What different chisel hammers/mallets do you use?

I use two different hammers/mallets for chisel work. For dovetails and anything precision I use a brass hammer and usually choke up to right next to the head.

For heavier work like chopping mortices, I use a wooden mallet.

Don’t do any carving at the present time.

-- https://www.jtplaneworks.com - In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.

Dang JayT. Looking at your bench, I did a doubletake. Looks like all the tools I use down to the brand.

-- Paul, Duvall, WA

The Veritas cabinetmaker’s mallet. The one with the brass head with wooden inserts. I use it for everything. Holdfasts, chisel driving, assembling joints etc… One face is used for the first two tasks, and the other kept “nice” for the third.

Thanks, JayT. I was considering going that route for dovetailing and fine work – a brass hammer, perhaps with a 2/3 length custom handle?

A less expensive second choice for the same chiseling I was considering would be a used medium ball pein steel hammer with some leather or other material attached to the striking face (to lessen damage to your chisels) although I haven’t read yet about anyone doing that.

-- Perfection is the difference between too much and not enough.

I tend to use the closest mallet. Barring that, I usually grab my ipe joiner’s mallet (around 18oz) although I’m probably going to make a heavier one for chopping. Most of my chiseling is regular bench work.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Mykos, regarding your preferred only 1 (!) mallet choice. The Veritas Cabinetmaker’s Mallet:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=50229&cat=1,41504

-- Perfection is the difference between too much and not enough.

The Veritas mallet is one of my favorites too to use with my mortise chisels! Lee Valley photo of course.

I also bought these little guys for use with my smaller Japanese fine chisels. Cheapest place I found to buy good Japanese chisels and hammers was from Germany – didn’t make any sense to me either.

-- Randy "You are judged as much by the questions you ask as the answers you give..."

I use a dogwood round mallet. Turned it from a dead dogwood tree from my back yard. Not too heavy, but give me pretty good control.
Bill

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I have two wooden mallets, one large and one medium. The large one os my go to for chopping and the medium does everything else.

-- Brian T. - Exact science is not an exact science

I’ll have whatever she is having!

-- Adjustable Height Workbench Plans http://www.Jack-Bench.com

Seriously, I use a round wooden carver’s mallet for all types of chisels. I have a small round brass mallet, but somehow I never really got used to it.

Charlie

-- Adjustable Height Workbench Plans http://www.Jack-Bench.com

I’ve been told this lump of timber is a form used by sheet metal workers to shape small parts. The tin is placed on the form and beaten with a hammer to shape. At any rate it is a fine mallet for light work, heavy, hard, balanced and a good striking angle. By the wear you can see I use both the round and flat faces.

-- Mama calls me Texcaster but my real name is Mr. Earl.

I use a 16oz and a 30oz poly mallet. For small detail work a have a 8oz brass malletRandy

Anyone like using the rawhide type of mallet as well? And for what exactly?

-- Perfection is the difference between too much and not enough.

It is for knocking furniture together. Does not damage the surface. Not for chisel work.