Other than tradition, are there any advantages with a wooden mallet?
- less "bounce" than rubber.
- non-marring
- can be "custom tuned" for weight
- can be made so it can be converted into a dead blow - then the added weight removed later to switch it back.
- in the case of round style carver's mallet - any old way you grab it you have the face towards whatever you want to beat.
- won't damage what you whack with it like a metal hammer/mallet/sledge will (DAMHIKT)
- cheaper - usually the best ones are just scraps with an impromptu handle stuck on.
- can be tailor made to size. Quite often a large mallet is overkill & ill increase the amount of time or work needed. I've actually made a number of them on the spot by pocket screwing a couple scraps together. Of course - those things are for light duty.
- Size for size - wood can be lighter than rubber. Sometimes - a light whack is better than a bone jarring whack...
Anyhow - last but not least.
- outstanding project for a kid to make. What kid doesn't love to whack things? Goes for us big kids too. 
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"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon
Originally Posted by Bill Carey
My thoughts exactly Derek - the whole point - besides needing the mallet - was the fun of making the mortise thru 3" of walnut. It weighs a shade over 1.5 lbs. When I said the handle was a work in progress, it was for the very reason you point out - I like the idea of a dual grip handle, being able to choke up for the normal work, and go to the end of the handle for some serious pounding.
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