Mallet Or Maul For Punching? (Not Tooling)

[Willbury]

I know the topic comes up a fair bit and ultimatley comes down to personal preference, but I'm looking for a new hammer for punching exclusively: round holes, oblong holes, and belt ends.

If tooling is not in the picture would you still consider a round maul vs a mallet?

[WyomingSlick]

I believe it all boils down to your personal preferance. Best advice I can give is to try both. If you don't know someone whose tools you can test drive, perhaps you can grab some leather scraps, and your punches, and take them to your tool dealer and see if they will let you try both.

[oltoot]

yes and heavy too. Up to the 6-8 pound class

[Itch]

I was taught on the mauls and that is what we use 3 different sizes in our shop.. I would suggest the heavy weight for punching belt slots and such..

[TwinOaks]

Since it's just for punching holes, I think a dead blow hammer would do nicely.

[Willbury]

I've been using a deadblow for years and it works well, but I'm always choking up on the handle. Hence the search for something with a shorter handle.

I was looking at the Barry King 64oz mauls or mallets. Maybe I should get an even heavier one....

[Red Cent]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=arbor+press&qpvt=arbor+press&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=C98B1F876154EF52608203C4D2CF293AABEEC3A9&selectedIndex=7

[Studio-N]

my 3 lb maul does a fine job for punching holes. Pretty much just let gravity do it's job without any extra effort (if the punches as sharp).

cheers!

[Chief31794]

my 3 lb maul does a fine job for punching holes. Pretty much just let gravity do it's job without any extra effort (if the punches as sharp).

cheers!

X2 except mine is a 3lb Mallet from Barry King. My grandkids call me Thor! Gravity is about all you need to punch through anything with it. The big one in the picture, the other is my carving mallet. I learned with the old Rawhide mallets and have tried but can't get used to the maul. It all boils down to personal preference like was said.

Chief

[Tramps Leatherworking]

I just recently had this discussion with Brad at Barry King tools --- he recommended a 16 oz maul for tooling, and a minimum 32 oz maul for setting snaps and punching holes... The straight, or tapered head is just a matter of personal preference...