Joiner's MALLET

A hard-hitting shop hammer

- Derek Richmond

There are at least a dozen uses for a joiner’s mallet in just about any woodworking shop. Whether you need to drive a chisel, insert a dowel, or knock together tight-fitting dovetail joints, this heavy, wood-headed mallet accomplishes the task. And it does it all with less chance of marring your carefully prepared surfaces the way a metal hammer would.

What’s more, this is a tool you can make for yourself, customizing it to suit the way you work. I’ve specified the dimensions I used, but feel free to shorten the handle if you frequently find yourself choking up and swinging from the wrist rather than the elbow. Increase or decrease the head size to suit your common tasks. Or use heavier woods or added weight to increase the mallet’s mass for more power. Better yet, make an entire set in various lengths, weights, and head sizes—each suited to a task. Even if you just make one, your shop will be the better for it.

Wood Selection