maine company, still in the same family as the founders. They make all sorts of bizarre striking instruments from a variety of space age and Flintstone-era materials.
Get a shop tour if you can - in the room where they soak the bundles of water-buffalo hides to make those mallet faces timbeframers favor there is a giant waterbuffalo head on the wall, overseeing the operation, and wearing a New England Patriots cap.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Gabel]
#19700
05/14/09 03:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 895
daiku
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Clark, have you tried a garland? Yes, we have one around here, in the box of miscellaneous mallets we bring out for classes. It's probably the best choice amongst the "hammer-shaped" mallets. One minor concern with those is that you have one more piece of metal laying around on top of the timber to accidentally nick your chisel on. I suppose a lot of it comes down to what you've gotten used to. I tell my students that it's really not that important - as long as it feels comfortable in their hands. CB.
-- Clark Bremer Minneapolis Proud Member of the TFG
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Thane O'Dell]
#19701
05/14/09 03:56 PM
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Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 245
Tom Cundiff
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[img][IMG] http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r177/Edgeworks/Mallets.jpg[/img][/img] I make my wood mallets from Dogwood. It's sometimes hard to find a large enough piece to be free of heart so use a root or crotch if you can,Dogwood has interlocking grain so even with the checks it holds up well. It also turns very nice on the lathe. The large mallet held up better for peg driving than my Garland (thats why it has new faces on it). I use the Urethane mallet the most because my wrist feels better at the end of the day. If I really have to move a lot of wood, nothing beats the Garland.
Not all who wander are lost.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Tom Cundiff]
#19722
05/14/09 10:09 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 718
Dave Shepard
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I use a blocky Japanese mallet. I have a Garland around here somewhere, but haven't tried it yet. The Japanese mallet is lighter than the Garland. Heavier might be a little better.
Member, Timber Framers Guild
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Dave Shepard]
#19756
05/16/09 06:19 AM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 286
Raphael D. Swift
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I've got a small collection of garlands. A three pound solid head raw hide faced one for morticing and 2 split heads, one a 3lb with rawhide and neoprene faces the other a 6lb with neoprene (for a little gentle persuasion).
I've tried the 'wood is good' mallet and found it a little light for mortice work but real nice for carving.
Raphael D. Swift DBA: DreamScapes
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Raphael D. Swift]
#19760
05/16/09 02:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,124
Mark Davidson
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Wood definitely works, and for mallets it should be free by the roadside. In my area ironwood, or hop hornbeam makes the best mallet head, followed by elm, apple, or anything else that is difficult to split. knotty spruce actually works ok, but is too light. I bring in pieces that are 4 to 8 eight feet long, 3-4 inch diameter, and get out the 1 1/4 ship auger. I leave them in long lengths and just start drilling holes until I can see that some of the holes are well centered, then I drive in a 1 1/4 octagonal peg and back wedge it. Once the handle is in place, I cut the stiking faces of the mallet head... these should be angled toward the bottom of the handle, as in a turned mallet. Taking time to round the striking face will help the mallet last longer, I've had mallets last for 5 or more years
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Tom Cundiff]
#19769
05/16/09 09:19 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 235
Thane O'Dell
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Great responses and pictures guys. Sorry for being so long getting back to this. I like the Garland type hammer or ar least in concept. Do you think the nylon inserts would as well as the raw hide? I still would like to use my wooden mallet as well. I think I will find a piece crotch to make it from. I have been using beech and hickory but fairly straight grained. What weight of mallet are you guys using for 1 1/2 and 2" mortises. My wooden one is appx. 24 oz. but i think it should be at least 2 lbs.
Life is short so put your heart into something that will last a long time.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Mark Davidson]
#19780
05/17/09 02:37 AM
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Posts: 235
Thane O'Dell
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I just made a new mallet head this afternoon from a crotch of maple. I'd have to say it weighs about 3 lbs! This one won't be doin any love tappin. While we're on the subject of mortising, am I the only one using a t-auger or is it still common? I picked up a nice 1 1/2" one last weekend at a flea market for $10. Also picked up a saw vise and tooth setter.
Life is short so put your heart into something that will last a long time.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Thane O'Dell]
#19782
05/17/09 05:06 AM
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brad_bb
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I really like the mallets I purchased from foxmaple.com They are southamerican hardwood and have a fatter handle to help prevent hand fatigue. I'm probably biased though as they are the only mallets I've ever used.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: brad_bb]
#19788
05/17/09 02:44 PM
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Posts: 718
Dave Shepard
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I have a 2" T auger which I was using at the start of my current project, but I have since gotten my boring machine working. The machine is faster and easier to get a straight bore with.
Member, Timber Framers Guild
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Dave Shepard]
#19793
05/17/09 11:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 235
Thane O'Dell
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I do most of my work on a 10 ft open top timber framed work bench where at one end is a drill press which is normally what I use for drilling the mortises. If the work is too heavy or too long for the bench then I will grab the old T-auger and do them on horses outside. I think that I will eventualy buy a chain mortiser however.
Life is short so put your heart into something that will last a long time.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Thane O'Dell]
#19797
05/18/09 03:50 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 191
collarandhames
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Mark recommended I try a 3 lb dead blow, and I think it works GREAT for heavy pounding of moritices. I'd like to make a few mallets of wood for fun,, but I'm happy as heck with my westward hd3 mallet for sure!
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: collarandhames]
#19803
05/18/09 12:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,124
Mark Davidson
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Last edited by Mark Davidson; 05/18/09 12:52 PM. Reason: ?
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Mark Davidson]
#19813
05/18/09 06:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 235
Thane O'Dell
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A man can't have too many mallets. The bent one is cool. Is that your toe I see also?
Life is short so put your heart into something that will last a long time.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Thane O'Dell]
#19818
05/18/09 09:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,124
Mark Davidson
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That would be my toe.. I did not really think the bent mallet head would work but it has a decent bounce to it.. some of the wood heads just don't have the right balance and they really need to be just tossed in the fire and try again.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Mark Davidson]
#19824
05/19/09 12:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 235
Thane O'Dell
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The head I made the other day seems to be working realy good. The extra weight realy makes it easier on my wrist... not having to hit so hard. Thats probably what killed the other heads was that they were too light. My mallet handle is different such that it is rectangular and tapered fit. It's a bit harder to make the heads but it has a good stable feel when using it. Anyways thanks for the help and the conversation guys.
Thane
Life is short so put your heart into something that will last a long time.
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Re: Mortising chisel mallets
[Re: Mark Davidson]
#20194
06/08/09 01:48 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 191
collarandhames
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Those are nice Mark,, but I think in a controlled test the deadblow would win. Sounds like a friday 5:00 pm test to me!
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