S&RRubber Mallet soft-face mallet 40 mm, PU head, hickory handle

I was looking for a soft mallet mostly for use with hardwoods and soft metals: something to deliver a heavy blow but do no damage. There are several soft-headed or soft-insert hammers around but most are quite small and the larger mallets with one-piece plastic (nylon, HDPE) heads lack the mass necessary. This design has a heavy diecast head in two halves that bolt together simultaneously clamping the handle and two soft 4cm diameter inserts. These are PU (polyurethane) and so are softer than nylon or HDPE, more like a roll of rawhide in fact. I worried they may be too 'bouncy' but they are actually quite 'dead'. All the parts are well made, including the hickory handle.I took advantage of the modular design and made a brass insert for one face. This fits in place of the PU piece and has a 4mm leather belt to insulate shocks from the diecasting. It works very well.

Looks and feels like a top quality tool. The hammer faces are "clamped" in place by a 2 part head -so far so good. The handle is also clamped using the same mechanisim and this is the problem. The head is 2 pieces of cast aloy with a single bolt to tighten them together, they then clap down on the 2 impact faces and the handle simultaniously. But the faces are really tight long before the handle is secured and I feel tightening further risks breakage. It arrived with a loose handle and I suspect the part of the shaft that is clamped was cut down to much (it seems quite small).Would have returned as faulty but actually quite like it and is a good price so have thickened the handle by wrapping cardboard around it. The fix is fine at present and when it's not I will just replace the shaft.Would reccomend with that caveat.

happy with the hammer-well made-lighter than I thought it would be -/ 0:14.4lb - 410g

Sensible price, quick delivery and a product that is exactly as described. Bought it to assist in bolt free shelving assembly and it worked perfectly.