Maul vs. Mallet

[CEversole]

What is the benefit of using a maul vs. the benefit of using a mallet? Are they used for different types of tooling? which is better?

-Cord

[King's X]

What is the benefit of using a maul vs. the benefit of using a mallet? Are they used for different types of tooling? which is better?

-Cord

I own both, and I provide each of them equal workout time. But I have to say that I really favor my Barry King Tapered Mauls more.

I do have mauls that go up to 3lbs for heavy use. My hammers are pretty much the yellow plastic and the rawhide hammer. I do prefer my rawhide more than the yellow plastic.

I hope this helps.

[hidepounder]

Cord,

In my opinion there is no advantage in using a mallet. Most of the toolers I know who have switched to mauls haven't gone back. A maul is a little more comfortable to use and a little more versatile. Also mauls these days are made form new products that don't flake all over the leather as the wood and rawhide mallets do. When using a maul with a rocking motion of the wrist, it doesn't matter if the maul turns in your palm. With a mallet, a slight rotation of the mallet in the hand can cause a deflection against the tool. Mauls are typically shorter and more head heavy. That can be a pro or a con depending on your personal preference. The bottom line is that their is no right or wrong striking instrament to use....it's all a matter of which is more comfortable to use or which aids the user in producing better work. For whatever it is worth.....most pros use mauls and have several different weights on hand.

Hope this helps....

Bobby

Edited September 11, 2009 by hidepounder

[David]

I don't know if anyone would consider me a pro or not but I have to disagree with Bobby this time.

The maul has a much smaller sweet spot to strike the tool. You have to strike the maul head pretty much dead center on the tool or the maul can deflect. With a flat surface, the mallet has a much larger sweet spot to strike before the mallet deflects. I've never encountered the mallet/maul rotating in my hand as my fingers are always on the head of the maul/mallet. If you are using either one to knock holes in 15oz leather then you are using the wrong tool. You need something with a long handle for that kind of work.

If you concentrate on where the maul hits the tool then the maul is for you. But if you concentrate on where the tool is on the leather, then I think the mallet is your tool.

Just a personal opinion, which I guess is why we have both mauls and mallets.

David Theobald

[Wykoni]

I am more like David, I think if you concentrate on your work, verses the hitting instrument you will do better with the hammer.  The hammer has a larger sweet spot as he says.  In the past few years I have moved from maul, to large plastic hammer to rawhide small hammer.  I primarily do holster work, so maybe if you do saddles with heavier leather something else would be in order.  

[JLSleather]

Nearly 8 years later, I like a rawhide mallet.  11 oz is nice for tooling ...

 

[480volt]

I've always wanted to try a lignum vitae maul, an old one made when the wood was commonly available. Anyone have experience with one?

[billybopp]

I have a wood maul, and gave it a try but found that stamping tools tend to eventually cause it to chip.  They fare better when used on woodwork with chisels where there is considerably more striking surface and usually wood or plastic to strike against.

Bill

[480volt]

32 minutes ago, billybopp said:

I have a wood maul, and gave it a try but found that stamping tools tend to eventually cause it to chip.  They fare better when used on woodwork with chisels where there is considerably more striking surface and usually wood or plastic to strike against.

Bill

Do you recall the type of wood? Lignum Vitae has the reputation of being the hardest of hardwoods, so hard that it was the preferred shaft bearing material for ships for a century and is still used for some hydroelectric turbine bearings. I take your point that what is being struck is a factor in lifespan. 

[billybopp]

I think the one I have is hard maple, but not sure.  It was given to me a long time ago.

Bill

[motocouture]

I have a turned, wooden mallet my step-dad made for me years ago, made of Jarrah, an Australian hardwood. The thing is indestructible.  Every now and then it gets purloined by hubby for some "percussive engineering" on the Harley...

[GPaudler]

Hi 480, I have a lignum vitae maul that I've used a lot with woodcarving chisels and gouges that have wooden handles, mostly Japanese oak and European boxwood, I think. At any rate, the maul (carvers call them mallets) are always striking a softer wood. I've seen lignum vitae mallets that are badly chewed-up from striking steel-handled tools - I wouldn't use mine that way.

But I'm with you, the very concept of lignum vitae, its density and feel, are very appealing.

Gary

 

[ContactCement]

The narrow diameter stamps are like a blunt chisel on a wpod maul or mallet. Use a forstner bit and drill a hole into the wood maul for a large plastic disc epoxy it then turn to shape it