[xsailer]

I need to purchase a mallet and have been looking at the urethane types vs wood. Just got an advertisment for Brass Mallet. It would seem Brass might be better as smaller mallet + heavier weight = less work. I've searched for info but couldn't find anything. Anybody have a opinion, based on experience? I know there is a lot of opinions but.........
By the way I intend to use intermediate size gouges.

[Thor]

Personally, I would not want to hit my carving tool handles with brass. I use a wood wrapped in urethane mallet and find it to be very comfortable, and I feel it is less wear and tear on my wooden handles.
Just my opinion.
Thor

[Scott]

I've got a smaller (four inch long head) mallet that has a brass head with one inch thick resin hitting surfaces fixed to the brass. Just a great tool. It has weight and it is forgiving and surprisingly durable. I've had it ten years and will have it another twenty. I use it at least twice a week. I use it mostly on brass, silver and annealed steel.
http://www.caribooblades.com

[squbrigg]

I have a small brass mallet and a larger traditional wood mallet, and I find I use the brass one more. It is just more comfortable in the hand for the size and more controllable. I don't use much force, and haven't experienced any adverse effects on my tools.

Got mine from Lee Valley in Canada.

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

My choice would be the urethane..if I had one lol

[nadcarves]

A wood or brass mallet, moves the chisel as soon as it hits it.A urethane mallet has a micro second lag because the urethane compresses,then pushes against the chisel..So if you are doing delicate work,and need exact control, wood / brass would be the choice..For general wood removal, consider the urethane due to urethanes ability to absorb shock..Neither wood nor brass will absorb shock and if everything is not in balance, you can suffer injury with continued use..Also, brass is more of a finishing medium when used as a mallet for wood. A bit too heavy..........we could write several pages about mallets

[Ashbys]

I will add my thoughts.
I use a 12 oz urethane mallet when working on trees or large carvings. I use a non covered mallet and found I really did not care for it.

It would tap just fine , but if I pulled back slightly and hit the larger tool I did not like the return impact into my hand and arm. That came when I would strike. The urethane did indee cusion the impact but gives good control even if slightly off center. If you look at an old wooden mallet you will find it is very center worn, the reason is the need to center every srtike to keep the impact going into the cut. Slightly off center will shift the cutter and return the impact to you on the plain wooden mallet.

Brass mallets I would not ever wish to use. Bass has some really nasty properties. The first and foremost is what bass is made of. The lead content in brass can be over 5 percent. Depending on the manufacturer. The lead can then be deposited upon your tools, in small splinters which the brass will leave behind over time. Using brass with a nylon protecter should not cause any problems.

Personally I have a small dead blow hammer which I also use. The dead blow takes a bit of getting use to as the cut is driven a bit farther , but there is no impact to my wrist or hands from the using of it , even on very hard woods. It is more productive than the mallet , and safer than the bass as it is rubber coated and sealed.

Ash

[wade clark]

I don't think a neoprene mallet can be beat. It takes all the impact and vibration from my hands. It's easy to adjust how hard you hit with it and how much it removes. I think if you decide to hit harder than you can with the neoprene, you're likely to damage your gouges. I've bought a few used older wood round carving mallets, used them enough to appreciate my neoprene one and put them on the wall for display.
I use the 12 oz. too. I don't think I'd want a heavier one as it would tire my arms and stress my joints more...carpal tunnely type stuff.
Wade