Originally Posted by
Ron Bontz
Just my opinion, but I believe what ever century, 16, 17, 18, 20th.... There is no end all tool or method. Master craftsman adapted to what ever they had at their disposal at the time. They used those tools and methods and then passed them on to others. I just use what ever works for my novice self. I only know what I was and continue to be exposed to. No doubt there are as many variants of mallets as there are craftsman. The mallet I use on occasion only has a head size of approx. 2.5" x 5" long and weighs about 24 ounces. Works for me.
Using what is at hand gets the work done faster than waiting for the 'perfect tool' to come along.
It is very easy to attenuate the force my mallets deliver. Some folks prefer to use a Genno to power their chisels. Some of us save a little money and have a little fun by making our own mallets.
My lighter weight mallet would likely make me tired quicker while making my hand, arm and shoulder tired and aching after a day of mortising.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)