How to make a mallet from a single piece of wood

[@jamesaritchie1]

It's great to see tools used properly, and to see someone who has the right tools for the job. I hate seeing anyone beat on a good knife with a club. They don't seem to realize than a hatchet works even better for batoning than a knife because the hatchet blade is designed to split wood. You can baton with a kniufe, of course, but I think it's a terrible habit to form. I've seen every knife of carbon steel there is break, or have the edges chip, roll, or flatten. I've seen several stainless steels do the same thing. If this happens in an emergency situation, or if you get into an emergency situation shortly after, it can make all the difference. And I just don't want to risk having any of these things happen to a knife I love, emergency situation or not. I always have either a small hatchet or a tomahawk with a hammer poll on me, so there's just no need to beat my knife with a club. A set of chisels can also be incredibly useful in the woods.

[@notafan1275]

Great video, thank you. I'll have to make one, even if it's probably not as easy as you make it look...

[@originaloutdoors]

If I can make it then so can you - that rule applies to most things in life to be honest 😅

[@johnruckman2320]

Does chestnut wood make a good mallet for battening chisels or for a fro frog?

[@woodlandsnorth]

Nicely done. Is it better to use softwood or hardwood? I imagine hardwood is stronger, but more brittle, too.

[@originaloutdoors]

My favourite woods for this (in my particular woodland) are ash and birch - but it depends on several factors, such as how easy the wood is to shape/carve or split. It's worth giving any wood a try as long as you can do it safely etc.

[@rottiejakeluke]

Do you make the mallet from dry or green wood? Why one vs the other? Thanks

[@originaloutdoors]

Green wood is easier to carve in most cases, and often easier to split.

[@rottiejakeluke]

@@originaloutdoors thanks, I thought it was the case but since never having made one I felt better to ask.

[@alannafrost1959]

Looks like my Sater Banko hatchet.

[@rottiejakeluke]

What a square mallet vs a round mallet?thanks

[@originaloutdoors]

Round mallet if it's a smaller diameter piece of wood, square mallet if it would be too heavy if you did not remove the edges. I use both styles!

[@rottiejakeluke]

@@originaloutdoors I was thinking about it and actually thought exactly what you confirmed. Thanks

[@petertumminaro4528]

Could you fire-harden this to increase the strength and longevity?

[@originaloutdoors]

As you would with a spear or digging stick? I don't think it will add anything to the tool. A certain amount of softness and bounce is needed to make sure the mallet isn't too tiring to use, and prevents damage to the tool. Fire-hardening would also make it more brittle.

[@petertumminaro4528]

Thanks! I was talking about as with a stick or spear.

[@blainejeffreys]

chamfer the corners

[@originaloutdoors]

Make me.

[@blainejeff]

@@originaloutdoors A suggestion, not an order. I was being too frugal with the word count.