Comments on: Meet my ‘Mongo’

By: metalworkingdude

metalworkingdude — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:40:01 +0000

My point wasn’t that anyone needs to own a fancy mallet (or plane or sander) – just that $200 while a lot of money isn’t an unreasonable price for what it is. No one is getting rich making these or taking advantage of anyone.

Personally I love tools, whether it’s my 100 year old stanley plane or the Lie Nielsen dovetail saw I got for Christmas. I’d love to have one of those mallets. I make stuff for the same reason I like to have nice tools — it makes me happy.

By: St.J

St.J — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:53:31 +0000

I never thought I’d describe anything made by Veritas as “A poor man’s/woman’s…”.
Meet the poor man’s Mongo: http://tinyurl.com/7wwcb4o
An 18oz brass-headed, wood faced mallet.
I love mine.

By: willcon

willcon — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:53:44 +0000

Sorry, I am a professional, and EVERY time I use any of my Festool product, I am making money.

By: 7-Thumbs

7-Thumbs — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:28:07 +0000

Even so, it is a mallet, you hit things with it. Apparently, like gentleman farmers, gentleman woodworkers will buy anything at any price, I also note Festool. Have you ever looked at the tools that most serious woodworkers are using, they look like crap; not that they are. Yes we see these same folks pushing Lie Nielsen, Festool and others. But when we get glimpses of them in their own workshops the tools are used, simple function items. How does a furniture maker make a living if he or she is spending $3000, $4000 and much more for boutique planes for example.

By: metalworkingdude

metalworkingdude — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:29:25 +0000

Brass is really, really expensive. Plus CNC machining, wood, time spent making it, the initial cost of design, CNC programming, fixtures. Then having your investment sit on a shelf until someone buys it…

Manufacturing boutique items is a tough go.

By: gumpbelly

gumpbelly — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:28:18 +0000

16 oz = Mongo, where are the head shaking NO icons when you need one. 16 oz = tap tap tap

pounds chest and chants Mongo, Mongo

http://www.amazon.com/Pit-Bull-2-1-Brass-Hammer/dp/B002JQDX0C/ref=sr_1_31?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1334942057&sr=1-31

This is the Ladies Mongo at 2 1/2 pounds, perfect for light taps when a sledge is just a tad too heavy. They don`t have mine anymore, but it`s 3 pounds, and I sawed off a lot of the handle so it taps just like my 14 oz tite hammer it just has a little more authority. I keep telling Kevin make it bigger……….

http://glen-drake.com/v-web/ecommerce/os/catalog/index.php?cPath=21

You sure Chris` is heavier, he of Ladylike hands and wrists.

By: David D

David D — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:07:28 +0000

I thought that too until I looked up the price on brass. The hunk of brass on each one these, if I am guessing at the size correctly, is somewhere around $120. Then if you add in the price of the wood and a little bit of profit, it would get to the price he’s asking pretty quickly.

By: Fred West

Fred West — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:56:57 +0000

Glen made one for me with an African Blackwood handle and it is not just stunning but is also now my go to mallet. Well worth every penny. Fred

By: rickb

rickb — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:38:18 +0000

I’ve seen Chris’ wrists. If he uses a two pounder so can you.

By: rickb

rickb — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:36:40 +0000

I looked long and hard at one of these when I visited you in Cincinatti. I thought the idea was great, the price was equally great. Maybe they could sell a rough casting of the brass as a reasonably priced “kit”. I would love one, and would love to make one.