I need to repair my croquet mallet due to the hitting ends coming loose. Just in case it is not known the mallet is like an overgrown wood mallet and is a T section.

I intended to replace these ends with aluminium plate that will be 6 cm square and about 5 ml thick. they will be glued to jarra end grain.

The mallet weighs 1.5 kg or three lbs and hits a ball weighing .5 kg or 1lb. The ball is can be driven up to 50 metres so the whole thing takes a fair bit of punishment.

What I am looking for is a glue that will stand up to that punishment. The glue will need to be waterproof. It needs to be reasonably slow drying because I will need time to adjust the positioning. It has been brought to my notice that if the glue has no give in it cracking might occur and as a result the ends will come off. Something that has a little bit of give without being flexible would be a help.

Can anyone out there advise me on what glue I should use

Thanks

John

They say that croquet is the most vicious of all sports.

You should try it. You might be in for a pleasant surprise.

John

What is the purpose of the aluminium? I would have thought a bit of well selected timber would out perform a bit of aluminium when bump came to thump.

That is also my question. For a few hundred years wood mallets have been fine so why the ally plate. May also be against the true rules of the sport
Regards
John

Gluing aluminium is a pain, but it can be done. Surface prep is critical - fine wet n dry to remove the oxide layer and key the surface, wash off with plenty of water, wipe down with isopropyl alcohol, and glue immediately.

As for the glue itself, Araldite 2015 is ideal BUT it is expensive and comes in a 200mL syringe. I haven't used it to bond to timber, but I don't foresee a problem. If you want to use something more easily available I'd try garden variety Araldite (or any other 2-part epoxy) but I don't think it will stand up to the punishment. Make a test piece in either case.

As suggested, another piece of timber will be a whole lot easier, but if you want to try aluminium then go for it!

__________________
FIGHT APATHY! ...or don't

Thanks Scatterbrain for your positive help. That is just the information I am searching for.

As for the whys from the other replies. All the mallets and what ever they are made of have an attached hitting surface. I have never asked why mainly because I accept that there is a need. I am quite happy going along with and enjoy the sport as it is with the available equipment.

It is like so much of my woodworking gear. There are many parts in my tools that I don't question.

John

REDGUM,

is the Mallet home made or purchased??

If you have the tools make your own ? and when you turn the head inlet the ends, and inset the alloy plate then add glue.

. Aradite , would be your best option to attach the plates, what are the croquet ball made of?? , because if they are timber the alloy many damage them , remember that timber does have some cushioning affect when it hits an object.

Jeff

Excuse my ignorance, but when you say an attached hitting surface, is it always a metal?

No Rusty Nail.

At present it has some sort of fibrous resin type stuff. I have chosen aluminium because it was available and many of the above average mallets have aluminium at the hitting point.

I have seen mallets made of many materials such as alloy and other modern metal combinations but they come at a price. The most popular is wood. Like every thing you can do it economically or go over board on expense. For me croquet is a good way to get exercise and meet people but I fall into the economical category.

John

RED GUM

You may find that the fibreuos material would help with preventing the mallet making a glancing hit .

Jeff

Howdy
No expert on mallets but perhaps quality countersunk screws would secure the alloy plate in combination with glue would work well