Homemade Tools #2: Wooden Dead Blow Mallets

cool. those are beautiful and functional. can’t get much better than that.

I guess you do run out of tools to buy when you build your own. Those are very nice.

Lee a nice heft to them with the Lead shot. And they look great in person. Nice Job and thanls for the picnic.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Nice. I want to make a dead blow. I found the article or a plan at least

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

Very cool looking, I love shop made tools.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

those are beautiful. definitely on my list of to-dos… just waiting to have enough scrap pieces for it … haha (I keep finding uses for all my scraps , and at the end of the job am left with nothing but 1×1x2 pieces… what the hell?!?)

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Hey Lee, those look fine.

How is the maple one hollowed out? Is the shot able to flow inside from end to end, or are there two seperate chambers? About how much shot does it take?

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/Joiners%20Mallet.pdf
This is a free link with very nice instructions. I might build me one of these, thanks Lee!

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

Hi denis;

Thank you;

These are great fun to make! Very useful, and it sure beats throwing away scraps of exotics.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Josh;

That’s no problem. Just buy newer models. lol

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Karson;

It was absolutely my pleasure!

Funny how we plan certain things to try, and then get side tracked to every thing but what we planned!

I think it’s more enjoyable just to go with the flow.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi John;

I’m not sure if that’s the same plan or not. But it sure looks good!

There are so many variations that can be made it’s crazy.

It’s rare that I spend a day in the shop without using mine. Even if it’s just to knock some sense into me, or jar my memory loose!

In fact mine is probably ten years old and about time to replace it. (maybe retire it to a wall somewhere)

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Purplev;

I missed you joining up so WELCOME to LJ’s.

I like your signature line.

If all your scraps are that small. you’re doing something right.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Steve;

They’re handy and fun to make for sure.

The center layer is actually two pieces, one on either end of the handle. One end of the piece is flat and becomes the face. The other end is cut on an angle, which locks the handle in when the wedges are driven into the end of the handle.

It has a hole about 1” in both pieces. These holes are filed most of the way with pellets from a pellet gun. (available in a sporting goods store).

If you fill them to much the extra whack from the shot moving will be lost and reduce the effectiveness.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy making these.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Damian;

You can make a few to match your bench.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi PaBull,

Yup, that’s the one alright!

I’m surprised you were able to find it.

Now I’m going to make some new ones too!

Thank you;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Great work!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

Thanks Callum

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Man, they are easy to make? You say your giving them away?

Seriously, very cool. Great idea!

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

Beautiful looking, but who wants to beat up exotic woods? Great idea I never thought of. I was also wondering how much weight is added?.... but you said it had to be loose?
Thanks for the post Lee.
Dave

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

Hi Tex;

Yeah they’re pretty simple to do. I’d say I’ll mail you one, but with so many members here I’d be creating a monster for sure!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Dave;

If you leave it a little loose you can make music with it too!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Great looking mallets Lee

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

HI grumpy;

You know those posters that say bang head here. People mount them on a wall somewhere.

Well these mallets are portable!

Thank you;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Lee, those look great! ... I’ve got plenty of scraps laying around, I’ll have to put this on my list of “to do’s”.

Thanks for sharing them.

-- Martin, Kansas

Hi Martin;

I hope this is on the short list!

Have fun.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

pretty! but i think i’d rather hang one as wall art rather than use it!

-- life can always be weaved into a song.

Hi Jude;

Glad to hear / read you’re still kicking around here. Any furniture pictures yet?

Happy Fourth on the Seventh.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Beautiful tools Lee; a joy to behold. I just realised I need more mallets!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

Those look great! I need to make a few. They look like short, fun projects that I’ll get a lot of use out of. Thanks for the post!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Great looking mallets Lee!

This is something thats been on my list for a long time.

I have an have a list in my head from here to infinity. <;O)

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Thank you YorkshireStewert;

Yeah I’m down to three, I have to make some too!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Steve;

Your right they are quick fun projects that are real handy.

The one I use daily must be about 10 years old, so they do last, even with heavy use.

Enjoy;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hello Dick;

I know the feeling about the list.

They’re a pleasure to make and you can be pretty creative regarding the woods used.

Maybe there should be a lumber jocks mallet challenge.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Lee,

Thanks for the inspiration. Finally got around to it:

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/8886

I bought leather, but haven’t added it yet.

-b