Make A Wood Mallet From Scratch

Making a wood mallet from scratch

I have some pretty big projects coming up regarding timber framing and various other wood working projects. I realized I need a good solid wood mallet to both drive and make wood nails. I had a cherry tree threatening to ruin my truck so I struck first. It was during the lock downs of 2020 thank you Winnie the Pooh A.K.A. Xi Jing Ping. From that tree which was well dried standing up as it had died, I made a kneading trough that is solid and hefty meaning it doesn’t try to escape you on the counter when using it. I made cutting boards and a wood table where I do some of my cooking videos when I have time for that. I even learned how to make spoons. I know when life hands you lemons you lemons you’re supposed to make lemonade. I’m not a purist so I never try to fit in really. That cherry tree also was used to make some rather heavenly bacon. Wow look aty how far I got into the weeds on this one.

Back to that mallet. I was making some braces from a white oak I had dropped. The pieces I cut from the outer edges or bark side pices had some nice straight grain so I took my handle from that. Next I found a comfortable hammer and traced that onto the nice flat side and cut it out. I had already chosen the mallet head from that cherry tree I was rambling on about. The rest of the story is in the video. The mallet works quite well for driving the splits through the tubing to make wood nails. I have a 3/4" and ½" set up. I will probably be using the ½" dowels for all kinds of things arrows even. Pretty soon here I should have a framing mallet made from the oak for the handle and a good chunk of pecan. I noticed several projects in those pieces of wood.