CONSTRUCTION PROCESS - DAY 8

MAKING MALLETS:

Other than the instrument itself, the mallets you use are the biggest contributor to the sound you get. The hardest head creates the brightest and most brittle sound. The size and density of the head will change the tone and pitch of the mallet when used on the instrument.

   1.  Measure and mark the length of the shafts (250mm) (Figure 66).
   2.  Mark area that needs to be shaved down (Figure 67).

   3.  Cut dowel using stanley knife (Figure 68).

   4.  Sand end using disk sander (Figure 69).

   5.  Feed dowel into drill press and sand while spinning (Figure 70).
   6.  Widen the core of the bead with a 3.5mm drill bit (Figure 71).

   7.  Attach wooden bead to the end of the dowel, it should be a very tight fit (Figure 72).   

   8.  Mallets complete! (Figure 73).