In woodcarving, a mallet is used for driving gouges and chisels mostly when your work needs to be free of impact marks. Not all mallets can be used for carving, and so, when looking for the best woodcarving mallet, you need to know what to look for.
Mallets will give you the extra force you will need by striking the end of the tool you are using, and the tools may include chisel and gouges.
There are different mallets according to shapes, sizes, and textures and the right mallet has to have good ergonomics for control comfort.
What To Consider When Looking For The Best Wood Carving Mallet
When looking for the best woodcarving mallet, there are things you need to consider?
- Weight of the mallet
- Type of material used
- Good ergonomics
Weight Of The Mallet
Weight is very important when looking for the best woodcarving mallet and in this craft, there are steps that you will have to do and these steps will require different forces acting on them.
When outlining your wood for the project, you will need a heavier mallet than detailing where you will need a lighter mallet.
The difference is, with detailing, little force is acted on the chisel or gouge to avoid carving the unintended part.
Type of Material Used
The material of a mallet is very important because it is the one that will determine its durability. The different materials used in mallets are; wood, synthetic, and rubber
When it comes to wood, hardwoods are the best for mallet because a hardwood parallel strands of fibers holds it together by a lignin binder making the wood very strong and these features resist stress and can spread the load over any length given.
With rubber and synthetic material, durability also plays a lot when you are looking for the best carving mallet. It should also be easy to use and have shock-absorbing power.
Mallets are barely used on softwood because they are easy to whittle and you won’t need an extra force.
Good Ergonomics
The best wood carving mallet should have good ergonomics and this feature gives you good control of it and feels comfortable when using it on a chisel or gouges.
When any tool has good dynamics, it means the design lets you engage in repetitive motions comfortably and without causing accidents.
So make sure the mallet you choose has good ergonomics on the handle by how it feels in your hands to how good the grip is.
Best Wood Carving Mallet-List
- Shaaf Tools Wood Carving Mallet
- KAKURI Wood Mallet
- TEKTON 32 oz Wood Handle Rubber Mallet
- BORA 540049
- Crown Beechwood Mallet
Best Wood Carving Mallet-Detail Review
Shaaf Tools Wood Carving Mallet
The shaaf tool is also on our list of the best wood carving mallet, and for the people asking why?
The Shaaf Tools Woodcarving mallet has a shock-absorbent urethane striking head and when you are using it, it absorbs the shock and this feature adds to its durability.
This mallet weighs 12 ounces and it gives enough force to use when carving.
The shock-absorbent urethane also decreases noise when you are striking a chisel or a gouge and it covers half the mallet and this increases the surface area, and this gives you ease when controlling and gives you clean and accurate cuts.
The handle has good ergonomics and it gives you an easy time when using it by giving comfort and it prevents your hand from going numb and this can extend your work time. It has a good grip that prevents the hammer from sliding when using it.
The shaaf tools wood carving mallet gives precision and accuracy because it is designed for easier control when striking.
KAKURI Wood Mallet
KAKURI Wood Mallet is a Japanese-made mallet that has the features to feature on the best wood carving mallet.
This mallet weighs 6.3 ounces and it is made from oakwood and if you know about wood, you’ll know that oak is one of the hardest woods.
KAKURI wood mallet has a smooth and durable hammerhead finish and this prevents it from damaging the top of a chisel or gouge when striking.
This mallet can serve you best when detailing because it has a tiny face that makes it ideal for detailing. I can’t say much about the handle, but it will do the work.
TEKTON 32 oz Wood Handle Rubber Mallet
The TEKTON 32 oz is a double-faced solid rubber mallet and this type of mallet delivers a softened strike, softer than the shaaf tools wood mallet that protects your chisel or gouge head.
The reason for this is that the rubber material absorbs more shock.
It has a classic hardwood handle that has good ergonomics and this gives comfort and good grip when using it.
The rubber decreases noise when using it and this will prevent irritation of your ears.
BORA 540049
The BORA 530049 is one of the best wood carving mallets on our list. It weighs 0.95 pounds with a height of 9 inches and its head is made from European Beechwood which is kiln-dried.
This mallet is well balanced and it gives you precision and comfort when using it on a chisel or a gouge.
The handle is tapered to add strength and striking force, and the ergonomic design is very good and it gives you a good feeling in your hand while swinging and striking.
Crown Beechwood Mallet
The crown Beechwood betrayed by its name is made from Beechwood and it weighs 1.1 pounds.
The beechwood used in this mallet is kiln dried and this ensures that the mallet withstands heavy use, adding to the fact that beechwood is a hardwood, the head provides an effective striking surface.
The Crown Beechwood mallet has a chamfered handle and this feature provides a secure grip. Its design and the way it is joined allow you to transmit the maximum force with minimal vibration.
Check out more recommendations for quality woodcarving tools
Conclusion
When buying the best woodcarving mallet, avoid buying the ones with metallic heads because they will destroy your gouge or chisel. Mallets bought for woodcarving can last you for a long time without thinking of buying another one because they are not the main tools used for woodcarving.
It is advisable to buy two mallets, one heavier than the other because you will find that you will use different forces in different levels of woodcarving.