[ToolsOnaWall]

I turned a wooden mallet (been wanting to make one for awhile). I don't know what kind of wood it is. I'm wondering what kind of finish to use on it. Any suggestions?

 

[John Smith_inFL]

what are your intentions for it ?

 

[ToolsOnaWall]

General use like tapping my chisels. But mostly, I was looking at a piece of wood and decided to make something out of it.

 

[Brian T.]

Do nothing. The dents and hand grime provide a patina embraced by shop time.

 

[BigCountry79]

Some options
Wax
Boiled Linseed Oil
Nothing

 

[Tony B]

I have been making my own mallets on a lathe for well over 30 years. I dont use any finish on them although a little wax would be nice.
Most of the time they are made of discarded 4x4 remnants. Most are treated and I wear a mask that I use for spraying lacquer.
The mallets get pretty beat up but they still last for years.
I also prefer pine mallets because they get pretty beat up and not damage the surface they are hammering.

 

[kwoodhands]

I made two mallets. Large mallet was from a 10/4 x 12" piece of Bubinga that I had laying around for years. I glued up 2 pieces and turned it to about 4" in diameter at the head and sawed waste at the handle and turned it round. Small mallet is hickory and white oak. I glued up 3/4" pieces of each species first was hickory then white oak etc til I got to about 3" in diameter, Turned it like the previous mallet.
mike

 

[Tony B]

If you dont put any finish on it, you wont have to worry about imparting any of it onto the object being hit. If anything, you could put wax on the handle.

 

[ToolsOnaWall]

I considered leaving it unfinished but I have a small jar of thinned boiled linseed oil to use up. I decided to experiment and finish the handle with Pens Plus that I use for pens and other wood turning applications; Pens Plus is a friction finish made with a mix of walnut oil, shellac, and microcrystal wax (made by Doctor’s Woodshop). I applied boiled linseed oil to the head. I figured I’d get a two-tone look but both finishes look the same.

I used the mallet to check it out by disassembling a wooden stool to reuse the pieces. It got dented a bit.