Swapped from a mallet to a dead blow hammer for my framing chisels

I spent like 8 years using a standard wooden mallet for everything from chopping mortises to driving framing chisels. Last month I picked up a 24 ounce dead blow hammer from the hardware store in Spokane for about 18 bucks. The difference is night and day - the dead blow doesn't bounce back at all so my strikes land way more accurate and I don't have to fight the tool. Plus it saves my elbow from that jarring shock you get with a hard mallet on a cold morning. I was skeptical because I figured a mallet is a mallet but now I feel dumb for not switching sooner. Has anyone else made this swap and noticed the same thing? What kind of hammer do you use for heavy chisel work?

2 comments

2 Comments

mitchell.nancy10d ago

Dead blow is all I use now. Way less fatigue at the end of the day.

jana_price10d ago

Dead blow change was a total game changer for me too, honestly.