Mauls,mallets For Hitting Punches

[JamesR]

What do you folks use for hitting large hole punches?

I have been using a heavy beechwood mallet and it is getting chewed up pretty badly.

Also what weight would you use for hitting 1" to 2" oblong punches?

Thanks

Jim

[wvcraftsman]

What do you folks use for hitting large hole punches?

I have been using a heavy beechwood mallet and it is getting chewed up pretty badly.

Also what weight would you use for hitting 1" to 2" oblong punches?

Thanks

Jim

I've found that a 3lb or bigger rawhide maul works really well for punches like this. The experienced folks might use something else. I've tried the small poly head mallet and it didn't have enough weight to it.

Tom

[hidepounder]

Most pros use mauls for those type tasks. Weights vary of course.....

[JamesR]

Most pros use mauls for those type tasks. Weights vary of course.....

Hidepounder,

A lot of this is new to me. When you say a maul are you talking about a cylindrical head as opposed to the flat face of a mallet?

Jim

[Kate]

Has anybody used a deadblow (mechanics) hammer for punching? Been thinking about trying one - but have to buy one to do that, so putting it off.

I have a little ol' blacksmith's (horsehoer's) rounding hammer, likely about 28 ounces or so, that is just nice to use. I know, not supposed to use a steel hammer on punches, but it works, balanced nice, and I'm not mushrooming anything (so far). I guess if I have better punches some day I'll worry a bit more.

I do use one of Bob Beard's nice mallets for my stamping tools, but don't want to hack it up with heavy pounding!

KAte

[TTcustom]

Has anybody used a deadblow (mechanics) hammer for punching? Been thinking about trying one - but have to buy one to do that, so putting it off.

I have a little ol' blacksmith's (horsehoer's) rounding hammer, likely about 28 ounces or so, that is just nice to use. I know, not supposed to use a steel hammer on punches, but it works, balanced nice, and I'm not mushrooming anything (so far). I guess if I have better punches some day I'll worry a bit more.

I do use one of Bob Beard's nice mallets for my stamping tools, but don't want to hack it up with heavy pounding!

KAte

I did try the deadblow hammer and it looked like the face of it wouldn't stand up to years of abuse. I use a two pound maul I made myself for punches. Let the hammer do all the heavy work.