Build the Joiner’s Mallet, Part 2
Back in the shop on Friday evening to finish up the Joiner’s Mallet. By the way, one of the reasons I can’t get into the shop on Thursday’s is because I’m helping with the woodworking seminars at the Woodsmith Store. If you’re interested in what we’re doing at the store every Thursday from September through May, but you don’t live in the Des Moines area, you can now watch podcasts online (or download them to your iPod). We’ll be adding a few more podcasts in the next week or so, then when we catch up, you’ll be able to get a new one every Monday afternoon. There’s a comment box and I’d love to hear what you think — good or bad.
Anyway, after the blank for the mallet head dried completely, I trimmed the ends on the miter saw and sanded the sides and ends of the mallet so that they were slightly rounded. Now all that’s left is to cut the wedges.
I used a small scrap piece of paudauk to add a little contrast. I cut two wedges that were close to the same size, added some glue to the tenon portion of the handle, joined the handle and the head together and tapped the wedges in place. The reason the wedges should be the same length is to make it easier to tap them in evenly. It just looks better that way.
The kit I used had a piece of leather that I tried to glue to the ends of the mallet head. In the directions, it said to use contact cement. I wished I’d have taken their advise. I used epoxy again and I’m pretty much giving up on this glue. I used 5-minute epoxy and it just didn’t have the tackiness to hold the stiff leather to the ends.
Here’s a shot of the completed mallet, without the leather! As soon as I get some contact cement, I’ll add the leather pads and finish the mallet with a little oil. -Joel
Robert Summers said,
Just found your website and I am new at woodworking. I hope to learn from comments found here. Tahnks
(posted on November 12th, 2006 at 5:52 pm)