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.

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

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.

3 lbs!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!