| Project by Texasgaloot | posted 485 days ago | 656 views | 2 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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(Film noir narrative mode active:)
So I’m working on a large project that is going to need a lot of tenons. With tenons, of course, come mortises. I figured I’m going to be chopping mortises with my crispy new Sorby chisel, and my old faithful Estwing leather-gripped hammer, while a noble tool indeed, is not what I need to be banging on the blunt end of a chisel with. Furthermore, I had a block of 8/4 purpleheart laying around, as well as a couple of pieces of mesquite rejectd from the local sawmill, so I decided I would laminate a couple of mallets, one large and one small. The large one is purpleheart with a red oak core and handle. The handle is a work in progress, although it does have a sweet spot developing nicely. It was supposed to be a bit larger than it is, but as I was cutting corners (literally) and not using Galoot-methods in order to save some time, my 1/2” round over bit launched a purpleheart bullet from one upper corner. I have integrated the experience into my central processor which yields that while purple heart is so hard it will burn before the belt sander sands it, it is extremely brittle, a fact I will need to be aware of before I actually hit something with it. On the other hand, the smaller of the two mallets is made with all native Texas woods; mesquite, with a cedar handle. Cedar is probably a stupid choice for a handle, but I was interested in a little sensory gratification—it smelled SO good, and it pared SO sweetly. Tried out Japanese chisels for the first time, and was very surprised. Very nice. Also tried wedged tenons for the first time—my hands hurt so much from fitting them that it’s hard to type, but they look slick. Tell me what you think!
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
10 comments so far
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 961 days
posted 485 days ago
Your mallets are great looking – be gentle with that cedar handled one though. I’d hate to have either of them applied to back of my head :-))
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
ShannonRogers
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370 posts in 683 days
posted 485 days ago
Very nice board whackers. Great job on the wedged tenons.
-- Check out my blog and podcast "The Renaissance Woodworker" at www.rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog
Lee A. Jesberger
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3710 posts in 874 days
posted 485 days ago
Hi Tex;
Very pretty mallets. I’d use the cedar handled one for “Gentle” tasks, and the other one for the mortises.
Very nice workmanship.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
SPHinTampa
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155 posts in 580 days
posted 484 days ago
Looks good.
-- Shawn, I ask in order to learn
Garyb6
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262 posts in 525 days
posted 484 days ago
Nice. On my list of things to do.
-- Garyb6, “Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler” - Albert Einstein
Texasgaloot
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467 posts in 595 days
posted 484 days ago
A couple of points I forgot to mention:
Yes, the cedar-handled mallet is for gentle purposes, but then on the other hand neither of these mallets are intended for timber framing or driving shipbuilders’ slicks. I also figure that a cedar handle is easily replaced (as in, almost expendable) with some cocabolo or something like that, when the time finally comes and I actually have some cocabolo.
The other thing I forgot to mention was the finish, which is pure Galoot: 3 coats of amber shellac. I actually documented a project as I went, for a change, so I would be happy blog this if there is anyone interested.
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
sIKE
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1094 posts in 649 days
posted 484 days ago
Very Nice! I love the use of mesquite!
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Quixote
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167 posts in 533 days
posted 461 days ago
I keep looking at all these absolutely beautiful mallets and realize that I wouldn’t have the heart to use it.
If you’re up to blogging, I’d love to read it.
Q
-- I don't make sawdust...I produce vast quantities of "Micro Mulch."
Texasgaloot
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467 posts in 595 days
posted 460 days ago
sIKE: it was a good use for a piece that was too short for my other projects!
Q: I’ll dig up the photos. I finished a dead-blow mallet as well, just to have one, and I’ll throw that in for the same price!
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
jeanmarc
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1751 posts in 611 days
posted 451 days ago
very nice
-- jeanmarc manosque france