Best Rubber Mallets for All Your Woodworking Tasks
The rubber mallets have a dozen uses in the workshops. If you want to bend and shape sheet metal without leaving any marks, force tight-fitting wooden parts together, shift plasterboard into place, and in upholstery, you need the best rubber mallets in 2023. These are usually used for driving chisels. These mallets offer a softer impact than metal mallets. They can be used to even out dents in metal because they don’t leave any marks.
They are also used in construction to force tight-fitting parts together. If you have to complete some work requiring a rubber mallet, this blog will help you buy the best rubber mallet.
Our Top Picks
Top Rubber Mallet Models on Amazon in 2023
Best Overall
The TEKTON 16-Ounce fiberglass handle rubber mallet delivers a softened strike that won’t damage metal, wood, and other hard surfaces. It is ideal for construction, woodworking, and automotive applications. Whether it’s soft or hardwoods used in construction, cabinetry, furniture, or the chrome, aluminum, and magnesium parts on cars, trucks, and motorcycles, you can safely apply persuasion without hurting sensitive finishes or surfaces. Made from high-strength, lightweight fiberglass, the virtually unbreakable handle core naturally dampens stinging vibrations.
Pros
- The solid black rubber head delivers a softened strike, protecting parts from damage.
- It is made of high-strength fiberglass to last longer.
- The poly jacket completely surrounds and protects the core, absorbing the impact of any missed strikes.
Cons
- It isn’t scratch-resistant.
Runner Up
Edward Tools Harden Rubber Mallet Hammer 16 oz is the perfect all-around mallet hammer for flooring, tent stakes, woodworking, jewelry, laminate, soft blow tasks, construction, auto work, and carpentry. It has an ergonomic non-slip rubber grip. Edward Tools Harden Rubber Mallet Hammer 16 oz comes with a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- The ergonomic rubber grip and fiberglass handle make it comfortable to use.
- It features a shock absorption design.
- This mallet delivers a softened strike and does not damage the surface.
Cons
- The product doesn’t withstand heavy weight.
Honorable Mention
Some hammers break at the handle or head with use, and you get stuck in your work because you don’t have a reliable tool. But the ABN 32-Ounce (oz) Rubber Mallet will knock out that issue. There will be no more broken handles with this hammer, no broken or loose mallet heads, and no broken spirits or dreams. The 32-ounce rubber mallet has a standard 11-inch length handle from where it connects to the hammer portion.
Pros
- The shock-absorbing, extremely comfortable cushion grip allows you to work for longer periods of time.
- The mallet delivers optimal force without damaging the surface you are working on.
Cons
- It is not suitable for every job, just for flat stuff.
Contender
It is made of hardwood and falls under the category of a dead blow. The head material is rubber. The overall length from the tip of the rubber head to the bottom of the wood handle is 13″ L. This is lightweight, and it has a firm grip/hit once you use it. The rubber head dimensions are 4″ L x 2.25″ W x 2.25″ diameter.
Pros
- The head of the mallet is sturdy.
- It fits hands perfectly well and is not overly heavy.
- It delivers excellent, well-balanced power.
Cons
- The handle is surprisingly weak.
Also Consider
This Sure Strike 12 oz. Double-Face Soft Hammer from Estwing is well suited for assembling furniture, setting dowels, and handling wood projects that require non-marring blows. Built to last, it is designed with a genuine, top-grade, 10-1/2 in. curved hickory handle with triple wedge construction, creating a solid, dependable structure.
Pros
- It is designed to fit the grip of the user’s hand, ensuring comfort & control.
- The hammer features two distinct types of heads, one soft and one hard, to accommodate versatile jobs.
- It is a multi-use mallet and can be used to do a variety of tasks.
Cons
- It’s hard to differentiate between soft and hard heads because all of them look the same.
Also Consider
The hammerhead is made of Rubber, and the handle is made up of solid wood. Its size is 32×8. 5x6cm and weight is 310g. The hammerhead and handle are tightly connected. Knocking does not damage the surface of ceramic tile, making it a good helper. Also, it will not damage the paint layer. Suitable for floor installation, tile installation, home decoration construction, woodworking, automotive applications, and so on.
Pros
- The hammerhead is made of high-quality rubber with moderate elasticity and durability.
- Solid wood handles can effectively absorb the shock of striking and make it comfortable to use.
Cons
- It is too small to reach different places.
Also Consider
It is a 450-gram rubber mallet having a wide variety of uses. It is ideal for woodworking, automotive, metal shaping, and more. A contoured fiberglass handle provides a comfortable grip and dampens strike vibration, reducing stress on your body. It’s a good rubber mallet for a good price. It is extremely sturdy and works well for a longer period of time. This is an effective and affordable rubber mallet.
Pros
- Solid rubber head delivers softened positive blows for shaping and blunt strikes.
- It has a balanced weight for comfortable use.
Cons
- A bit on the expensive side, but the features justify the price.
Best Rubber Mallets Buying Guide
There are lots of rubber mallets available online, but one should really pay heed while buying the best rubber mallets. It is because you don’t want your money to be wasted on any third-class rubber mallets. Furthermore, many things need to be taken into consideration while buying the best rubber mallets. For this purpose, we have created this guide to make it easier for you to choose the best rubber mallets. We have taken many things into account to make the purchase of the best rubber mallets easy for you.
What Are the Key Considerations While Buying the Best Rubber Mallets?
Durability
Durability plays a significant role while purchasing a product. You don’t want a very soft rubber mallet that breaks after working on a single project. Nobody wants his money to be wasted in this way. You must buy any of the rubber mallets mentioned in our blog as all of them have a highly durable rubber head.
Ease of use
The rubber mallet should be easy to use. Many people are not professionals and want to use it to complete their home chores. If the product is handy and easy to use, then only it will be helpful for you. So, you must check whether the rubber mallet is easy to use or not.
Shock-absorbing power
The rubber mallet that you are about to buy must have shock-absorbing power. The mallet sometimes tends not to hit the specific place that you want. Instead, it may strike some other place like a tile or any other soft place. It must be able to absorb the shock and protect the place from getting damaged. A rubber mallet that absorbs shock is great to buy and a must-have for your toolkit.
Handle length
The handle length of a hammer or mallet has a huge bearing on how hard the hammerhead will strike. The longer the handle, the faster the head is capable of moving. The faster the head moves, the more energy the head has to transfer to the nail, chisel, or other item being struck. However, a longer handle means that you hold the hammer or mallet further away from the hard rubber head, giving you less control over where the head strikes. For heavy-duty tasks where pinpoint
accuracy is not so important; a long-handled hammer or mallet is preferable to a short-handled one.
Which Features To Look For in the Best Rubber Mallets?
Multi-purpose use
The rubber mallet should offer multiple uses. It should be suitable for floor installation, bending sheet metal, tile installation, home decoration construction, woodworking, automotive applications, etc. Furthermore, it should be able to be used for tent stakes, jewelry, laminate, soft blow tasks, auto work, and carpentry. All the rubber mallets mentioned in our list can be used for multiple purposes. So, you must buy any one of these.
Weight
The heavy mallets are quite difficult to handle. Professionals, as well as amateurs, can use lightweight, soft rubber ones. You must intend on buying the rubber mallet, which is light in weight. This would help you in using the product without any trouble.
Grip
The handle of the rubber mallet should provide a strong grip. If the rubber mallet provides an agronomical grip, then the mallet would be much easier to use. If the product keeps on slipping away, then it won’t be easy to complete the work. You must consider these things.
Quality
The quality of the rubber mallet is the essential thing that needs to be considered while buying it. There are lots of cheap and low-quality products available in the market that one should definitely avoid while looking for the best rubber mallets. You must buy any one of the products mentioned in our list as all of the products have great quality.
What Are the Uses of Rubber Mallets?
Evening out the dents
The first general function that you can complete with a rubber mallet includes evening out the dents on a metal surface. In order to do this, you would use the mallet to pound out the areas that need to be corrected. While it might sound strange to try to fix dents on a surface by hitting it with a large rubber mallet, this is one of the main purposes that rubber mallets, in particular, are ideal for.
Force two components to stay together
Rubber mallets can be used to force two components to stay together. This is especially useful during construction projects or during a home improvement scenario where you need to pound two pieces of wood or other materials into one place.
Break things if ever needed
Even though it is true that mallets made of rubber are generally gentler than any other variety, they can still be used to break things if ever needed purposefully. For example, if you needed to break up large pieces of wood into smaller segments, you could use your rubber mallet.
If you are a DIYer, follow this simple video to turn your claw hammer into a makeshift rubber mallet.
What Is the Price Range of the Best Rubber Mallets?
Expensive
The expensive rubber mallets range from 250$ to 431$. You will get high-quality products from some top brands in this price range.
Mid-range
The mid-range rubber mallets range from 100$ to 250$. These are a great option for people who want to get the value of money as the options are feature-enriched but also cost-effective.
Cheap
The cheap rubber mallets range from 5$-100$.
PEOPLE ALSO ASKED
How large of a rubber mallet should I buy?
A lot depends on the job. A 12-ounce mallet is often a metalworker's or tiler's tool. General-purpose mallets run from 16 to 24 ounces. Heavier models will impart more power if you have demolition work to do, for example. Consequently, they are also more tiring.
How is a hammer different from a mallet?
Generally speaking, a hammer has a steelhead, usually designed for a direct impact with another metal object. On a mallet, the head is most often rubber but can be nylon or wood. Although some are designed for demolition, they are normally used to guide or position things even though they can be done quite forcefully.
What can I use instead of a rubber mallet?
Instead of a rubber mallet, you can actually use the usual hammer but with a tied cloth around the metal block. This way, the impact will be less intense, and you will get a decent result. If you don't have the usual metal hammer, you will have to use something heavy with a similar impact as the mallet.