How to Make a Gong Mallet

Gongs are one of the oldest instruments in the world. The original gongs probably made sound by someone hitting them with smooth sticks, or by a rock tied to a stick. However, instrument mallets have come a long way since then. There are many different kinds of mallets that can be used with gongs. There are rubber mallets, wooden mallets, stone mallets, cloth mallets, and many others. Perhaps the easiest mallet to make is the wooden mallet covered in cloth to protect the metal of the gong. This mallet is designed to give a clear sound to any gong and takes little more than a few hours to complete.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/2 inch thick plywood (about 2 feet square)
• Canvas or other sturdy cloth
• Scissors
• Electric saw
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Vice grip or clamp
• Duct tape
• Wood stain and varnish (optional)

1. Cut one piece of wood about 3/4 inch thick and 1 to 1 1/2 feet long. This will be the handle of the mallet. Taper the handle so that the ends are the same size, but near one end is a smaller grove. This will be where the handle attaches to the head. Cut two pieces of wood that are 3 to 4 inches long and 2 inches high. You can leave these squared, or round them off a bit. These are the two sides of the mallet head. Cut two smaller pieces of wood to go inside the mallet head pieces. They should meet the edges of the mallet head pieces and leave a gap just big enough for the mallet handle to fit inside at the tapered part.

2. Sand all of the pieces of wood until smooth. If you want to treat the wood, now is the time to do it. Stain or varnish the wood and let it dry before moving on to the next step.

3. Glue the two small pieces to one side of the mallet head. Allow to dry. Put the mallet handle in its grove and glue. Glue the other mallet head piece to the other half and clamp together. Allow to dry.

4. This step is optional. If you want to add a softer sound, you can cover the head of the mallet with duct tape. Several layers will give the mallet a muffled sound, and will not be as loud or as hard on the ears.

5. Cut the cloth into a large enough pieve to cover the entire mallet head. Tape the cloth to the mallet using the duct tape. You’re finished with your mallet. Hit any gong to product a lovely sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Any kind of wood will work for this project, so if you have any scrap wood lying around this might be a good time to use it.
• For an even easier, faster mallet, you can take a 1 inch dowel rod and wrap duct tape around one end until it makes a mallet shape.
• If the mallet handle does not fit snugly inside the two halves of the mallet head, then it will be wobbly and break much easier. It is important to ensure that everything fits closely together.

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[NedBrisco]

on 1/13/2009 This is not a very good Gong mallet. It's better to use a length of wood doweling, with a plastic wheel screwed to the end. Then wrap the wheel with yarn, and cover with some sort of fur if you like. Avoid using duct tape as it breaks down easily and the glue can leave residue on your Gong.