Plane setting hammer

[AlexS]

I decided the my HNT Gordon plane deserved to be tapped with something a little better than a tack hammer, so I made this little jobby out of silver ash & jarrah.

[starr]

Very nice. I really like the "rustic" touch with the handle in that it is not simply a straight piece of timber.

[DPB]

Very nice, I like it.:)

[AlexS]

Very nice. I really like the "rustic" touch with the handle in that it is not simply a straight piece of timber.

Thanks Starr & DBP. The idea of the bent handle was to put the striking plane of the hammer in line with my hand.

[LineLefty]

AlexS,

Can you give us some details on it's construction? Whats going on with that crosshatch at the top? Wedges? I assume this is the result of an enjoyable time with a spokeshave? :)

[MajorPanic]

Very flash!! http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif

I also like the choice of timbers you used!

[routermaniac]

Looks fantastic but I think the square head is much better for plane setting as it spreads the blow over the whole wedge and hence lower risk of damage in the longrun. Have a look at the baby mallet I made for this purpose here...

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=18256

I have used it probably 5-6 times since then and I find it very easy and very precise. The original HNT Gordon mallet also has a square head with chamfered sides (like mine) but has a rounded handle like the one you made.

regards

Marios

[AlexS]

AlexS,

Can you give us some details on it's construction? Whats going on with that crosshatch at the top? Wedges? I assume this is the result of an enjoyable time with a spokeshave? :)

You had to ask, Lefty :o
I was procrastinating before starting another job that I wanted to think about for a while. The # wedges are the result of me cutting the slots the wrong way (parallel to the grain) first up. Rather than redo the whole handle, I thought I'd do a fancy set of wedges.

The handle was done mainly with a spokeshave, I did knock a bit off with the router first. To make the head, I trimmed the corners off a bit of square scrap then planed it to round as I don't have a lathe.

Thanks all for your comments.

Routermaniac, I saw the Gordon mallet and that put the idea into my head. Time will tell if round is as good as square. I like your collection of mallets.

[derekcohen]

Alex

I think your mallet is terrific. My own is modelled after HNT Gordon's, but I need a new one and am thinking of a design similar to yours. What is the diameter of your mallet's head? It pays to make it wide enough to spread the load. I have a Japanese genno (450 gms) for my Japanese chisels, and it has an oval head that is about 1-1/2" wide at the narrow end. I do think that round has an advantage over square - my square one is chipping at the corners, hence my wanting to make a new mallet.

Great stuff!

Regards from Perth

Derek

[JDarvall]

pretty wedging of the handle you've got there.........round head good.....mines got a similar head but its made out of brass........spokeshaved the handle to fit a drilled hole in the head.......... not as nice as that one though.....like the bend in the handle.

[Woodlice]

Nice. I like the contrasting woods. Nice wedges too.

[AlexS]

Alex

What is the diameter of your mallet's head? It pays to make it wide enough to spread the load.
Derek

Thanks Derek, the diameter of the head is 30mm, as that was the size of the scrap I had and it seemed about right.