View source for Mallet

{{short description|Hammer-like tool with a large head}}
{{Distinguish|gavel|hammer|sledgehammer}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=February 2025}}
[[File:Rubber mallets.jpg|thumb|Rubber mallets]]
[[File:Wooden mallet.jpg|thumb|A wooden mallet]]
[[File:Knüpfel retouched.jpg|thumb|Stonemason's mallets of plastic, wood and steel]]
[[File:Round copper mallet.JPG|thumb|An iron mallet with copper faces. Solid head copper mallets are produced with a round or square head]]
[[File:Meat mallet on cutting board.jpg|thumb|An [[aluminium]] [[meat mallet]], for tenderizing meat]]
[[File:Meat mallet.jpg|thumb|Meat mallet.]]
[[File:Trdlo.jpg|thumb|Cooking mallet for crushing crops.]]
[[File:CobblerToolKit.jpg|thumb|Indian cobbler tool kit, with an iron mallet]]
A '''mallet''' is a tool used for imparting force on another object, often made of [[rubber]] or sometimes [[wood]], that is smaller than a [[Post maul|maul]] or beetle, and usually has a relatively large head. 

== General overview ==

The term is descriptive of the overall size and proportions of the tool, and not the materials it may be made of, though most mallets have striking faces that are softer than steel.

Mallets are used in various industries, such as [[upholstery]] work, and a variety of other general purposes. It is a tool of preference for wood workers using chisels with plastic, metal, or wooden handles, as they give a softened strike with a positive drive.
* '''Wooden mallets''' are usually used in [[carpentry]] to knock wooden pieces together, or to drive [[dowel]]s, [[chisel]]s and to apply pressure on joints. A wooden mallet will not deform the striking end of a metal tool, as most metal hammers would. It is also used to reduce the force driving the cutting edge of a chisel, giving better control. Hardwood mallets are also used to knock in [[cricket bat]]s.
* '''[[Copper]], [[brass]] and [[lead]]en mallets''' are typically used on machinery to apply force to parts with a reduced risk of damaging them, and to avoid [[Spark (fire)|sparks]]. As these metals are softer than steel, the mallet is deformed by any excessive force, rather than any steel object it is hitting.
* '''Meat mallets''' [[tenderizing|tenderise]] or flatten meat. Made from wood or metal, they are typically two-sided, one flat or with slight bumps, and the other with more pronounced protrusions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://missvickie.com/howto/meat/cubesteak.htm |title=The Truth About Cube Steaks - Pressure Cooker Knowledge |publisher=Missvickie.com |date=2001-09-05 |access-date=2012-12-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913074827/http://missvickie.com/howto/meat/cubesteak.htm |archive-date=2012-09-13 }}</ref> Their use has been reduced with the invention of [[cube steak]] machines and other electric tenderisers,{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} but they can still be readily found at cookery stores and in professional use.

Less common mallets include:
* '''[[Rawhide (textile)|Rawhide]] mallets''', which may employ rawhide covering a steel head, or simply consist of rolled-up rawhide, are used for [[leather]]work, [[jewellery]], and assembling [[electric motor]]s and delicate machinery.
* '''[[Plastic]] mallets''', made of [[nylon]], [[polycarbonate]], or [[polystyrene]] are used especially in leatherwork and jewellery.
* '''Split head mallets''' have removable faces which can be changed to an appropriate material for the job.
* '''Beetle mallets''', also called a '''persuader''' or '''commander''',<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=Show us your Commander/ Beetle/ Persuader in Timber Framing/Log construction |url=https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=63027.0 |website=The Forestry Forum}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=The Persuader, aka: Beetle, Mallet, Hammer {{!}} New Energy Works |url=https://newenergyworks.com/blog/the-persuader-aka-beedle-mallet-hammer |website=newenergyworks.com}}</ref> are large mallets with a wood<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/> or plastic{{Fact|date=January 2022}} head, with rounded ends about {{convert|15|to|18|in}}{{dubious|date=January 2022}} in diameter, and a handle about {{convert|3|ft|m}} long. It is used by paviours for tapping paving stones into position when bedding them{{dubious|date=January 2022}}. Beetles are used in jobs such as [[timber framing]]<ref name="auto"/> to shift the bases of large wooden posts, to fit joints, to drive in pegs,<ref>An illustration of the mallet can be found in Charles F. Mitchell's Building Construction, 11th edition, printed in 1930 by B.T. Batford, Ltd.</ref> to split wood or rails.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=New York State Agricultural Society |author-link=New York State Agricultural Society |date=1859 |title=The Mallet and Beetle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TQ0TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA528 |journal=Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society |language=en |publisher=The Society |volume=XVIII--1858 |pages=528–531}}</ref>
* '''[[Dead blow hammer|Dead blow mallets]]''' typically have an internal cavity partially filled with [[steel shot]], [[lead shot]], or loose sand. This modification evens out the time-[[Impulse (physics)|impulse]] curve of the impact, enabling a more powerful blow to be delivered without risk of marring the target.{{elucidate|date=July 2015}}
* '''Carver's mallets''' feature heads where the axis of rotation is in line with the handle (so the hitting surface is always round) in a shape like a [[cylinder]] on its end, or a conical [[frustum]], or half of a [[Capsule_(geometry)|capsule]] ''(see images of "stonemason's mallets"'' to the right).  The round striking surface is designed to drive a chisel or wedge and allows for a face to strike when swinging from any angle.

Mallets of various types are some of the oldest forms of [[tool]]s, and have been found in [[Stone Age]] gravesites.{{cn|date=July 2015}}

==Musical instruments==
{{Main|Percussion mallet}}
Mallets used as [[drum stick|drumsticks]] are often used to strike a [[marimba]], [[xylophone]], [[glockenspiel]], [[metallophone]], or [[vibraphone]], collectively referred to as [[mallet percussion]]. The sticks usually have shafts made of [[rattan]], [[birch]], or [[fiberglass]]. Rattan shafts are more flexible than the other materials. Heads vary in size, shape, and material; they may be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or wood, and some are wrapped with [[felt]], [[Rope|cord]], or [[yarn]]. Heavier heads produce louder sounds, while harder heads produce sharper and louder sounds, with more [[overtones]].

==Toys==
Mallets are commonly used as children's toys. Lightweight wooden mallets are used for peg toys. Toy mallets are also used in games such as [[Whac-A-Mole]]. Another type of toy mallet is a plastic mallet made of soft, hollow [[Polyvinyl chloride|vinyl]], with [[bellows]] and a built-in whistle, so that when the mallet is struck, it produces a sharp, chirping sound.

==Sports==
Mallets are used in various [[List of stick sports|stick sports]], usually to strike a ball or other object. This includes sports such as [[polo]] and [[croquet]]. The [[polo mallet]] is used to drive a ball into a goal, whereas croquet mallet is used to drive a ball through a series of hoops.

==See also==
* [[Gavel]]
* [[Hammer]]
* [[Sledgehammer]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Hand tools}}
{{Woodworking}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Food preparation utensils]]
[[Category:Hammers]]
[[Category:Stonemasonry tools]]
[[Category:Woodworking hand tools]]
[[Category:Metalworking hand tools]]