If you’re into woodworking, then you’ve probably heard of the wood mallet. But what is it exactly? And what is it used for?
The wood mallet has almost completely disappeared from the home workshop in the modern era of power tools.
However, for expert furniture builders and other woodworkers who are knowledgeable in the use of wood chisels, this tool is still a common utensil in the toolbox.
A wood mallet is a tool that is used in woodworking to strike chisels, dowel pins, and other tools. It’s made out of wood, usually maple or hickory, and has a head that is either round or square. Wood mallets are a must-have tool for any woodworker!
Let’s find out more about the wooden mallet and what people are using it for!
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What is a wood mallet?
A wood mallet is a tool that is used to strike chisels, dowel pins, and other tools. It is made out of wood, usually maple or hickory. The head of the wood mallet is either round or square.
The tool has the shape of a hammer, with a large and heavy head. The mallet is used to strike other woodworking tools, such as chisels or dowel pins.
Wood mallets are a must-have tool for any woodworker because they are necessary for many woodworking tasks.
Also read: Do you know what a hammer tacker is? It can also be used on wood
So, what is a wood mallet used for?
Well, there are many different ways to use a wood mallet.
The majority of good joinery techniques call for the use of chisels, which also calls for the use of a wood mallet, particularly for dovetail connections and mortise and tenon joints.
Carpenters and cabinetmakers used to be able to produce their own wood mallets, which is at least partially why woodworkers use them today.
Although there are many different wood mallets available for purchase, there is something special about being able to utilize a tool that was built by the user in their own workshop.
Striking a chisel
For example, you can use it to strike a chisel when you’re carving wood.
A chisel is used in woodworking to create grooves, indentations, and other shapes.
But if you try to use a chisel without a wood mallet, you’ll find that it’s very difficult to control. The wood mallet gives you more power and control when striking the chisel, which makes it easier to create the shapes you want.
Wood handles are typically used in the construction of chisels, which is why woodworkers prefer to use wood mallets.
If a hammer were used with those chisels, it would probably cause the wood to break, especially if it received a strong impact. Nothing will shatter because the wood of the mallet and the chisel handle both have a small amount of give.
Assembling furniture
Another way to use a wood mallet is to assemble furniture.
When you’re putting together furniture, you’ll often need to tap dowel pins or other pieces of wood into place. And the wood mallet is the perfect tool for this job!
The head of the wood mallet is soft, so it won’t damage the wood. And it’s also heavy enough to tap the pieces into place without much effort.
Drive dowel pins into wood
You can also use it to drive dowel pins into wood.
Dowel pins are used to join two pieces of wood together.
And the wood mallet is the perfect tool for driving them into place. Just put the dowel pin in the hole, and then tap it with the wood mallet until it’s flush with the wood.
Makeshift hammer
And last but not least, you can use it as a makeshift hammer when you’re working on woodworking projects!
Of course, it’s not like the metal hammer, but it’s usable for more delicate work.
Types of wooden mallets
There are three main types of wood mallets available:
The joiner’s mallet
The joiner’s mallet is the most common type of wood mallet. This mallet has a rectangular head which is quite heavy.
It’s most often used to pound chisel handles into wood, or to remove them.
The carver’s mallet
The carver’s mallet has a cylindrical-shaped head which is smaller and looks like a small inverted glass bottle.
It’s used for chisel carving, as well as for other delicate woodworking tasks.
Froe mallet & Log river’s mallet
I’ve grouped these two mallets together because they’re similar. Both have a wedge-shaped head, which is used for wood splitting.
The froe mallet is smaller, while the log river is larger.
The log river’s mallet is an L-shaped wood mallet with a long handle.
It’s used for driving logs through a sawmill.
Mallet vs hammer
So, what’s the difference between a wood mallet and a hammer?
The biggest difference is that a wood mallet is made entirely out of wood, while a hammer has a metal head.
This makes the wood mallet much softer, which is why it’s the preferred tool for striking chisels and other woodworking tools.
The wood mallet is also much larger and heavier than a hammer, which gives you more power when striking.
In addition to wood mallets, there are also rubber mallets. Rubber mallets are made out of, you guessed it, rubber!
The rubber mallet is softer than the wood mallet, which makes it ideal for delicate work.
It’s also smaller and lighter than the wood mallet, which makes it easier to control.
Here’s the thing: mallets and hammers are not the same, despite how simple it is to get the two confused.
No matter what kind, the head of every hammer is made of metal. Contrarily, mallets can be created from a wide range of materials but never have a metal head. For leathercraft and jewelry-making, rawhide mallets are utilized, but machinists frequently use a mallet with a plastic head for assembling delicate pieces.
More frequently than any of these, rubber mallets are used for a variety of assembly activities where power is required, but caution must be exercised to protect finished surfaces.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there are many different uses for a wood mallet. If you’re interested in woodworking, then this is definitely a tool that you need in your arsenal!
The large wood head provides more power than a hammer, while the softness of wood prevents damage to wood surfaces and finishes. No woodworker’s toolkit is complete without a wood mallet.