Making a Shipwright's Caulking Mallet

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

You definitely have the tricks of the trade. Very interesting how to solve the problems thrown at you. Another beautiful tool well made.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

"Pretty nice" is an inadequate description of any of the work I have seen you do in all of your videos Bob. Beautiful, excellent, maybe even stupendous would be more appropriate. Your tool videos are inspirational. The problem I have is that I may be too old to build a boat by the time I get all of the tools made that you've made videos on but I will have some very nice tools. Thank you as always for your video, take care and stay well.

[@glencrandall7051]

Nice mallet. Thank you for sharing. Have a nice day and please continue to stay healthy.

[@Mtlmshr]

Ingenious use of the available tools to get the job done!

[@davidc6510]

Great story about the lathe. What I find also amazing from your story is that you are in the early to mid 70's whereas I had thought you were in the low 60's tops. Looking good Bob and what a beautiful job on the caulking mallet. I also noticed your skill with the videography, editing, story telling, and the addition of music is progressing quite well. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks David, I'll be 68 next month. So right in the middle of your guess. I appreciate your kind comments on the videography. It is a labor of love. Cheers, Bob

[@davidc6510]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding Now that I revisit my math I should have guessed late 60's *sigh*. I turned 58 this month. Wishing you all the best.

[@richardbohlingsr3490]

Well, that is definitely a pass down tool. You probably could work a lifetime without wearing it out. A tool of beauty for sure. I have viewed all your videos now and it was a pleasure to watch a craftsman at work. I look forward to see the finishing of the sail boat and see her Splash. I hope you continue on to build the runabout as well. Best regards and like my grandfather told me " build it right - then your done"

[@MCsCreations]

Really fantastic work, Bob! Nicely done! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@haroldschultz5864]

Thank you for sharing this tutorial . You didn't miss a thing . Very helpful . Blessings to you sir .

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Glad it was helpful!

[@budnotu]

I do believe your greatest attribute is your ability to teach, great job.

[@scottthomas5999]

Another nice job!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@newtonmiller8810]

Your Grandfather would be proud you have continued to learn and master wood turning, and making incredibly beautiful tools and art pieces. A nice legacy to continue.

[@ned711]

Wonderful work! I’ll look forward to your using this mallet.

[@alisdairmccabe7497]

Excellent work as usual, Bob

[@thomasarussellsr]

That, like all of your hand made tools, is one georgeous mallet. Well done, sir.

[@billbailey5186]

Great job Bob thanks very much

[@daleskidmore1685]

When I first saw a caulking mallet I thought they looked unwieldy, but once you see one in use it looks just right for the job. An itinerant shipwright must have had quite a tool chest to carry round. Lovely job as always, looks great.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks Dale!

[@SteveHayes1]

Love these videos. It’s was a great story about your grandfather.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Glad you like them!

[@georgemalakasis]

Nice watching your work. But more important, your respect for your ancestors. Thank you for this altitude and wish you lots of happy productive time !

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Many thanks!

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

Love the bit about your Grandfather, Bob. And now I have to more seriously consider getting a lathe. Great work and stellar video production, again!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Go for it! Thanks Chuck!

[@chiplane3976]

Great video and beautiful result. Such craftsmanship!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thank you very much!

[@warrenwatson3105]

Thanks

[@rossmunro8981]

Great and informative video as always, thank you. My understanding of the the tone produced by the mallet was that it indicated that the seam had been packed tight enough.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

That is correct from what I've read. I thought I'd mention that once I've had some experience caulking. I'll make sure to report on that in the upcoming caulking episode. Thanks for that point and thanks for watching!

[@rickfazzini6440]

Great execution as always!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Wow, thanks!

[@oliversch7271]

Well this is my first video from your channel I came across you from acorn to Arabella I have been watching their channel for quite some time you have a great channel here I look forward to watching your videos

[@tedlinzy5865]

I love the lathe! I have a 1962 delta Rockwell lathe.

[@KRWoodworks]

I've made about a dozen of these. My personal mallet is Live Oak with a cherry handle. What I read of C. Drew mallets are all the handles were cherry.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Hi Kevin, That’s great information. I had some cherry and briefly thought of using it. I plan on making more so cherry handles for sure. Thanks for your comment and watching!

[@KRWoodworks]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding For my rings I used 4130 DOM tubing. Back then I had access to a machine shop so I included the tapers on the outer rings the Drew mallets had. I turned the mallet heads to be a tight friction fit and pressed the rings on in a hydraulic press. Do I see Joel White Haven 12 1/2 in your shop?

[@TermiteUSA]

Nice work sir!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chrisstaylor8377]

Nice work ,I’ve made a few of these hammers and used brass for the rings

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Beautiful tool Bob, I am kinda surprised you did not drill out the slots on the drill press using a mortising chisel but your way is brilliant. The story of your Grand Father's lathe is wonderful

[@grendel1960a]

tom, I had the same thought, that and placing the slots and drilling the hole while the wood was in the square too, rather than after turning it?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Hi Tom, I did think of using a mortising chisel. I don't have one small enough. The slot is 5/32" the best I had on hand is 1/4.. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Bob

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Beautiful work. For tool handles--especially striking tool handles--boiled linseed oil is ideal because it protects the wood from moisture, and it also has the magical property of not causing blisters like bare wood and varnished wood can.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks for the tips!

[@robertbamford8266]

Thanks! Great viewers’ comments about the sound: tell when a seam is caulked solidly or monitor who is working.

[@brianmcguire5005]

Awesome job man!!! I love all the videos but the tool making ones are my favorite. I saw that old tool chest hiding on that shelf. Your grandfathers perhaps? It would be a great video to open it up and show us all the tools in it!! Keep up the great work!!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks 👍

[@gav2759]

It certainly looks the part and it will probably ring well too. Shipwrights like em good and loud that's why so many of us are so deaf. I have never heard of a squad "tuned" harmoniously I do not think our employer would have approved of us using our time in such a frivolous way! I would not pin the ring, but use shims of canvas to ensure a good tight fit. We would need to drive the rings further on periodically, to take account of wear. I guess your mallet will have an easier time of it than mine, so it will be fine.

[@SRMWorkshop]

My lathe had a roughed out train wheel (1/8th scale) still in the chuck when I inherited it from my Grandfather. I'm just glad I can keep it making parts many years after his passing.

[@johnlinehan9053]

Nice!

[@petahearn]

Ive heard that the "slots" make a different noise once the caulk is hard. It helps the boat builder know when its been compacted enough.... i was told by an old boat builder.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

That is true. Thanks for watching!

[@mrklyles]

Bob, our lathes are the same vintage. I don’t use mine often but when I need to, it’s the only tool that’ll do the job. It’s also quite a bit of fun. Nice video as usual!

[@DamnYankeeWorkshop]

I've got the exact same lathe too and I love it. Cast iron, solid as heck, and so much better made than anything I could afford in the modern market. I bought it used from a guy whose grandfather bought it new. It had obviously been shown love and respect over its life and was in good shape but I gave it a thorough cleaning and lubrication before putting it to use. It included a sanding station with a table that attaches to the bed, an extra long tool rest with two attachment points, an L shaped tool rest, and two other standard single pole tool rests. I keep the bearings happy by dosing them with light oil regularly and thats about it. I use it mostly to make native american style flutes but I often go to it for other woodworking tasks. I love my 100 year old lathe!

[@cbcowart7475]

Once you said you got the oak from "Steve from Arrabella", I remembered you were just there and I saw you get the oak, now I found you have a channel and I subscribed so will be following you as well. Nice 'caulking hammer'. See you around!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Yes, great remembering! Steve has ask me to come out and help in August (2020)which I'm going to do. So watch out you'll see me there again. Steve an Alix have become great friend of mine. Cheers, Thanks for watching!

[@chrisstaylor8377]

Heat shrinking the rings on works well

[@Jhbrenner1]

What kind of wood was used for the handle and why not the live oak?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

The dowel I used is most likely beech or birch. The handle needed to be a softer wood than the head so that it would have a good friction fit.

[@fepatton]

Well, great. I have absolutely no use for a caulking mallet, but now I’m filled with a compulsion to make one.

[@TheEdgarMueller]

Is there a specific reason for not choosing wood in the same color for the handle as for the head?

[@clarkkent7999]

Nice work. Will be curious to hear the pitch of the tone when you put it to use. Also am wondering how you are able to maintain a constant diameter along the length of a piece when turning it down to size on the lathe with a hand held tool.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Good question! Cutting the 2 ends with the parting tool is helpful as knowing where you want to get to. I also try to line up the tool rest parallel to the work piece and the sight down on it to keep a constant diameter. Also over 50 years of experience doesn't hurt.😉 Thanks for watching.

[@clarkkent7999]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding 👍👍

[@stevefraga1416]

I’m going to make this mallet, but I don’t understand why the taper on the handle isn’t the other way like a pick or Maddox

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

It’s so the handle can be removed for storage. Best wishes on your project. Cheers, Bob

[@stevefraga1416]

If the handle was tapered, the other way, you could still take it apart and would have no fear of it flying off while in use is this not true?

[@jimc4731]

You are making many beautiful tools. Make up or buy a makers mark to imprint your work. JIM

[@ronaldframe1045]

Curious what your mallet weighs, thinking of swinging it all day -like a house framer swings a framing hammer.

[@4englishlies875]

That is just so very cool. Why did you want to keep 1 side as up? And not just flip it end for end keeping the portions the same size, for the groves cut in the head? I am learning so much from you it is not even funny. Love this channel

[@peepawhebert6479]

If the blade is not centered vertically the slot wouldn't line up. This way the walls line up perfectly. He already had to go in with a saw to finish the ends of the slot. At least that's my guess.

[@perrydiddle3698]

Is there not a better tool to use to apply he caulking?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Not really. One could use a caulking wheel like the one I had made in an earlier video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpy7k4KYhNSkpZY However, even with the caulking wheel, the cotton still needs to be set with a caulking iron. I suppose that a regular wooden mallet could be used on a small boat. The caulking mallet is a trued and tried tool that has been used for centuries by shipwrights. Thanks for watching!

[@W4ABN]

Really nice mallet. I found myself an old mallet a few years ago. Don't think it's anything special, no name on it or anything. The metal rings are nailed to the wood. Good thing too as they are very loose on it. Not going to get any use out of it but maybe someday the rings can be used make a new mallet. Thanks for sharing your tool build.

[@peepawhebert6479]

I love this video. Especially the sound of the rain. The story behind the lathe is really cool. Do you know what year it was manufactured? If you ever want to sell it, it would go well with my 1950 Delta band saw and 1948 Craftsman bench top drill press. Those are great old tools.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks, I think it was manufactured in 1934. No plans to ever sell it. I pretty sure my son has his eye on it. Sounds like you have some great tools! Thanks for your comment and watching! Cheers

[@marchebert938]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding thanks for the reply! That is great that your son wants the lathe. Does he work in the shop? Any plans for him to make an appearance? Cameo?

[@hughmaxwell8143]

Nice job Bob but I’m still unsure about this business of making the tool without never having having used one

[@pedroaffonsorosar1315]

"Se você for fazer, faça bonito" (brazilian portuguese). Congratulations!

[@BobBlarneystone]

An interesting tool, and overall a good presentation. However, I think you should change your technique for sanding on the lathe. Sand from the underside without clutching a strip of abrasive tightly between thumb and fingers, so that the abrasive won't wrap around the work and draw your fingers along and wrap them around the work too.

[@KayZee1957]

I must have missed something. Why does the head have slots?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

I explain the slots in the introduction to the video. It gives the mallet a bit of spring to reduce the fatigue of the shipwright. It give the mallet a pleasant ring which helps the shipwright know when the cotton is set properly. Thanks for watching!

[@tonygintz734]

An old Spanish shipwright tall me what all the mallet in an caulking gang were tune at different pitch like this the master shipwright could ear who was working hard and who was slacking off.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

That's a good one I hadn't heard. Thanks for watching!

[@bitankumarnayak8528]

Good

[@chriscunicelli7070]

Not sure if I ever would have cut the slots that way. Probably would have cut it by hand. I’m not sure

[@gregoryvangundy6170]

We all get caught up in projects and don’t always get our order of operations right. I think I would have kept the stock square, cut the slots with a router, drill press for handle mortise, then turned the piece.

[@judyfisk9657]

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHALKING IRONS NOW

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Ya Think! It's been a long time since I've done any forging. However, you suggestion made me think of mt friend Scott who is a blacksmith. Maybe he like to be featured in a video. Doesn't hurt to ask. Thanks Judy! and thanks for watching.

[@judyfisk9657]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding No one has ever covered how to make them it would be a first on utube hat i know of

[@mitchellstadnik752]

I'm surprised you didn't double the effort, one for steve and alex

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Working on it! Wanted to get one under my belt before attempting any kind of production. I am planning on make them mallets. After all they did give me the oak! Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@rawbacon]

Shiplore or any lore is fun, although I tend to think it's 95% baloney.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

I agree!

[@budnotu]

I like baloney.

[@victorcedeno2877]

OLA SR MUY BONITO MUY ELEGANTE PERO MUCHO PROTOCOLO PARA CONSTRUIR UNA MAZETA O MAZO PARA CALAFATEAR Y ALA FINAL ES LIBIANO ES MUY LARGO QUE SOLO SIRBE PARA COLOCARLO DE ADORNO ACA EN EL LADO DE ESTE MUNDO CORTAS UN PEDASO DE UN ARBOL QUE ES SUMAMENTE MADERA DURA UN SERRUCHO UN FORMON I UN MARTILLO Y SASSSS CONSTRUYES UNA MAZETA O MAZO PARA CALAFATEAR EN UNA HORA Y SASSSSSS Y CALAFATEAS EN CUAL QUIER ESPACIO O AREA DEL CASCO DEL BARCO

[@WilliamTMusil]

Hiya