Rawhide Maul?

[Cumberland Highpower]

I'm curious, what's the most popular weight or weights of Rawhide "Mauls"  used for leatherwork?     

I've never actually used one until recently, mainly just used hammers and mallets made from hard rubber/plastic or wood.   

Just curiosity mainly, I used one for the first time at a friends place to whack a punch. Not the svelte classy type you see in leatherworker catalogs with the leather handles, but rather a  more industrial rig with what looked like an ash handle but having the same head design as any other leather maul.   I'd say I found it pretty effective, yet a bit clumsy?! 

A little intrigued all the same, might like to add a couple to our tools.

Edited July 9, 2025 by Cumberland Highpower

[TomE]

I use a 3 lb Osborne maul for most every drive punch and setter.  It is nicely balanced making it easier to control the force.

[rleather]

I use a Garland 3, have used it for many years and I love it.

[bruce johnson]

The most popular weight depends on the job at hand. The right size makes the job easier and more enjoyable. Otherwise you can wear yourself out trying to hold up a heavy maul for easy stuff or wear yourself out beating a light maul repeatedly on heavy stuff. 

Stamping Tools - everyone needs a 1# maul. With most stamps that weight gives a good deadfall effect. For larger face stamps like 1/2 inch or more geometrics - 1.5# or 2# depending on how intricate the design is. For tiny faced  or sharper stamps like seeders and bargrounders, consider stepping down to a 12 ounce maul. 

Hardware setting, smaller round punches, and most strap end punches  - 1#. If you fall to the side of "I don't want to my punches to be really sharp" then 2# for the strap ends and rounds. I don't follow that theory but some do. 

Large round (2 inches and up) and Rosette punches - 2.5# or 3#. I sell 4.5# mauls for the heavy hitters on big punches.

I don't mean to dissuade you from rawhide, but a few things to consider. The industrial handle rawhide mauls new are about twice the cost of a good leather handle maul ike the Wayne Jueschke mauls I sell or Barry King mauls. Rawhide can wear a little faster and can flake off onto your work. There are definite fans of rawhide and I do like them, just not as affordable new and the good used ones are few and far between.