LumberJocks

Homemade Tools #2: Wooden Dead Blow Mallets

Blog entry by Lee A. Jesberger posted 100 days ago 756 reads 1 time favorited 35 comments Add to Favorites
« Part 1: Block plane and Joiner Plane Part 2 of Homemade Tools series Part 3: Attaching the leather »

I saw an article in a woodworking magazine, maybe it was shop notes, on making wooden mallets that were filled with lead pallets.

I made up a few of these, some I gave away, others are still hanging around.

They’re easy to make, and useful around the shop. Not to mention they look great and are a good use for small scraps of exotic woods.

The ones below don’t have the leather contact cemented to the face of them. It’s this leather that keeps them from marring the surface of the wood your hitting.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


View Blog Archive
Subscribe to blog entries (RSS)


By subscribing to the RSS feed you will be notified when new entries are posted on this blog.


35 comments so far

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2032 posts in 253 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Josh's profile

Josh

84 posts in 423 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Karson's profile

Karson

12906 posts in 886 days


posted 100 days ago

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

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1479 posts in 575 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

679 posts in 477 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View PurpLev's profile

PurpLev

353 posts in 134 days


posted 100 days ago

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?!?)

-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

728 posts in 367 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

231 posts in 150 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

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

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1520 posts in 189 days


posted 100 days ago

Great work!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 100 days ago

Thanks Callum

Lee

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

View Texasgaloot's profile

Texasgaloot

345 posts in 186 days


posted 100 days ago

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...

View dlcarver's profile

dlcarver

228 posts in 215 days


posted 99 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 99 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 99 days ago

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

View Grumpy's profile (online now)

Grumpy

5661 posts in 336 days


posted 99 days ago

Great looking mallets Lee

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 99 days ago

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

View Woodhacker's profile

Woodhacker

508 posts in 209 days


posted 99 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 97 days ago

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

View jude's profile

jude

147 posts in 435 days


posted 96 days ago

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

-- life can always be weaved into a song.

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 95 days ago

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

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

637 posts in 387 days


posted 95 days ago

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

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

1335 posts in 199 days


posted 95 days ago

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)

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile (online now)

Dick, & Barb Cain

5075 posts in 785 days


posted 95 days ago

Great looking mallets Lee!

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

I’ve also been going to try a carving mallet with lead shot in it.

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 95 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 95 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2758 posts in 465 days


posted 95 days ago

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

View ben's profile

ben

154 posts in 356 days


posted 78 days ago

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

You must be signed in to post the comments.

Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

Woodworking StoreApparel StoreMake a Donation
Bookmark And Share This Page
  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: All views and comments posted by members are not necessarily those of LumberJocks.com or of those working on the site.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase