Review: PersonMakeObject Mallet – FineWoodworking

PersonMakeObject’s mallet is great. It has excellent balance, good heft, a solid head, and a comfortable shape no matter where you grip it. I used it almost exclusively to carve an oak frame-and-panel in low relief before chopping some dovetails. From arcing whacks to gentle taps, this boutique mallet proved a treat.

To me, the tool’s main strengths are its shape and balance. Anything can be heavy, but ergonomics are a far taller order. I prefer round mallets in general, but the one I use for heavy carving is rarely the one I use for fine joinery, and vice versa. PersonMakeObject’s mallet bridges that divide.

For controlled taps, my hand (8-5/8 in. from thumb tip to pinkie tip) wraps naturally around the head and down onto the body. For heavy chops, I can still feel in control all the way down toward the generous pommel. Larger mallets can feel loose and whippy like a wet noodle at the peaks of these swings, especially for carving, where the swings are closer to horizontal vs. the vertical swings for joinery. I always felt in control with the PersonMakeObject mallet, which made me more confident in my work.

These strengths are clearly the result of the mallet’s construction. The head, a composite of brass shavings and urethane, lands solidly without bouncing or vibrating. Mine measures about 2-7/8 in. long before the brass ferrule and 1-15/16 in. dia., although some may be 2 in. The pommel’s max diameter is 1-15/32 in. You can request custom handle profiles and woods.

My profile is stock, and the wood is granadillo. Every mallet has 1/2-in. stainless-steel hardware embedded from the head down through the handle, including nuts in the head for added heft. Each mallet’s target weight is 15.5 oz. to 16.5 oz. Mine is 16.4 oz. The overall length is 8-1/2 in. PersonMakeObject’s website lists every mallet individually with its finished weight, photos, and distinguishing characteristics.

Like every tool from PersonMakeObject, each mallet is designed and made by a single maker in Minnesota. When I reached out with questions, he responded quickly and thoroughly.

If you’re in the market for a boutique mallet, consider PersonMakeObject’s. It’s versatile, and the design lets me focus more on my work and less on my tool.

PersonMakeObject Mallet| $119

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