[Woodcarver] To lathe or not to lathe.... that is the question

[Kratzer, Dave]

Chris Pye likes this homemade one:

http://chrispye-woodcarving.com/toolshop/ts_mallet.html

/Dave
 
Dave Kratzer
http://www.kratzerkomments.com 
http://www.picturetrail.com/dave_kratzer
http://www.wycliffe.org 
 
"The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It never
needs a furlough, and is never considered a foreigner." --Cameron
Townsend

-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Brigdon, Floyd
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:25 PM
To: [Woodcarver]
Subject: To lathe or not to lathe.... that is the question


     Hey folks,

     I have talked a little here recently about the fact that I have
been teaching myself to carve using mostly Flexcut tools. Well, here in
the next week or so, I am going to be able to upgrade to some full sized
tools (yay!) and so I find myself in the position of needing a good
carving mallet soon.
      I was shopping around online, looking at different mallets, when I
received a book that I had ordered in the mail (Bill Judt's Relief
Carving: patterns, tips and techniques) which gave some basic
instructions for making your own mallet. Now I don't have any experience
with a lathe but I have a friend who owns one and the basic tools needed
to operate it and so my question to this august assemblage is this: is
it better/more practical to buy a mallet or to make one myself? And if I
make one, are there any sage words of advice that you might be able to
share with me?
      Thanks in advance for your help.

      Floyd Brigdon
      http://mycarvingclub.com/FloydB