Latest from the tool shop

[Ken Hutchins]

Getting near time for putting the cotton in the seams, so I decided a proper mallet was necessary.
Austrailian Hairy Oak head, White Ash handle, and hardened 4140 steel rings. Linseed oil is the finish.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid135/pacbfa7fa12ad0d3325cbd407d21369fe/f762c080.jpg Now I know that octagon cross section handle may not be proper, but that is the handle shape of choice for my thunking tools.

[Dave Fleming]

Nice job there Ken!

I hope you won't be sorry with that handle shape.
Not quite the same as swinging a 20 .oz V&B Double Head Framer.

Still principle is the same, it is all in the wrist.

Keep us posted on how it works out, please?

PS: you slot the mallet head? There IS a reason for that you know.

[ 08-17-2004, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: Dave Fleming ]

[Chadd Hamilton]

Oh yeah, now that's a caulking mallet. From one hammer builder to another: nice work.

Chadd

[Dave Fleming]

Aw Geeze Ken, just came back and looked at my previous post, gulp!

I sound like and old poop. Didn't mean it that way at all.

I am very impressed with your mallet. I only offered my comments about some things based upon some little time corking with both good and bad mallets.

Oh by the way did you turn it on a Monarch 10EE or a Rivett?

insert a big wink grin here

[gary porter]

very nice Ken, not familliar with Austrailian Hairy Oak. Where do you get that? Austrailia I guess. Nice looking piece of wood. How is it compared to other Oaks? 4140..good stuff. Looks like a real nice mallet and if you don't like the handle later you can always change it.
I think you'll get a lot of folks wanting to know where you got that nice mallet.... smile.gif
Gary

[Ken Hutchins]

Dave, oh yes the head is slotted 1/4" wide 2" long slots, the photo is too dark slots don't quite show. I do wish I had a Monarch, the CNC Monarch that I bought for work a couple of years before I retired would be extra nice. ;) Also guess what I did :D I took a trip to the Monarch factory in Sidney Ohio to check the lathe prior to shipment and to learn how to program it. :D :D :D But no I have a Jet 13x40 at home, and the slots were milled on my old iron 1950 Van Norman mill. :D
Gary, got that wood from down under, brought a chunk of it back in my luggage. :D took a trip a few years ago for my son's wedding he married an Ozzi gal. I should take another photo close up showing the grain (and the slots :D ). The Hairy oak is much harder and denser than our oaks, the real surprising thing is that the tree has long needles, not leaves, too hot and dry down there smaller leaf surface area reduces moisture loss.

[ 08-17-2004, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: Ken Hutchins ]

[gary porter]

Thanks for info Ken, I have a friend going down at Christmas , I'll see if I can get a piece. Always looking for a good mallet wood. Are you pressing your rings on? I've been turning the mallet a bit oversize then heating the rings (4130) to about 350 and pressing them on. When they cool they are tight. Later I soak it in propylene glycol for any addition swelling needed. That one sure looks good.
Gary

[alteran]

I have never needed one of these and likely never will. But a handsome tool is a wonderful thing to behold even if it is uneeded to the one who holds it.

Very nice. Thanks for showing it to us.

Al.

[Ken Hutchins]

Gary, I turned the wood .010 bigger than the ID of the rings, pressed on cold. That wood did not want to compress it took a lot of pressure to get them on, they will never move.

[NormMessinger]

Would someone please tell Norm where the slots are ezakally and what their purpose is?

[Ken Hutchins]

Save the photo to your pooter, zoom in you can see the slots. As I understand the slots help give a nice ring to the sound making it easy to tell how hard you are hitting the iron. This helps to get consistancy in the pressure applied to the caulking, and does wonders for the tintinitis or whatever that ringing in the ears is called. :eek: So will have to wear hearing protection to save the ears, kind of a catch 22, need the slots for the ring, but need to plug ears so as not to hear the ring. :confused:

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Ken:

A beautiful mallet, if you are ever ready to build another let me know. I'm jealous!

Allan

[Dave Fleming]

Ken you have to keep us informed of how it works out, please?

On metal working machinery if I were to ever win the Lottery ( big chance Fleming! )I would buy either a Monarch 10EE ( old factory is still building new ones and rehabbing old ones, ie: changing out the tube drives and installing VFDs) or a Hardinge.

For my mallets and setting back the rings. Yes, you will have to do it and perhaps sooner than you think. I had a friendly neighboorhood machine shop turn a piece of my favourite alloy and, it would seem yours, 4140, to fit over the ring and using an arbor press gently push the tempered steel rings on my Drews back about a generous 1/8 of an inch.

[Hughman]

Originally posted by NormMessinger:
Would someone please tell Norm where the slots are ezakally and what their purpose is?Norm, Get a louisville slugger and take a centerfield swing at a fire hydrant. Feel the buzz? now cut some slots in that piece of ash and try it again.

Notice the difference? :D

[Hughman]

Ken, nice work! Give that new Drew some exercise.