The leather maul and the mallet are two different striking tools in leather work. However, these two get confused a lot. Here, I will discuss the main differences between the two and when you should use each one.
The main difference between a leather maul and a mallet is the material used to make the head or striking surface of the tool. A leather maul usually has a nylon head, while the material used to make a mallet head can be anything from wood, rubber, to rawhide.
In the rest of this article, I’m going to differentiate between the leather maul and mallet according to the following seven categories:
- Material
- Weight
- Handle
- Head Shape And Size
- Uses
- Wear And Tear
1. The Material Used
As mentioned earlier, one of the key differences between a leather maul and mallet is the material used to make the head.
The Leather Maul
A leather maul usually has a nylon head. The nylon head of a maul is a dense and durable engineered plastic material.
The main benefit the nylon material brings to the maul is it’s tough yet offers a soothing strike for both your leather work tools and your hand.
The color of the nylon material often used for leather mauls is white or black, thus giving the maul a “clean” look.
The Mallet
On the other hand, the material used to make a mallet head can be anything from wood to rawhide.
The most common mallet heads are made of hickory, maple, or walnut woods. All these woods are tough and offer a solid strike, just like the nylon head of a maul.
Another material often used for mallets is rawhide. Rawhide is a tough and fibrous material made from animal skin that has not been tanned.
While the strike of a rawhide head mallet is not as smooth as that of other materials, it does offer a unique look to your toolkit.
Some mallets even have multi-material heads with a wood body and a rawhide face. These mallets offer the best of both worlds in terms of looks and functionality.
As you can see, there is quite a difference between the materials used to make leather mauls and mallets.
2. The Weight
Another difference between these two striking tools is the weight.
The Leather Maul
Leather mauls are generally heavier than mallets. The average leather maul weighs between 14 ounces to 18 ounces. There are leather mauls that weigh up to 24 ounces.
The extra weight of the leather maul gives it more power when you strike your tools and materials. This is great for working on tougher and larger projects.
The Mallet
Mallets, on the other hand, are lighter than leather mauls. The average mallet weighs between 12 ounces to 16 ounces. There are mallets that weigh up to 20 ounces.
The lighter weight of the mallet gives you more control over your strikes. This is great for working on delicate projects that require more precision. As you can see, the weight is one area where leather mauls and mallets differ quite a bit.
3. The Handle
Another difference between these two leather work tools is the handle. While the leather maul and mallet will be made from wood, the quality of wood, shape, and size of the handle will be different.
The Leather Maul
Leather mauls have shorter yet heavy and bulky handles when compared to mallets. The handles of the leather maul are designed in a way that they balance out the heavy heads.
This actually gives the leather maul a better striking surface. The shorter handle of the maul also gives you more power when striking your tools and other materials with a leather maul.
The Mallet
Mallets have longer and thinner handles when compared to leather mauls. The long handle of the mallet also gives you more control over your strikes.
The handle is another area where leather mauls and mallets differ quite a bit.
4. The Head Shape and Size
The next difference between these two striking tools is the head shape and size.
The Leather Maul
The leather maul has a large and round cylindrical head. The handle of the leather maul is attached to the maul head at the center of gravity. This gives the leather maul a better balance and striking surface.
The diameter of the head of a leather maul is usually between one and two inches. The larger size of the leather maul head gives it more power when striking your tools and other materials.
The Mallet
Mallets, on the other hand, have smaller and more oval-shaped heads and are usually between one and two inches in diameter as well. The smaller size of the mallet head gives you more control over your strikes.
As you can see, the head shape and size is another area where leather mauls and mallets differ quite a bit.
5. The Uses
The next difference between these two tools is their uses. While both the leather maul and mallet are used for striking, they are each better suited for different tasks.
The Leather Maul
With the right size of leather maul, you should be able to use it for any kind of activity in leather work that requires striking.
You should be able to use any decent size leather maul for tooling, stamping, punching holes, and even for lacing.
Leather mauls are also better suited for working on tougher projects that require more power.
Leather Mallet
While the leather mallet can also be used for any of the activities mentioned above, it makes not suitable for all of them.
So, while leather mauls are more versatile, leather mallets, on the other hand, may not be suitable for all kinds of striking activities in leather work.
6. Wear And Tear
The next difference between these two tools is the wear and tear. While both leather mauls and mallets are made from wood, the heads wear and tear differently.
The Leather Maul
Although leather maul heads will eventually wear, they tend to last longer than mallet heads. This is because they are engineered and custom-built to be durable and resistant to wear.
However, it will eventually get nicks and dents and will need to be replaced.
The Leather Mallet
Mallets, on the other hand, have a shorter lifespan than leather mauls. However, the best part about the leather mallet is that you can resurface them quite easily with a piece of sandpaper or a file.
All you need to do is remove the old surface and create a new one. You can even use this opportunity to change the shape of your mallet head if you want to.
All in all, while both leather mauls and mallets will eventually wear, the leather maul will last longer, and the leather mallet can be easily resurfaced.
Which Is Best For You?
Now that you know the difference between a leather maul and a mallet, which one should you use?
The answer to this question depends on what kind of project you are working on and what your preferences are.
But in my own opinion, a leather maul will be a great addition to your tools box due to how versatile and durable it is.
If you’re a leather worker and you do a lot of tooling, you can get a 16-ounce leather maul. If you do a lot of stamping, a 24-ounce leather maul will be a better choice.
But if you’re a beginner in leather work and want to cut down on costs, a rubber mallet will be a great choice for you. You can even make one yourself with a piece of wood and some sandpaper.
In the end, it all comes down to preference. So, experiment with both and see which one you like better.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are quite a few differences between leather mauls and mallets. Here’s a summary of the main differences:
| Leather Maul | Leather Mallet | |
| Material | Wooden handles and Nylon Heads | Wooden head and wooden handles |
| Weight | Dense and heavy | Lightweight |
| Handle | Thick wooden handles | Thin handles |
| Uses | Versatile | Not suitable for some leather work activities |
| Wear And Tear | It will need to be replaced | It can be easily resurfaced |