It's no secret that I love hammers and mallets. In fact, it has been suggested that I have a hammer problem. This may be due to the fact that I have four drawers in my tool chest, each dedicated to a different type of hammer or mallet. To the average person, a hammer is a tool to drive a nail. But a craftsman knows that hammers are used for much more. And having the right hammer ensures the task at hand is done with speed, precision, and without damage to other tools.
As woodworkers, the hammers and mallets we use are designed for very specific tasks: From tapping mortise chisels and carving gouges to persuading precise-fitting joinery together without leaving disfiguring marks. Here at Infinity Tools, we offer a set of mallets specifically designed for woodworking that we feel every woodworker should keep handy!
The first is the Large Bench Mallet. Probably the most iconic woodworking tool behind the saw and hand plane, the Narex Large Bench Mallet is made from hornbeam and is perfect for driving a mortise chisel or any other task that requires some serious persuasion. The angle of the mallet faces are perfect when working at the bench, striking the end of a chisel standing high above the benchtop. Turning the mallet sideways gives a more traditional flat face that is perfect for lower work or to persuade joinery together if you're not concerned about a possible pressure mark or two. The bench mallet is also the perfect tool for setting and releasing holdfasts and should always be close at hand in case Frodo gets chased into the shop by a giant spider.
The Carver's Mallet is another iconoic tool that many woodworkers' have not embraced. The defining characteristic of the carvers mallet is its round shape. This tool is specifically designed for driving gouges and also works wonderfully for finessing a bench chisel where the name of the game is precision. As with any tool, the size of the mallet is paired to the amount of material being removed or the space available. We've included two sizes in our set, the Large Carvers Mallet (101-756) is wonderful for removing large amounts of stock without being so heavy as to cause fatigue. The Small Carvers Mallet (101-754) offers precision when using smaller tools and when precision is of the utmost. It can also get in and out of some pretty tight spots.
The Brass Carvers Mallet, one of my favorites, offers substantial heft close at hand and is the perfect choice when working with non-wooden handle tools or through-shank tools like the Narex Profesional Screwdrivers. The brass head is also perfect in tight quarters. The heavy brass head and short handle provide plenty of force in tight quarters without sacrificing control. The small brass mallet is one that I find myself reaching for over and over. For me it is the Goldilocks of carvers mallets.
While the previous tools are all designed to drive other tools, the deadblow is designed to aid in project assembly. The Narex Premium Deadblow has two soft, plastic faces that will not cause damage to workpieces while driving them together. The beauty of the deadblow is that it doesn't bounce. The head is filled metal pellets that are free to move about inside the hammer and absorb the rebound energy. This ensures a solid strike, sending all of the force into the workpiece without wasting any energy.
Having the correct mallets and knowing when to use them helps projects go together more smoothly and with greater precision. Don't take my word for it — pick up a few new mallets and see what a difference they can make in your work.