Making a Mallet that Melts Hearts & Breaks Stuff

Making a Mallet to sell has long been on my to-do list after having so many questions about them over the years. In this video, you'll watch me design, prototype and manufacture what I consider to be one of the most helpful tools for hand cut joinery and assembly.
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🕵️‍♂️ WHO AM I?:
My name is Matt Estlea, I'm a 27 year old Woodworker from Basingstoke in England and my aim is to make your woodworking less s***.
I come from 5 years tuition at Rycotewood Furniture Centre with a further 1 year working as an Artist in Residence at the Sylva Foundation, which is where I began growing my business. I then returned to Rycotewood to teach Evening Classes for 2 Years, while also teaching City and Guilds Furniture Making for 3 years. They were some long 12 hour days!
In September, 2021. I resigned from teaching at the school to focus on my own business.
In addition to all that studying and teaching during the week, I occupied my weekends working at Axminster Tools and Machinery in Basingstoke. For 5 years, I helped customers with purchasing tools, demonstrated in stores and events, and gained extensive knowledge about a variety of tools and brands. I discontinued this job role in 2019 to focus on teaching at Rycotewood and my own business.
During the week, I film woodworking projects, tutorials, reviews and a viewer favourite 'Tool Duel' where I compare two competitive manufacturers tools against one another to find out which is best. I also have a Free Online Woodworking School which you should definitely check out!
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I like to have a laugh and my videos are quite fast paced BUT you will learn a lot, I assure you.
Lets go make a mess.
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[@andersoncustomwoodcraft]

Getting rolled was the best part of this whole thing

[@RobHarveyMusic]

😈

[@MattEstlea]

I don't know what you're talking about 👀

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Beautiful mallets and a real professional setup you have now! I hope the tool making really takes off for you. Well done Matt.

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you John! Been a massive learning curve, even more so than the knives! Hope you're well :)

[@startmaking1]

Stunning. Just stunning and so beautifully crafted. Well done and thank you for always inspiring.

[@steveferguson1232]

Matt, what a great educational video. Never seen a machine quit like the one you used and I must say very impressive. I really like how you showed and described all of the processes and even showed the fails. And your excitement when it worked. Beautiful little mallet and can see its use in a shop. Will definitely go and check it out

[@MattEstlea]

Cheers Steve! Really appreciate it :)

[@heliarche]

If Diresta can charge $200 for a brass mallet which he designed but never laid hands on, I can't see why you can't do it when you not only designed it but built it. Diresta is charging for something associated with his name. You're selling heart and soul.

[@bradcofo]

Unfortunately, nowadays name recognition is worth more than heart and soul. If only it was the other way around.

[@heliarche]

@@bradcofo I hope there will be enough people that truly understand what this guy is offering. Diresta is certainly a talented builder and he worked his ass off to get where he is. The mallet he's selling is 100% subbed out and is only his in design though. If I have the choice I'm going with the guy who actually built it Vs. the guy who is selling his name. The guy who built it laid hands on each piece and knows exactly what's going out the door.

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you for the kind words :) Jimmys career certainly warrants him being able to charge that much, not to mention the fact he's a good dude who deserves all the success he can get. But I really appreciate the acknowledgement of the amount of work that has gone into, and will continue to go into these things.

[@julianfbond1234]

I hope you're able to make a second batch, they look beautiful!

[@vedfe142]

My marking knife got delivered yesterday and the quality is what tipped me over the edge to order a mallet too. Such a lovely tool and im sure it will last my woodworking life and i hope the same for the mallet. And im sure that small but heavy mallet will be more forgiving on my wrist compared to the standard mallet i use at the moment.

[@justinalang]

Stunning. Just incredible!

[@pemj7360]

All credit to you guys . I have a lignum and african backwood mallet. Done with a router and lots of sandpaper. Ive had it for about 20 years. I swore id never make one again. Lol

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Beautiful job! That grain on both of those woods is absolutely glorious. That olive wood is just stunning.

[@MattEstlea]

Mental isn't it? It's like Christmas every time we turn a handle and see the grain for the first time.

[@fancraft1266]

Best looking mallets i've ever seen :O

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you!

[@blakelambert5643]

I really enjoyed all the production you added

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Blake :)

[@EvanDunville]

Cool to see your production methods!

[@MattEstlea]

Got an extended video coming out soon that takes an even deeper dive into production. Will be posted on the second channel (Matt Estlea 2) soon!

[@carlhobson1578]

Great design, never heard of these wood types before, love it!

[@MattEstlea]

Thanks Carl! If you ever get your hands on either of them, don't expect it to a be a fun experience!

[@scottmedori1437]

Awesome looking mallet!

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you!

[@ebwoodwork]

Im going to be busy when this premieres so i'll have to wait until tomorrow to watch! 😭

[@devinteske]

I love the title of this video. I can’t wait to have my heart melted. It’s funny, I was counting my hammers recently and thought to myself “I have just about every hammer I could need, except, I STILL don’t have a good joiner’s mallet.” I even have a Lignum Vitae carver’s mallet, but just haven’t found the right joiner’s mallet. Was thinking I was going to have to make my own. I can’t wait to see what Matt has in store for us today!

[@MattEstlea]

Devin! I've been rubbish on Twitter/X recently. Hope you're well!

[@devinteske]

@@MattEstlea No worries. I am so happy to see you excited with a new project. And what a project! The level of excitement and smile on your face when that CNC lathe came to a stop was contagious. I am smiling now just thinking about your level of enjoyment. I am plotting and scheming how to get into the pre-order. I myself am almost back into production after dealing with some plumbing issues, ugh

[@pedroe5576]

Wow!!!! your CNC machine it's awesome!!!! I really miss your videos, welcome back 😁

[@pedroe5576]

Congrats from Mexico 👍

[@MattEstlea]

It's a beast isn't it? 😂 Thank you!

[@AverageMax13]

I desperately want one because it's stunning and I watched the full extended build on the second channel but I'm not a woodworker. Or a maker in any facility. Top notch work.

[@MattEstlea]

Thats a hell of a compliment considering you're not even a woodworker! Thank you!

[@thebeardeddove]

This was such an entertaining watch 😅 "did we not zero in the lathe?!?!" 🤣 Love it

[@MattEstlea]

Hahaha yep! It's a right of passage into CNC from what I've gathered.

[@cluelesscleric]

Love the quality of these videos! Hope these mallets sell well Matt 👍

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you!

[@Kargoneth]

If you're so terrified of the lathe, then why did you place the control panel where you'll get hit by shrapnel if something breaks?

[@nopenopeandnope7050]

good to see you back, man. It's been a while.

[@MattEstlea]

THank you :) Been busy trying not to be killed by a lathe!

[@Critter145]

Those mallets are chuffing beautiful.

[@MattEstlea]

Aww thanks ☺

[@Sugar3Glider]

How did you get a thing like that and have never used it?

[@martinrwolfe]

The CNC lathe should be in its own enclosure separate from the control pedestal. Further there should be an interlock with the enclosure's door and the controls so that when the door is open the lathe won't start.

[@bakedbeings]

It reminds me of irradiation accident videos where 3/4 of the safety measures are missing or deliberately disabled, enabling the operator to casually beam a body part into oblivion.

[@MattEstlea]

Oh that's one of many safety issues with the machine that we need to address. We're currently working in the bottom two layers of the hierarchy of hazard controls which isn't ideal but at least it's something. We do plan on isolating the machine in an enclosure in the coming months though.

[@jamescrawford7513]

Just curious, couldn't you just use the lathe with a beveled tool to make the bevels in the longer piece of rounded leadwood, prior to slicing with the band saw?

[@daganael]

ok, you deserve my money again :P

[@daysejones968]

Jonh Bringus!

[@smwad7103]

“Me and Jenn and Brian bought a pretty little home It was cheap and we split it and we're fixing it up So Mr. Sokol does everything: Rewires, fixes cracks I can only break walls, move stuff, and get snacks” “And I am downright amazed at what I can destroy with just a hammer And I am downright amazed at what I can destroy with just a hammer” -Atom and His Package

[@Sjoholm13]

Boys this is a masterpiece, both video and mallet. I've been following this project on the second channel and other socials, and it's been an absolute blast. As a woodworker myself, I would say £200 is positively cheap for this tool. Is it a cheap mallet? No. Is it cheap for a bespoke, hand made, exclusive tool made from exotic (and quite expensive) wood, that took five to six months to R&D? Yes. Can I afford it myself? At the moment, no, but that's just the way it is. There are many things I want but can't afford. Anyone claiming that the pricing is steep has obviously not done woodwork on this level, nor any kind of product development. Once again, beautiful tool, beautiful video, beautiful boys. Okay that last one was a bit of a stretch... Oh well.

[@RobHarveyMusic]

Very well put. Thank you ❤

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you so much :) These are the best kind of comments. Really appreciate it!

[@harrrydeol]

in the same boat as you @Sjoholm13. It has taken these fellas helluva lot of time but boy did they have fun whilst at it?! Might pull the trigger later in the year, who knows.

[@markduggan3451]

I wish I could afford to buy one, especially after seeing the process you went through. I'm sure you will have no problems selling them. Well done.

[@MattEstlea]

Thank you Mark. Very much appreciate it!

[@cody2470]

Would love to buy one but I really don’t have a use for one :(

[@MattEstlea]

Once we've processed the pre-orders they will be available to purchase directly from my website. So just hold off for the time being until you find a reason to treat yourself :)

[@anthonyvincent9990]

it looks beautiful. the things is the handle looks a tad short.

[@MattEstlea]

You're absolutely correct, the handle is shorter than normal. But this is intentional. It's primarily designed for detailed work such as small to medium scale joinery and assembly operations. If you're doing heavy duty morticing for example, you'd definitely want something with a bigger swing!

[@flubba86]

8:43 Its convex, not concave.

[@MattEstlea]

Haha we realised this error when we were watching the live premiere when the video went live. Somehow missed it during the countless editing stages this video went through

[@Kargoneth]

Huh? Wood that doesn't like to be worked quickly? Sounds like some metals. Perhaps some kind of wood-safe lubricant can be used.

[@tatewatt9855]

11:04 fun little secret

[@TomLichti]

Wow, that was fun!

[@tatewatt9855]

@@TomLichti sorry i didn’t want to be the only one who fell for it

[@RobHarveyMusic]

😘

[@MattEstlea]

What can I say, I'm feeling generous giving out free McDonalds vouchers to my audience

[@PHONYJOSEPH]

Congratulations on your successful production run! Love to see your ingenuity at work :)

[@buttonman6262]

They are beautiful but for £200 it would be a ‘display only’ mallet in my workshop.

[@MattEstlea]

Haha, some people do the same when they buy expensive cars!

[@gedreillyhomestead6926]

Sorry Matt, I will keep my £200 and build it myself, same/similar design, probably different woods (some scraps) and enjoy beating the 💩 out of it then put it up on a shelf and build another as and when needed. You do some beautiful work and I love your channel but your lovely tools are a bit out of my pocket price. 👍

[@MattEstlea]

That's cool! Got no issues with people making their own mallets for their own personal use. If you can get your hands on some Leadwood you'll be most pleased!

[@devinteske]

I’m shook! Matt just used the word “CNC” and not in some casual way, but he’s going full-on?! 😮

[@michaelwillson6847]

Matt firstly i think it looks stunning and the craftsmanship second to none secondly i thinyi your nuts but brilliant but £200 for a mallet i can't afford/justify it and a dont think ill be the only one unless you wanna send me one ill review it 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MattEstlea]

Cheers Michael! The price tag isn't for everyone which is absolutely fine. But I very much appreciate the acknowledgement of the work that's gone into them :)

[@michaelwillson6847]

@@MattEstlea to easy m8. Unfortunately I'll have to try recreate it myself (sad) 😢 it's a beautiful piece Maybe 1 day.

[@melliW1]

I think £200 is a bit too much. In euros that would be more than €236, and then there is the shipping. Although I think the mallet is nice, I will opt for something cheaper. I'm sorry but as a pensioner I can't afford it. I had to buy my machines every 2nd or 3rd hand, I have to pass. I hope that you have sold all your mallets by next week. good luck👍🏻 🧿

[@MattEstlea]

Yea £200 isn't to everyones budget which is totally understandable, and we'll never sell this as a product that people 'need'. We sell it using the same reasoning that people use when they're buying flashy cars or watches for example. They both do the same job as something cheaper, but some people (myself included) like using something that is more akin to 'functional art' for lack of a better term. I appreciate the well wishes!

[@gavinhouliston]

Maybe one day you'll get Concave and Convex right

[@melliW1]

The distinction between concave and convex is easy. concave was chaste )( convex had S.E.X. () right?

[@RobHarveyMusic]

We genuinely only realised the error while it was premiering. We had missed it on every watch through 😅

[@user-qr3nz1wi2j]

A cave is concave

[@nobnobnobnob]

Jesse Pinkman of Woodworks

[@matthewwright57]

Ok try a normal lathe and a skew.

[@MattEstlea]

Your comment is 5 years too late: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX_YlIaspbCtpJosi=6ZnR-NUwqHbbU8C0

[@matthewwright57]

@@MattEstlea That means you should be an excellent turner now!

[@cmdraftbrn]

anything going that fast outta have a stewardess on it.

[@martyjosephson4937]

Hey Matt, you look like your hammered,,Lol

[@mrljvb]

scanned the QR code.... it's safe.. I promise.. no really.. Touch Matt, touche.

[@MattEstlea]

Free Mcdonalds vouchers go a long way with making people happy!

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

ashamed to admit I fell for that QR code

[@MattEstlea]

huehehehehe

[@krtwood]

You've nearly created the perfect murder weapon. The police haul you in with the bloody mallet in an evidence bag and say "Don't even try to deny it. We've got your fingerprints in the victim's blood all over the murder weapon." You simply reply "Are you mad? Have you looked at this mallet? I wouldn't dare hit a chisel with a mallet this nice, much less murder someone with it!" "Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Off you go." Perfect crime. Except the proportions are all wrong for murdering, aren't they? Keep trying. I'm sure you'll get it right on the next iteration.

[@MattEstlea]

Haha, not to mention the fact my own fingerprints will be all over the mallet. Every crime would be traced back to me!

[@craftygriffo]

Now we know why you’ve grown your hair so long.

[@Stratomacaster]

No man... that's "mallet", not "mullet". 🤣

[@MattEstlea]

Yep. Investing money on wood, machinery and equipment for the past 6 months instead of haircuts.

[@pikap8649]

$300 for US, 😢 enjoy to all who get one.

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

$446 AU Delivered, It's nice but Nah, I will stick with my one piece Olive wood mallet cost me $59 AU still going ten years later

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Aye USD delivered it is 383. Converting 302 GBP to USD. Yikes, nearing 400 dollars. Really nice hammer but that is a bit high. The other payment method says 302 USD…that’s weird. Careful.

[@cuebj]

Shouldn't you tie your hair up or cover it when using machinery. Back in the day, after long hair became popular in 1970s and not just for hippies, a few folk got scalped. Ah - saw a few minutes later you had a full head mask/helmet

[@MattEstlea]

Yea I'm super cautious with it!

[@mckutzy]

These are really cool.. I like it. Way too pricey at $354CAD One piece of advice while working around obscure, oddball and potentially dangerous Chinese machines... Keep your hair tied back.... at the minimal.... Ya just never know....

[@mikulasbim2658]

this is most overcomplicated mallet i ever seen

[@kimmosaarinen2780]

I like this channel... and here it comes: BUT, this videos thumbnail + title is a clickbait. I do not like clickbaits and red arrows. Just out of spite, I'm not gonna watch it. Hah, take that! (probably gonna watch it later today, got some cutlery handles to do first and mowing)

[@MattEstlea]

Hahaha 😂 Red arrows are a necessary evil in KZbin land! Although your description of clickbait is a little off. Clickbait refers to a thumbnail/title that serves no relevance to the actual subject of the video and is used purely as means to make someone click. I like to think that we created the opposite of clickbait here by making 50 or so mallets, instead of the 1 that was promised in the thumbnail ;)

[@kimmosaarinen2780]

@@MattEstlea I stand corrected. Thanks!

[@andrewgaul]

Why is the camera man talking…

[@RobHarveyMusic]

How dare you

[@MattEstlea]

If you know how to make him shut up, I'm open to suggestions. Been trying for years.

[@RobHarveyMusic]

@@MattEstlea I’m going to HR

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

Good luck selling that for 200 pounds that's a $40 hammer.

[@RobHarveyMusic]

I would love to see someone make it for $40. That’s a shocking hourly rate if you can 😂

[@pikap8649]

@@TomsBackyardWorkshop $40 is crazy, but I think around $99 would be the sweet spot. Hopefully he has enough fans that he’ll sell out at his price.

[@simonspoke]

It would probably be that much for the material costs!... Leadwood ain't that cheap!

[@RobHarveyMusic]

@@pikap8649Unfortunately with the costs of materials and time, $99 would genuinely make the mallet not possible to make. And that’s before you factor in that fact it took 6 months to work out how to make it effectively.

[@pikap8649]

@@RobHarveyMusic listen I gets it, i don’t know what material costs are in the UK. Im talking more along the lines of a marketable price. The cost of R&D has to be spread over thousands of pieces.