Whack! Whack!

[Joe Fisher]

Here's a carver's mallet I turned for someone. I made one of my own a while ago (I use it for trimming the little leftover tenon when I reverse friction chuck a bowl), and posted some pictures.

I tried my hand at burning lines for the first time. It worked really well, and I think it sets the mallet off beautifully. I also went for a little different detail at the transition to the head.

Wood is Dogwood, weight is 17.5oz, finish is just buffed. The wood started to glow once I hit it with the Tripoli. I'm still amazed every time.

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Thanks for lookin!

-Joe

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Joe..........Awfully nice Bonker! Nice work!

[Michael Stafford]

Very pretty bonker there, Joe. I hope the dogwood doesn't split on you as it is wont to do.

[Steve Clardy]

Very nice!!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Looks like a mighty fine bonker to me. Nice work.

[Joe Fisher]

Very pretty bonker there, Joe. I hope the dogwood doesn't split on you as it is wont to do.

:eek: Me too! I made one from the other half of the log about 6 months ago, and it's been stable, so I'm hopeful.

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-Joe

[Ernie Nyvall]

Nice one Joe. Even the burn shined up. What did you do the burning with?

Ernie

[Henry C. Gernhardt, III]

Joe, that's a great bonker you have there! Almost looks to pretty to use for carving! BTW: Is that branch wood or trunk wood you're using there?

[Joe Fisher]

I found a piece of braided steel wire lying around and wrapped the ends around pieces of wood scrap. Worked like a charm!

-Joe

[Joe Fisher]

Thanks! It's probably branch wood (was about 5" diameter).

-Joe

[Dennis Peacock]

Very nice Whack-Whack Joe!!!! Too pretty to use in the shop. ;) :D

[Corey Hallagan]

Really nice mallet Joe, to good to wack something with!!

Corey

[George Conklin]

Really nice mallet Joe, to good to wack something with!!

Corey

We think alike, Corey:D

[Frank Fusco]

Just for fun. I posted below the very first thing, ever, I turned. Until I bought my lathe from Grizzly, I hadn't even seen a lathe in 60 years. That was about four years ago. The wood is osage orange I picked up off the ground behind an auto shop I get work done at. It had been laying for years, so I figured it had to be dry. Wrong. I wanted to make a gavel to give to a club. Not only did it turn out ugly, but the wood split overnight. And I tried using pure beeswax for a finish. 'Nuther mistake. It is just soft and tacky. More ugly and picks up dirt easy. But, being osage orange, it is tough. I use it regularly for my shop bonker (as they are called here).

[Steve Clardy]

Heres my mallet I turned out of hedge about ten years ago.
Have two of them. Still going strong.

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Too PURDY to use for a tool!:eek: Good Work!

[John Hart]

Artfully done Joe. Yep...too pretty to use.;)