I'm diving into woodworking and was inspired by Paul Sellers making a mallet. He uses these thick chunks of maple or beech, but I'm struggling to find similar wood around me. I can only find 2" thick panels, but Paul mentions that laminated mallets aren't durable. Can anyone point me to where I can get the right thick wood for making a mallet?
3 Answers
Look for thick turning blanks online—that's where you'll find the right sized blocks for a mallet. Also, I got a great heavy Ipe post from a deck project that works perfectly! You can even order good wood species online.
I created a mallet using standard SPF lumber glued together. It's lightweight, and I can hammer it on anything without worrying about damage. Plus, if it breaks, I can whip up another one pretty easily!
Honestly, I don't completely agree with Paul Sellers on this. I've made laminated mallets before, and they've held up great! They might actually be the better option for some woods. Don't sweat it too much—give laminating a try!
Totally with you on that! I've seen laminated mallets work just fine for years.
Ipe is a fantastic choice! Strong and durable, a great way to go for a mallet.