What to give a ash mallet to drink

[ColeyS1]

I tried my new mallet on a ashley iles chisel with no finish (just a little wax). First tap and there was a bent dent in the head 2mmish deep. After that did alot more tapping and the whole mallet looked a complete mess. Dents and big divits everywhere. Wish i had taken a photo so it could be seen. Took it over on the lathe and took a whisker off of the head removing all the craters. I understand its only a mallet and its there to be used, but this thing looked deformed- almost embarrassing to have on my bench .

I've had to try soaking it. It was horrendous as it was. It isn't soaking in the oil very quickly which i hope is a good sign. Theres a normal looking mallet head in the white pot (with tape on) I've weighed this one before being soaked, will be interesting to see if it does gain any weight. Hopefully it'll be a bit harder too. Time will tell :roll:

Simon

 

[wizer]

Futile effort, no finish will protect it from dents.

 

[MikeG.]

Why would you want a pristine looking mallet anyway? Smack it around a bit until it looks rough all over, then you won't feel so bad about using it properly.

Mike

 

[Mr Ed]

Futile effort, no finish will protect it from dents.

No dents in this one and I've belted the f*ck out of it in the last couple of months. Acrylic infusion is the future.

Ed

 

[wizer]

I'm going to have a play with infusing when I get my new toy.....

 

[Mr Ed]

I'm going to have a play with infusing when I get my new toy.....

You're going to have to expand on that one...

Ed

 

[wizer]

I have procured a vac pump

 

[Alf]

Oh dear... It's a mallet; it's there to take the dents so your chisel handles don't. Which is the number one reason why I can't bring myself to warm to the lignum vitae mallets, however beautiful. Yes, it hurts like hell when you first use it and your beautiful turning gets dinged up - but use it enough and it gets dinged all over and usually looks much better. When it gets too bad, make another, except the next time you'll be armed with the knowledge of what you wanted to change about the last one. :wink:

 

[ColeyS1]

Why would you want a pristine looking mallet anyway?

Force of habit i guess. I always had it drummed into me that if you look after your tools, then they will look after you.

Ed, your mallet looks the business :!: :!: :!: Will have to investigate this
Acrylic infusion a little more. Your plane adjustment hammer looks incredible to :wink: Bet you enjoy reaching for those each time you need to do some tapping.

Alf,

it's there to take the dents so your chisel handles don't

Thats a very good point! Never thought of it like that. I once witnessed someone chopping wood with a chisel and rubber mallet. Thought they were going to smack themselves in the face the way the mallet was bouncing around. Guess its just trying to find a happy medium. Not soft as 5hit, but not ards a dugs ade :lol:

Where can i buy some of this lignum?

Simon

 

[wizer]

Lignum is rather expensive if you buy it in timber form. If you can't find it local then Timberline are sure to stock it. But it will cost.

The more popularly way that I and many other woodworkers have obtained a suitible size lump of lignum is by buying old wooden bowling balls that where pretty much always made with lignum until they a started producing them in alternative plastic type materials. Ebay is the place to look but the prices on there can get silly. Keep an eye out and you should get a good price on one (or a pair). Beware of the name 'Lignoid' as this is not wood, but a plastic substitute.

I have given my mallet a few bashes and, as yet, no dings at all.

 

[Mr Ed]

Ed, your mallet looks the business :!: :!: :!: Will have to investigate this
Acrylic infusion a little more. Your plane adjustment hammer looks incredible to :wink: Bet you enjoy reaching for those each time you need to do some tapping.

I can't claim any credit for the mallet;

The plane adjustment hammer on the other hand was entirely made by me and yes it is a joy to use.

Ed

 

[Benchwayze]

Have a few pure malts, and then breathe on it. That's all the finish you'll need.
:lol:

It's a mallet. It's for hitting things. (It happens to be a very nice looking mallet as it is, and it's also very commendable for a first effort.)

The old workers used to clean up their mallets from time to time, to get the worst dings out of them. When the mallet finally got so small it looked ridiculous, they would buy or make another.

Leave the linseed in the bottle; and anything else for that matter. Ash is quite malleable, so I don't think you'll do much more than bruise it unless you go mad.

Cheers
John