Poly Mallet?

[Diomedes Industries]

I am a little confused. Please clear something up for me if needed.

I see the Poly Mallet's can get quite spendy - and I need about 18 ounces or so for what I do (I will likely buy another as needed).

I see these on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Is-Good-...378483624&sr=1-1&keywords=wood+is+good+mallet

and have no clue why they are not the same type of "poly" mallet that costs quite a bit more (besides the material difference in the handle.

Can someone clear this up for me?

TF

 

[Robber58]

I suspect that the urethane head might be a bit soft to get efficient energy transfer to your tools. That is not to say it would not work but, personally, I prefer a firm head that does not rebound much.
Randy

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Randy - My wife says I have a firm head.... does that count?


Yeah - I wonder....

Anyone have experience with these mallets?

TF

 

[sheathmaker]

I suspect Randy is spot on with his answer. In fact it's almost exactly what I would have said. Besides that, you don't want any cheap tools when there are plenty of expensive ones available.

Paul

 

[leatherman]

That is a wood carvers mallet/maul. The material in the head is softer than we would use in leather working. The conical shape is a good indicator as well, but not solely. My wood carvers mallet is all wood, and conical, and yes it does deteriorate each time its used, its that give that a carver wants on his tools. While we use mostly steel tools, a wood carver uses wood handled tools, thus the need for a more forgiving mallet. A hard maul would eat the handles of a very expensive wood gouge in short order. Wood with a wrapping of raw hide is very common in the wood craft.

Shop around, there are affordable poly mauls that are dedicated to leather working. I'll have to look up what I have found, if I haven't lost the site address's already. Weaver used to have a good selection at very reasonable pricing.

Good luck!

PS in case your curious, my college major was print making, minor is 3D sculpture and drawing. Both print making and sculpture have wood carving bases.