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I'm planning to install a lock into a wooden door and I'll need to cut various holes for the lock body using a chisel. I'll need to use something like a hammer or a mallet to drive the chisel and I'm concerned that using a hammer with a steal head would damage the chisel handle. I've seen a lot of photos where a hammer is used and a chisel handle doesn't look very good there. So which do I use - a hammer (steal head) or a mallet (rubber head) - for driving a chisel when doing woodwork? |
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A purest would say to use a mallet made of wood or rolled hardened rawhide, but not rubber. I have a couple of sets and even my expensive ones have held up well using a regular 16 oz hammer. But remember my motto: Every tool in my box is a hammer, except for the screwdrivers which are also chisels" |
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If you're especially worried about the chisel (wooden handles) stick a small piece of leather scrap or thin rubber over the hammer face. This should dampen the blow just enough to prevent any chisel damage but not lose too much striking strength. |
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I've found a dead-blow hammer to be my tool of choice. Soft face, no bounce, the full force of the blow goes into the tool struck. |
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