Reduce Noise Tooling Leather?

[Harag]

I tried the 16oz, and can't hold it for more than 5 minutes when tooling, might be the angle I'm holding but it's very heavy. I'm looking at the Thor Mallets and was wondering which one to go with as the wooden mallet I use I don't know it's weight (will weigh it when I get home) so not sure which thor mallet to go for, the #2 at 190 grams sounds good:

http://www.amazon.co...=rawhide mallet

at the moment, I've put a couple bits of suede leather on the wooden mallet - it seems to have deaden the noise down a bit so I was thinking, maybe a rubber or rawhide mallet would be better.

As well as the above rawhide mallet I've found this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cutting-board-Rubber-mallet-Mat-Hammer-Sewing-Leather-craft-Light-weight-/321111993437?pt=UK_Crafts_Leathercraft_LE&hash=item4ac3c42c5d

Can anyone advice which makes the less noise - rubber mallet or raw hide?

Thanks

Edited May 31, 2013 by Harag

[Cyberthrasher]

Ok man, you're trying to use stuff that was designed for swinging, not tapping. Get yourself a maul or something. If you must use one of those, suck up on it and hold it as close to the head as possible. But, since you're buying stuff, just go buy a Barry King maul or mallet. The shipping will be a little more, but you'll be getting something that was designed for what we do, not for beating the crap out of something.

[Harag]

Thanks, I've looked at the BK tools, and being from the U.K. the shipping is expensive.

The cheapest maul was $50 and the shipping to UK is $33.

Unless there is something similar in the UK, I can't justify 55-60 pounds sterling on a hammer just yet. Though I must say he does seem to be popular over in the US.

BK - Move to the UK, or get a shop outlet over here please

[Cyberthrasher]

Then just get yourself one of the yellow polly mallets in the heavier weight. I used the 14oz for quite some time before I got a Bear Maul. That and some granite will work wonders for both your tooling and the noise.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/3301-04.aspx

[silverwingit]

Harag, you might ask fellow Brit, Master Saddle Maker and leatherwork.net member, Nigel Armitage (Dangerous Beans herein) whether he feels his Barry King Mauls were worth the extra shipping.

[humperdingle]

Like Chavez, put the granite on top a thick cushion to get a better working height when on your knees. Or at a table, add a good sturdy foam cushion about 2" thick between the table and the granite.

That's what I do

[Dangerous Beans]

Michelle has a point... If you are doing a lot of tooling you need the right hammer or maul, I don't tool a lot but I use pricking irons a lot and I have noticed a remarkable difference since forking out for a pair of Barry King Mauls.

I can smack away all day with pinpoint accuracy.

Cyberthrasher is quite right, some hammers are for swinging to create impact, a maul is a tapper, a heavy tapper.

Less effort on your part so fatigue is less of an issue over long durations. It's a dead blow so les noise and resonance.

I use a 12 inch thick 3 foot long cherry wood log for marking and it can hardly be heard from outside of the workshop.

I know it sounds like a lot of money, but the right tool for the job is always cheaper than a cheap wrong tool.

Nige

[Harag]

Thanks Nige, I've seen your log in your videos... One day I might have the same, at the moment I live in a rented apartment and don't have room for such things. I think I'll start saving up for a BK maul, might look at the other items he sells to see if I can get several things and save on postage.

At the moment it's just a hobby so don't want to send too much, one day it might become more though.

[Cyberthrasher]

At the moment it's just a hobby so don't want to send too much, one day it might become more though.

Even hobbies require the right tools for the job in order to keep it fun. Pick up some bevelers from BK while you're at it, that will be more than worth the price.