So, I had a piece of Spalted.....whatever woodIMAG0141.jpgactually, this is the leftover half. Cut the blank into a couple 11" long blanks. Chucked the other blank up into the lathe. The old Craftsman, "T" railed older than dirt lathe, and it's EOM chisel set. Fastened the lathe to the top of my workbench. In the Dungeon Shop, there just ins't room for extra machines, and thier dedicated bases. Fastened the lathe down so it wouldn't walk away. Started to dig around for the old mallet, to use as a pattern. Oh well, get started with out it... Got a basic round cylinder done, and THEN found the old mallet. The grip on the old one was a little too scrawny for my hands. made a few lines to mark out where the grip was to be. Got close, sanded it down to smooth. Tried the size of the grip while sanding, too. Parted off one end, and sanded that smooth as well. Took it upstairs and added a dark oil finish/stain. let it dry in the setting sun awhileIMAG0142.jpgstill a little dark, so a wipe down to remove some of the finishIMAG0140.jpgand now, you can see the grain better. The old scrawny mallet is laying down. Mallet is 11" long, maybe 2-3/4" in diameter at the headend. And, it even fits my hands! maybe an hour of work....cost? It IS scrap wood, afterall.