A mallet is a tool used for imparting force on another object, often made of rubber or sometimes wood, that is smaller than a Post maul or beetle, and usually has a relatively large head.
General overview
The term is descriptive of the overall size and proportions of the tool, and not the materials it may be made of, though most mallets have striking faces that are softer than steel.
Mallets are used in various industries, such as upholstery work, and a variety of other general purposes. It is a tool of preference for wood workers using chisels with plastic, metal, or wooden handles, as they give a softened strike with a positive drive.
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Wooden mallets are usually used in carpentry to knock wooden pieces together, or to drive , and to apply pressure on joints. A wooden mallet will not deform the striking end of a metal tool, as most metal hammers would. It is also used to reduce the force driving the cutting edge of a chisel, giving better control. Hardwood mallets are also used to knock in .
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Copper, brass and mallets are typically used on machinery to apply force to parts with a reduced risk of damaging them, and to avoid sparks. As these metals are softer than steel, the mallet is deformed by any excessive force, rather than any steel object it is hitting.
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Meat mallets tenderizing or flatten meat. Made from wood or metal, they are typically two-sided, one flat or with slight bumps, and the other with more pronounced protrusions.
Less common mallets include:
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Rawhide mallets, which may employ rawhide covering a steel head, or simply consist of rolled-up rawhide, are used for , jewellery, and assembling and delicate machinery.
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Plastic mallets, made of nylon, polycarbonate, or polystyrene are used especially in leatherwork and jewellery.
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Split head mallets have removable faces which can be changed to an appropriate material for the job.
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Beetle mallets, also called a persuader or commander,
[An illustration of the mallet can be found in Charles F. Mitchell's Building Construction, 11th edition, printed in 1930 by B.T. Batford, Ltd.] to split wood or rails.
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Dead blow mallets typically have an internal cavity partially filled with steel shot, lead shot, or loose sand. This modification evens out the time-impulse curve of the impact, enabling a more powerful blow to be delivered without risk of marring the target.
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Carver's mallets feature heads where the axis of rotation is in line with the handle (so the hitting surface is always round) in a shape like a cylinder on its end, or a conical frustum, or half of a capsule (see images of "stonemason's mallets" to the right). The round striking surface is designed to drive a chisel or wedge and allows for a face to strike when swinging from any angle.
Mallets of various types are some of the oldest forms of , and have been found in Stone Age gravesites.
Musical instruments
Mallets used as
drum stick are often used to strike a
marimba,
xylophone,
glockenspiel,
metallophone, or
vibraphone, collectively referred to as mallet percussion. The sticks usually have shafts made of
rattan,
birch, or
fiberglass. Rattan shafts are more flexible than the other materials. Heads vary in size, shape, and material; they may be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or wood, and some are wrapped with
felt,
Rope, or
yarn. Heavier heads produce louder sounds, while harder heads produce sharper and louder sounds, with more
overtones.
Toys
Mallets are commonly used as children's toys. Lightweight wooden mallets are used for peg toys. Toy mallets are also used in games such as
Whac-A-Mole. Another type of toy mallet is a plastic mallet made of soft, hollow vinyl, with
bellows and a built-in whistle, so that when the mallet is struck, it produces a sharp, chirping sound.
Sports
Mallets are used in various stick sports, usually to strike a ball or other object. This includes sports such as
polo and
croquet. The
polo mallet is used to drive a ball into a goal, whereas croquet mallet is used to drive a ball through a series of hoops.
See also
External links
