Just a thought from you all who use shop-made mallets?

I thought of doing that as well. Michaels might have some type of leather tooling kit. You could also go to a Salvation Army or Goodwill and buy an old leather coat to cut up.

I got the leather for mine from Tandy’s. They have a bin with scraps of all sizes and thickness that cost next to nothing. I don’t know if Michael’s has leather. Old shoes or boots woild be a good source also.
I used contact cement to glue it to the face.

-- Bruce

Most big box craft stores will have leather (local A.C. Moore and Michael’s)—- kind of pricey unless one buys the bag of scraps which is hit-or-miss and way more than you’d need.

Take a 40% off coupon and the nicer leather on the hang tag isn’t too bad in price.

Or, if you have a wide belt which is too long, cut off as much as you need and reshape the belt end.

William

While you’re at it, you might want to make a stopping board
as well.

Some thing to consider if you can fit it in.

Craigslist may have a leather dealer for you as well.

I used rawhide chew strips soaked in water for a couple days then let dry enough to not ruin the mallet, but soft enough to work with.
Brass tacks hold it on and as it dried completely it shrank even more so it’s as tight as a drum head and tougher than my ex wife’s lawyer.

-- Improvise.... Adapt...... Overcome!

Thanks guys for the great ideas. Really nice of you

-- You can tell how good a woodworker is by the amount of clamps they have. I have maybe 6 (ones broken). Once I get more........

What is a stopping board? I know about shooting and miter boards is it similar to that?

-- You can tell how good a woodworker is by the amount of clamps they have. I have maybe 6 (ones broken). Once I get more........

I think he meant a stropping board.

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

I just made my first mallet. Used it with a mortising chisel to make mortises in a 6×6 post for a swing. Didn’t need any leather on the mallet, and it works fine. The head is maple, and it doesn’t dent or break.

-- Rich, Seattle, WA

I use my shop made mallet (in my projects), but did not put leather on it. although I might put it on one side, then can choose whether to use it or not.

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

”so it’s as tight as a drum head and tougher than my ex wife’s lawyer.”

LOL at Dallas! :-)

-- Perform A Random Act Of Kindness Today ... Pay It Forward

I got cut offs from a belt shop and glued them on with contact cement. I trimmed them after the glue dried. Your convincer is a little bigger than mine so a belt may not be wide enough. You only need leather if you’re whacking dovetails together or something where you don’t want to mar your project wood. if you’re just hitting chisels don’t worry about it.

-- If you can't fix it with a hammer, you need a bigger hammer.

You can get an old women’s purse or any other accesory at your locel Salvation Army, Goodwill or St. Vincent De Paul…...the thicker the leather piece you get, the better!

-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright

Thanks everyone. I just put it on the one side. Trippled the leather on it. Thanks for all the replies. Joshua my brother, it’s just that your mallet hasn’t grown up yet. hahhahahahahaha

-- You can tell how good a woodworker is by the amount of clamps they have. I have maybe 6 (ones broken). Once I get more........

Good post, I have been visting with my Aunt and her Hubby who do a lot of leather work on just about anything, saddles, chairs you name it. So when I get back in the groove here shortly I am going to put their talent to the test on a mallet.

-- What we do in life will Echo through Eternity........