Hardwood Floors August/September 2025

AT THE SITE The Wood Floor Mallet (Continued)

For those old-schoolers who used to hand drive cut-nails into the floor with their mallet, the taper of the head is perfect for driving and setting the nail into the nail pocket of the tongue, without damage to the tongue or the face of the board.

Most cast iron or aluminum mallet heads undergo a finishing process called electrocoating, or e-coating. This process involves applying a thin, corrosion-resistant paint layer to the metal using an electrical current. The coating not only resists chipping, but also resists rust and protects adjacent materials from metal-to-metal abrasion. LOCKING THE HEAD TO THE HANDLE A critical component of the mallet is the wedge, a small but essential piece that locks the mallet head onto the handle. After the head is pressed onto the end of the handle, a wedge is driven into the top of the handle, expanding the

hickory wood to create a tight mechanical fit. In some cases, epoxy is applied alongside the wedge to ensure a permanent bond. A loose or improperly seated wedge can result in the head detaching during use – a serious safety hazard. Regular inspection of the wedge and handle connection is advised as part of ongoing tool maintenance.

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