Following close on the heels of my recent woodworking plane restoration, see this post for details, I picked up this wooden mallet from a charity shop. When I saw the mallet. I was not sure that I would buy it, it looked wrong - the head was too tall and boxy, while the handle was too long but for just £4.50, I thought it was worth a gamble.....
I stripped down the parts - there wasn't that many!
Then started the modifications and clean-up.
I used simple hand tools to sand and re-profile the head, diluted bleach to clean the wood and then cut a 1/4 inch (6mm) strip off the bottom of the mallet head to make it less bulky. The handle had 30mm cut from the base before I polished the whole tool with clear wax. I think it looks a whole lot better now.
The distinctive dark grain adds character to this simple tool and in the end I think the restoration works. I have no intention of restoring more tools but I have to admit to a feeling of satisfaction when I take a well worn old hand tool and restore it.
Tony
It looks excellent. I like doing "odd" restauration jobs as well. It doesn´t have to serve any future purpose but Sometimes the satisfaction of doing it is more than getting most other "routine" things done.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do more tools- I quite like the before and after photos.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI agree.
The satisfaction of reviving an old tool even if it is not used is really rewarding. By the way, the wooden plane and the mallet are not just for show - they have already been used.
Tony