I was at Shedders & Fixers today. I wanted to finish my new oak mallet. Which I’d worked on yesterday – cutting out the two channels for the handle – and laid out, for shaping today.
I did the shaping at S&F. And all seemed well. But when I tried to drive the handle home, it split the mallet head along the glue line.
Some mark-up lines are just visible. Even after sanding/shaping. At this point I was pleased as punch.
The above photo clearly shows the curve of the top, and the inward slopes of the sides. The latter disappear in the image below. A trick of the perspective.
Note slight round-overs on the base of the mallet head.
Once I’d split the head, I spent ages reworking the two channels, and the handle, as well. Until they all fitted together without glue. Hopefully after this second glue up, the handle will seat itself properly, wi’out rending the head in two.