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 Post subject: I like making tools
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:26 pm 
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For some reason, I like making tools. They can be tools for my own use, or for someone else, it doesn’t matter as long as they are useful and made with enough craft to be admired, …at least a little.

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One of the more useful tools in my shop is a small brass mallet which I purchased many years ago. I like it because its heft and size allow me to apply considerable force with only finger tip control. It is my go-to mallet for anything to do with chisels, short of a large mortising chisel.

So I contrived to replicate my old favorite, with perhaps a small evolution toward a more ergonomic handle. The manufacture was simple enough, as brass is easily turned on a wood lathe with modern carbide tools. A short piece of 3/8″ threaded “ready rod” holds the two parts together. The handles are cherry, the heads are 1 5/8″ hardened naval brass.

Hopefully, they will be as useful as their inspiration has been.

Cheers,
Tom

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 Post subject: Re: I like making tools
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:34 pm 
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Look nice. My first thought was they were hand bells for music, but I like the mallet idea.

BTW, how much does the brass cost?

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 Post subject: Re: I like making tools
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:28 pm 
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Hey Ron
I bought 6” of 1 5/8” round bar for about $53 from Online Metals. They have a warehouse here in Seattle so there was no shipping.
All in all, I spent about as much for the three that I made as for the one that I bought including shipping.
Cheers
Tom

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 Post subject: Re: I like making tools
PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 9:41 am 
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Tom,
You're turning the brass by hand?
Never even thought of trying that. Interesting!
Zulu

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 Post subject: Re: I like making tools
PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 9:21 pm 
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Hey Zulu,

Yea, brass is soft enough if you use carbide tools. You do have to go slowly, but it cuts very nicely just like when machining.

Cheers,
Tom

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 Post subject: Re: I like making tools
PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 9:27 pm 
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Nice Tom. :thumbup:


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