Lixie Dead Blow Mallet | Tool Review

We put the Lixie Dead Blow Mallet through the paces, in a test out in the Popular Woodworking shop. To test the mallet (which is the 30 ounce configuration) for a variety of situations, we used three different head hardnesses (which are easily swapped out on the tool) in three different woods - pine, cherry and hard maple. You’ll see our results above!
For more Tool Tests, visit our website, at: www.popularwoo...

[@andrewbrown5228]

Been using the same Lixie Hammers for over 30 years. No other dead blow mallet compares with them. I broke a handle on one of mine several years ago, and they replaced it with a new one at the factory. Quality tools from a quality bunch of guys, and they will last a lifetime is properly cared for.

[@rockcrawlinnut]

I have 2 of them. Probably the best dead blow mallet out there IMO. Used almost everyday as a machinist.

[@carbonitegamorrean8368]

Can you feel/hear the media inside yours ?

[@brendanbernhardtgaffney9176]

The internal thread has a second threading that can be removed to open up the inside of the head. As a part of the review I got the head open, and it’s about one-third full of steel shot, which is surprisingly fine.

[@rockcrawlinnut]

Carbonite Gamorrean i can if i shake it next to my ear. Lol. I have the 125h and 200h

[@al-hisword4us]

Tool Nerd - Same Here! Love them.

[@ChetKloss]

How many ounces was your hammer?

[@popularwoodworking]

This is the 30oz version.

[@carbonitegamorrean8368]

Great thanks, now I need to go change my heads.

[@brendanbernhardtgaffney9176]

The red-orange (soft) head is pretty surprising, in terms of how gentle it is on the wood (while still imparting some force).

[@deezynar]

Do they sell a brass head? I'd use it for adjusting plane blades.

[@brendanbernhardtgaffney9176]

This mallet is a little larger than I would use for plane adjustment, but Lixie does have other mallets with bronze heads that might work well for metal-on-metal adjustments. This particular mallet does not have a bronze or brass head that can be swapped in, but the other mallets that do still have one side of the head which can be outfitted with a rubber head. For a plane hammer, I’d generally recommend a smaller head diameter (though for some planes, the iron is proud enough of the body that you could use a larger mallet).

[@deezynar]

Thanks for the excellent reply.

[@alfredneumann4692]

I'm very sorry. But for what this test? I never hammer at the objekt, which is importand. In any case i use a slave piece of wood between the mallet/hammer and the target. And i use a hammer without backpulse (filled with litte metallballs). It's much better to controll.

[@brendanbernhardtgaffney9176]

Hey Alfred, I do say at the end of the video that a block is always a good idea, but the safety in having the softer heads does mean that (if I should miss) I’m better protected against dinging. Also, this is a dead-blow mallet, and does have small steel balls in the head to prevent “backpulse” as you call it.

[@alfredneumann4692]

Ok, this with the block i missed, because english is not my mother language. And you are really fast in talking :-) But that your mallet was such one filled with balls, does not come over in the video. Also it does not sound like such a mallet nor does it behave so. I own two of them and in my experience there is nearly no such 'springback' after the hit as i saw in your video. Thanks for your fast answer and best regards from Germany.

[@brendanbernhardtgaffney9176]

Hey Alfred, you’re right that it doesn’t hit quite the same as a typical “dead-blow” mallet - there is some springing back. I noticed that, with the green or medium head, the springback is a lot less than with the hard head. But, it has less steel shot that many dead-blows, that is true! Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus Amerika!

[@literoadie3502]

11 freakin bucks for a replacement face? The UK equivalent of this hammer is made by Thor, with a die cast Aluminium head and handle (steel shot inside), with similar threaded faces, and the faces cost a couple of ££.

[@andrewbrown5228]

A machinist buddy of mine has one of those Thor brand hammers, and it is a low cost low quality level hammer. It isn't exactly reasonable to compare a Thor and a Lixie. The Thor only offers one grade of thermoplastic face, while the Lixie can be changed depending upon what you are working on. 11 dollars for a face is minor when you are working rebuilding a high speed spindle that can be upwards of 15K plus.

[@literoadie3502]

Andrew Brown I have a Thor and have multiple different material heads for it. It seems high quality and I don’t know how else you could make it a better hammer (functionally). I get that nice tools are nice to have (I’m not shitting on the Lixie) but I wouldn’t call the Thor low quality.

[@js8039]

60 bucks for another unnecessary elitist “tool”

[@bfm1q2w]

J S right. The company is born in the golden era of the beautiful states we live and you wanna shit on it. I’ve used these hammers for years. Just like I only use dotco air motors, or miller dynasty 350’s. Uh oh. Tool elitist. Perhaps you’d want that when one builds engine components for our fly boys that protect us.

[@snap-off5383]

@@bfm1q2w bird wrenchers were issued KAL tools initially made in USA, but later made in JAPAN. . . of course snap-on, mac, matco, but also special brands of those makers like js-tools and es-tools so that when the tools hit the civilian market they weren't able to be warrantied. I showed my military aircraft mechanic friend (deaf as a flower) my KAL usa wrenches and he immediately recognized them. They'd have to check out full kits, and check them back in with every piece or the bird they worked on doesn't fly.