There are some great threads already on this forum regarding the debate between round head and square head mallets. However since I already have a round head mallet, I would like to make a flat head to compliment my round head. However should I orient the grain so I am striking the end grain?
It appears that others go out of their way to make the mallet softer than the chisel head so while I'd normally think to orient the flat head so I am striking the end grain, would the mallet have more give if I oriented the growth rings perpendicular to the striking surface?
Perhaps that is one reason some like the round mallets?
Of course the hardness of the mallet makes a difference as well. I got some reject 8/4 African Mahogany for the head and 4/4 hickory for the handle at Highland Hardwoods discount bin so my thought is to make one with this combination but I plan to make more once I've trialed the first one.
(For those of you who are tracking the world economy, while the price of oil is going down the price of black walnut is escalating)