Rubber mallets have a great range of uses. These are typically made with a tough and durable type of rubber with a wooden, plastic or fiberglass handle. Due to its design the rubber mallet is made in order to focus a striking force without causing damage, these can be used for purposes of upholstery, wood work, furniture-making and industrial uses in which parts are fitted tightly. The Hammer Source Tool Company has an excellent line of mallets with varying uses. This American tool manufacturing company provides a highly recommended selection of rubber mallets and rawhide mallets. With these specialized striking tools, delicate jobs that need a bit of a hit are made easier. (For more traditional steel hammers, Stiletto Tools offers high quality, lightweight titanium hammers and nail pullers.)
The Hammer Source Tool Company acknowledges that there is no one perfect tool with which to do the job, even when it comes to specialized tools like rubber mallets. They provide the next best solution. They made over 40 types of rubber mallets in order to give the customer the option to choose which one suits the job at hand best. Their 61-952W, 953W, 954W and 957W are non-marking white rubber mallets are made from rubber heads that provide around 90 Shore A hardness in Durometer (Shore) hardness tests, with wooden handles. These mallets are available in different weights and sizes ranging from a 300 gram hammer with a 1 7/8 inch face diameter to a 1125 gram hammer with a 3 ΒΌ inch face diameter. Similar black mallets are available with the same specifications. For those jobs that need a softer mallet head, rubber mallets with a 75 Shore A hardness are also available, with the option for a fiberglass handle instead of wood. Wooden handled mallets are priced between 10-35 dollars while fiberglass handles mallets are priced at 13-39 dollars.
For more delicate jobs that require mallets that are more durable than the usual reverse-wedge fit that most mallets use, the RM series have mallet heads that are molded onto the handles. These range from 1 to 2 lb variants and can be fitted with either wooden or fiberglass handles. Also available are Urethane mallets which provide extra hardness ( 86 Shore D score) but with non-marring blows and minimized rebound force from striking. These are priced at 19 to 60 dollars.
Another option to consider is the use of hammer bumpers. These are highly durable, non-marring rubber covering that can convert common steel hammers to mallets. These fit on to standard steel hammers and come in 16 oz to 23 oz thickness. With a price of 8 dollars a piece, these have great value for those who do not need mallets on a regular basis. These hammer bumpers also work well with lightweight titanium hammers from Stiletto Tools.
Rubber mallets specific for every possible use are available for order online. If a job requires just the right amount of force and the material should not be damaged, then a rubber mallet is the right choice.