Skip to product information
1 of 4

Matt Estlea

Leadwood Mallet (Preorder)

Leadwood Mallet (Preorder)

Select your mallet size
Quantity
Regular price £200.00 GBP
Regular price Sale price £200.00 GBP
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

21 in stock

Dispatching end of May/ early June. More information can be found below.

Images displayed are a representation of the final product. Wood grain, colour, and general appearance will vary given every mallet is unique.

---

Made from Leadwood and Olive wood, this stunning mallet is designed to be both simple and beautiful with a weight that you’ve got to feel to believe.

Each mallet includes a convex face on one side of the head and a flat face on the other, a durable blend of oil and wax as a finish, and a brass coin inset directly into the handle to complete the design.

This product has been a challenge, a journey, and a true test of patience. But regardless, we’re loving every minute of it.

---

The Preorder System

The way our system works is as follows:

Step 1 - Put in an order for your mallet(s). At this time you are just claiming your spot in the preorder batch. The mallet displayed on this product is a representation of the mallet you'll be able to pick when the time is ready.

 Shipping is paid up front at this time to reduce confusion later.

Step 2 - When the complete batch of mallets is ready (we're aiming for around 60 mallets) towards the end of May/ early June, we'll take individual photos and videos of every one of the mallets. If you've made a preorder purchase we'll then email you directly when it's time to pick your mallet from the collection.

At this time you'll essentially be "purchasing" (for free) a digital product which we can then tie to your original order. No additional shipping will be charged during this transaction.

Step 3 - As soon as you've made your pick, we'll dispatch your chosen mallet to the address provided in Step 1. If for any reason that has changed, please reach out to Rob (Operations Manager) at: rob@mattestlea.com

---

If you have any questions regarding this system, please don't hesitate to email Rob (Operations Manager) at: rob@mattestlea.com 

We are aware that these are in high demand, so please don't delay in putting in your preorder.

View full details

More Information

The Materials

The Leadwood for the Mallet head has been sourced from responsibly managed woodlands in Mozambique. Further details of which can be found here. https://www.dalmannuk.com/forest-management

The Olive wood handles are from a variety of locations including the Mediterranean (with some Venetian Olive) and Africa providing the Wild Olive. All of which are carefully selected with strength and aesthetics in mind. The brass coins have been machined and laser engraved in house at our workshop in the UK using state of the art equipment.

Packs a Punch

On average, these mallets weigh as much as large beech framing mallets, but come in a much more compact ergonomic design. This makes them perfect for small chiselling and assembly operations without the cumbersomeness of its larger counterpart. That said, we do not recommend using our mallets for large scale assembly and mortice chopping operations. While they can certainly handle the beating, a mallet with a longer handle will transfer far more power due to the larger swing.

Weights:

  • Standard Mallet: 600g - 1.3lb
  • Small Mallet: 400g - 0.88lb

Handle Lengths (from base of head to bottom of handle):

  • Standard Mallet: 105mm - 4 1/8"
  • Small Mallet: 96mm - 3 3/4"

Convex Faces

The faces of these mallets have been subtly profiled into a convex shape, which considering the density of this material is no mean feat. The advantage this provides is that when a mishit happens, the corners are much less likely to dent workpieces.

Face Diameters

  • Standard Mallet: 72mm - 2 3/4"
  • Small Mallet: 57mm - 2 1/4"

Case Hardening

One minor drawback of Leadwood is its susceptibility to ‘case hardening’ which is where small splits appear in the endgrain due to being stored in drier environments. Fortunately these are almost always visual and rarely affect the structural integrity of the mallet. Once the mallet has acclimated to your workshop over the course of a few months, thin CA glue can be applied to any small splits to help stabilise them further.

Finish and Maintenance

Your mallet will be finished in two coats of an oil and wax blend which will protect the surface of the mallet from dirt and grime. We recommend periodically wiping a layer of wax over all the surfaces, including the coin, to help maintain the finish over time. As an extra step, you can apply the wax using 0000 wire wool which will help clean the mallet as well as provide a beautiful matte finish after buffing. Avoid using wire wool when cleaning the coin as it may scratch and dull the surface.

Packaging

Not only have we gone out of our way to create a product that exceeds our high standards of tolerance and finish, but we’ve extended that mentality through to the packaging too with an internal design we produced in the workshop to ensure the mallet looks great when presented within the box, but can also withstand any journey to arrive safely and securely.

Do you need this mallet?

Absolutely not. As with all of our tools, this is a premium product that is as much an art piece as it is a functional object. If you enjoy the beauty that natural wood has to offer in its looks, tactileness and properties (namely weight in this case) then this mallet is for you. If you just want something to get the job done, get a normal mallet for a 10th of the price. Purchasing our mallet is the equivalent of buying a Ferrari instead of a Ford. Both will get you to the shops and back, but one will be much more fun to use.