Reply by swirt

Blake wrote: I based the angle for my mallet on an article I read in fine woodworking once. It should be able to sit on its face and the end of the handle should just touch the table at the same time. Somehow that translates to the correct anatomical angle.

That would make sense for any mallet swung pivoting at the wrist rather than the elbow. It makes the assumption that the person using the mallet holds it near the end of the handle. Which would be true for a light duty bench mallet, but would be too angled for a mallet used for larger jobs like chopping mortises on a timber frame where you are swinging from the elbow.

-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com