This Mallet is made following a plan from a small paperback woodworking text called "Woodwork for Second Year" written by John A Walton first publish in 1959.

The original plans are a pleasure to follow, each step is simply written with a number and letter system corresponding to the plan. Attached are the original plans and instructions as well as a similar version drawn in mm.

This project is made from Jarrah, which is our own Western Australian hardwood. The thicker material used to make the head of the mallet is recycled from old science benches, the handle is made from new materials.

Most mallet projects are made by gluing material together to get the thickness for the head, leaving the slightly angled gap for the tapered handle. This project requires a block of timber for the head, your patience marking out the mortise to match the tapered handle and your perseverance with a chisel to create the mortise.

It will be well worth your efforts

Step 1: Preparation

Prepare material for head to required size.

Prepare handle material to required size.

Step 2: Shape Handle

Mark centre line along face, measure 15mm on each side at one end.

Join from the top corner to 15mm to form the tapering lines and plane off.

Step 3: Setting Out Mallet Head Shape

Square centre lines around mallet head.

On the face of the mallet head set out markings

73mm from centre line to outside edge at top
62mm from centre line to outside edge at base.

(If you are making this in class the material will already have this shape because cutting it with the angle saves material, you will still need to square the centre lines around)

Step 4: Mark Out Mortise

Mark position of head on handle, then place head over these lines and transfer the width of the handle up to mallet head.

Square lines across mortise gauge lines to give correct size of mortise on each edge of head.

(The mortise you create will be wider on the top of the mallet, this step transfers the correct shape of the taper you have planed on the handle)

Gauge thickness of mortise for handle with mortise gauge.
Use marking gauge to mark out mortise width on top and base of mallet head

Step 5: Chisel and Bore Mortise

Clamp the mallet head under the drill upside down at first, when you turn it over to remove material from the base remember to stay at least 10 mm from outside edges.

Sharpen a mortise chisel, clamp your work to a bench, slowly begin to remove waste mortise material to follow the tapered profile of the handle. Keep your chisel sharp and carefully create the mortise, perseverance and patience is required here.