$3 Poly Maul

[AfroCrafter]

Hey guys,

Here in South Africa, there is only one place to get any tools ; a third party retailer for the Tandy shop halfway across the country who seldom has stock.

As a result, I am always on the lookout for easy tools that I can make myself to do the job.

Mallets and mauls are very expensive here and there is only one in stock at any one time!

I have been using a hammer handle with an old belt around it for about 5 months now but I am tired of it and wanted to upgrade.

I have been coveting an Stolhman Poly Maul and decided that yesterday was the day that I try and make one for my self.

No... I didn't really nail it the way I was hoping. It's a bit rough and ready and a lathe would have been a VERY useful tool to have so that I could turn down the handle nicely but, alas, I don't have one. However, I am thrilled with the outcome. and love the new feel of it.

Here's a shot of the "raw materials". The threaded bar is a 6mm diameter and I used nyloc nuts to keep it all together. I didn't use any glue at all.

It is seriously straight forward to make and so my only advice is to clamp the leather down when you drill the disks out! DO not try and hold it flat on the bench with your hand. I nearly lost a finger nail when the piece I was drilling, bit into the hole saw and wrapped my hand around the drill! It was a painful realisation of just how strong leather is.

I have no idea where the center of the weight should be but I recon you could balance it by taking off the end disk, drilling a few small holes in the second disk down, inserting a few lead fishing weights, and clamping the whole thing back together. That way you could add weight to the head if necessary. The center of this one is right at the join between the head and the handle. Can any one tell me where the weight should lie?

For the rest of us noobs out there, you don't need a huge budget to get started. Just a bit of patience and some effort, after all, this is a craft and an art so we may as well invest some time into the set up.

Cheers

Alex

[rf744]

Hi Alex,

Great job. So the handle is made from leather disks of different sizes to shape it and the head is made of poly cutting board disks of the same size? I don't see the 6mm threaded bar but I see something that looks like an A.I. gun. Thanks for the idea.

Randy

[AfroCrafter]

Thanks Randy,

The "AI gun" is the length of the 6mm threaded rod which I cut to the size I wanted. It is essentially just a long bolt with no head.

That would certainly bring a tear to your eye if it were an AI gun! Eish!

Thanks again.

[rf744]

Hahaha. I guess I really need glasses.

[raysouth]

Looks great and sure you will cherish, being self made.

Very creative work.

God Bless.

Ray

[MonicaJacobson]

Ha ha, this is awesome. Great job!

[Redrum]

Graet idea I will be starting one this weekend Thanks.

[olds cool]

Poly cutting board, genius! I may have to give this a try.

[AfroCrafter]

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

Redrum, I would love to see a pic if you get yours done this weekend.

I might go and get one of those massive dog bones and try making a raw hide one in the same manner.

Cheers

[Fullmetalsam]

I love the ingenuity on this.

It's a great looking maul considering the price and material used... and it sure looks like a major step up from what you were originally using.

Kudos to you for making your own tools !