Anyone able to make this for me, please.

[mrsbruce]

(Apologies in advance if in wrong section).

I have a small project if anyone has the time or inklingto take it on.

I need a heavier mallet for my leatherwork, but it also needs to be small. I have this cheap Chinese mallet (picture 2), and am happy to use the handle and poly hitting surface, but would like to increase the thickness, and so the weight, of the screw top and bottom washer to something similar to the first picture.

Would someone out there be willing to fabricate the parts needed, please. I know I could cobble something together with steel washers, but this is my little treat to myself, so willing to pay for something that looks and feels good to use.

The threaded rod seems to be 10mm, and the top is 8mm thick, and I would like it to be 16mm thick. The bottom washer would need be about 10mm thick.

Forgot to add, handle id 12cm long, and poly is 5.7cm.

 

[Tangledfeet]

If it were entirely wood I'd happily turn you one but this looks a bit more 'technical'!

 

[rikrobson]

So you want bosses 38mm, 10mm 1 off and 16mm 1 off?

Does it need a new m10 rod?

I could do that for you.

I'll be going to the workshop within the hour. Might even have the stock. I'll need to check.

 

[gaz_moose]

you could machine out the centre of the white plastic part so the 'weight' sat inside it, thus keeping it compact and making it heavy. it would then be even smaller than it currently is, ie just the handle and the white part.

machine a threaded 'top hat' for the top so you don't have to use a nut.

id probably tell people the current weight of the bits and how much heavier you want it.

 

[Hopefuldave]

you could machine out the centre of the white plastic part so the 'weight' sat inside it, thus keeping it compact and making it heavy. it would then be even smaller than it currently is, ie just the handle and the white part.

machine a threaded 'top hat' for the top so you don't have to use a nut.

id probably tell people the current weight of the bits and how much heavier you want it.

That would be a good place to use up the lead from a dead battery, cylindrical slug inside the bored-out plastic?

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[mrsbruce]

I think that is what I want. I would need a longer rod for it all to fit together. As you can see from my bigger maul, they used a locknut at the top, but the second one is (I assume) a threaded end cap, which I like.

The weight of the big mallet is 666g (always knew it was a bit of a beast). The small mallet is 365g, this is made up from poly(144g), rod, end cap, washer and nut (190 g), and wooden handle (32g). I would like the end cap and washer to be 100 to 150g heavier (plenty of top weight).

I had considered a lead insert, but if there is any movement at all, you can feel it when stamping the leather, and it affects the finish of the pattern.

I know, I sound like a fusspot.

Meant to add, when I took the big mallet apart, I found that the washers are threaded, I assume that is why it feels lovely and tight when using it.

 

[rikrobson]

I've a wee bit of 40mm steel and some 22 mm steel bar. we could cobble something together with that for you.

 

[mrsbruce]

I've a wee bit of 40mm steel and some 22 mm steel bar. we could cobble something together with that for you.

You are a star!

 

[Hood]

Looks like you are sorted but if it falls through I have some 45mm F51 that would do.

 

[mike os]

Another offer here if you need it

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

That would be a good place to use up the lead from a dead battery, cylindrical slug inside the bored-out plastic?

Dave H. (the other one)

Was my first thought too. Lead on the brain as ive been tripping over flashing all week.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Was my first thought too. Lead on the brain as ive been tripping over flashing all week.

And I've been tripping over dead batteries...

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[gaz1]

Just to point out some hammers have a heavier head but to use that all day you feel it compared to a balanced hammer

 

[mrsbruce]

Just to point out some hammers have a heavier head but to use that all day you feel it compared to a balanced hammer

Because your not actually hammering, as in ‘swinginy thud’, with the mallet, you are sort of tap, tap, tapping, having a heavy head means you can contain the movement, and have more accuracy.

Although, you are perfectly right, that if you don’t get the balance for yourself correct, you are wasting energy fighting the weight if the head.

(Ed note - not sure that swinginy thud, and tap, tap, tapping, are legitimate technical terms).

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

not sure that swinginy thud, and tap, tap, tapping, are legitimate technical terms

Of course they are, any engineer knows this.

 

[sako243]

I assume the current ones don't have lead in them? Perhaps whoever is making them could bore out the plastic and then have stacks of plastic or "weight" in the form of internal shims. You can then add or remove as you see fit.

Some little bits of stick back felt should stop them all sliding around if make to an appropriate tolerance.

 

[sako243]

I'm lacking a lump of plastic (got a container fill in Wales but wrong end of the country at the moment) otherwise I'd offer.

 

[mrsbruce]

I bought the big maul from a chap in Italy, who made it himself. I changed the red plastic he used, as it had a ‘bouncy’ feel to it, which I didn't like. I was fortunate to buy a round bar of polyurethene(?), and made a new hitting surface out if it. It turned a quite nice feeling mallet into a ”bloomin’ ‘eck, I like that!” mallet.

I like the feel of the smaller maul for accurate hitting of hole cutters, and stitch markers, but need that additional ‘thump’ power. Thinking about it, I might cut a spare piece of the poly I used on the big mallet, and fit that to the small one. I want to try a bit experimentation, and it only takes a difference of 100g or so, to completely change the feel of the maul.

 

[rikrobson]

Bring it all up to Perth and we can experiment a wee bit.

 

[Dcal]

I was fortunate to buy a round bar of polyurethene(?)

I have some ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which is nice and dense.
Biggest pieces are from a 4 inch thick sheet so I could cut and turn a piece to size if you want to experiment with it.

If you want to try it just give me the size you need and I'll pop a bit in the post.