Making a maul - question?

[heydox]

Looking great, nice progress! I’m excited to see that setup with a leather handle. 

[fredk]

what I really wanna know is, how many milk jugs are needed!?!

[dikman]

Fred, I can't say as I had already experimented (somewhat unsuccessfully) with this stuff before so I had a few lumps of it to use up. 7 or 8 maybe? Once I've finished this one I'll make another, something like heydox's ('cos I like making things and these look cool!)

[fredk]

Thanks. I'd try making a milk-bottle-maul but I don't have any of the tools for finishing it off, nor access to the tools

[GRod]

The maul is looking very, very nice. 

I'm a little envious of the lathe, too. 

[Colt W Knight]

Ive used Delrin and HDPE, and I think they both have their advantages. The Delrin will break if its thin and you hit it hard enough. 

 

[dikman]

Just about done. GRod, the lathe is nothing fancy, a medium size same as the Grizzly 0602. I was collecting and smelting range scrap from my pistol range and sold enough to pay for it! I also have one of those mini metal lathes off ebay for small stuff, it's not a bad unit for what it is but needed a bit of work to get it running smooth. The wood lathe is an el-cheapo $99 Chinese thing, pretty basic but adequate for turning handles and stuff.

Back to the maul - I cut out lots of sort-of round bits from my scrap leather pile, punched a hole in the middle of each piece, glued them with white glue onto another rod and screwed them down tight with wood blocks on the ends. Once dry I turned it down on the wood lathe. It sort of worked but when I do another I'll have to give more thought to how I do it as I couldn't seem to get it balanced in the lathe. Came out ok for a first effort, I guess. While it was spinning I sanded it down then applied some wax and buffed it up. It actually screws onto the threaded rod so it's all pretty tight. I just need to find a suitable dome nut for the end, or maybe make something out of brass. Haven't decided yet.

Next thing is to make a tapered one.

 

 

Edited March 7, 2019 by dikman

[JazzBass]

Beautiful!!

I noticed the rod protruding on the handle end - I forget what it's called...a "cap nut" or a "crown nut" or something . Did you have/find one of those to finish it off? Looks GORGEOUS with the stacked leather handle! It's as nice a maul as I've seen. GREAT job! :)

[battlemunky]

I'm envious, that looks awesome! I have a Frogjelly rawhide maul and its great but I really want to make my own. I really like the Frogjelly maul though. I have a Chinesium one too and it chipped

Edited March 7, 2019 by battlemunky

[fredk]

1 hour ago, dikman said:

 . . . I just need to find a suitable dome nut for the end, or maybe make something out of brass. . . 

Any motorcycle or car accessory/parts places near you? you'll find a suitable nut there

30 minutes ago, JazzBass said:

. . . I forget what it's called...a "cap nut" or a "crown nut" or something . . . 

Those nuts have numerous names. One common name here for them is 'acorn nut'

T'is a very nice looking handle