Replacing a Thor mallet face

[DTR]

Greetings all,

Some time ago I picked up this Thor hammer with rawhide faces:

(it's somewhat cleaner now)

I want to replace one of the rawhide faces with a hardwood face for chiselling duties. I'll be using iroko for the face as it's the most suitable wood I've got lying around. The sockets in the mallet head are around 30mm diameter and 10mm deep, and they are slightly dovetail shaped. What would be the best way of securing the new face?

Thanks

 

[MMUK]

If you're not bothered about keeping it all original, I'd suggest drilling through from top to bottom and fitting a stainless roll pin.

 

[wizard]

Glue and press it in

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

I'd clean up the rawhide faces and keep them. They will be far kinder to the ends of your chisels than a hardwood. In fact, I have a Veritas Cabinetmakers mallet and have covered the wooden ends with horse butt leather. I also have a Thor, but that has plastic ends. The Verutas and the Thor are a similar size and weight.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[DTR]

If you're not bothered about keeping it all original, I'd suggest drilling through from top to bottom and fitting a stainless roll pin.

That was the first option I was considering.

Glue and press it in

... or this. The original rawhide was just pressed in, but the rawhide has the benefit of expanding into the dovetail.

I'd clean up the rawhide faces and keep them. They will be far kinder to the ends of your chisels than a hardwood.

Most mallets are made of hardwood, no? I've tried using the original rawhide and it just deformed. The rawhide is great for knocking a joint together though.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

I'd go for hot melt glue. The face will work loose on a roll pin as a result of the impacts and it will become an annoyance.

Regards Mick

 

[Willum]

Think I still have a brand new one I was given kicking around, will see if I can find it if you would like it.