Leathercraft Tool

Windy,

They are glued so that you don’t have to “restack” them when you switch out the head.   I compressed and glued mine when I was making them. 

The maul is not a hammer or mallet and is used quite differently.  In the smaller sizes they are not swung like a hammer or maul but the wrist uses a slight twisting motion (wrist is almost flat and requires a slight rotation left and right).  As far as pipes, a ½” pipe would be pretty small to hit a nail you are correct.  However what about a 3” pipe (just using size comparisons not saying to use a 3” pipe).   I imagine most could hit with a 3” head.

There have been issues with round topped tools when using a maul but most people correct that with flattening the top of those stamping tools.

I tried with 6-7 people that thought the same way as you about a round versus flat striking zone and so I made a small flat on some of their heads (a little larger than a hammer head area).  After some time every one of them stopped using the flat spot because as a couple of them said they really didn’t need it.  Not everyone is the same and your mileage may vary but that’s what I observed over time with these people (12 yrs old to 74 yrs old).

From an ergonomic standpoint the benefits to your wrist alone are great due to the biomechanical forces and differences in using a maul over a mallet.  Ergonomics were my main reason for looking at, using and recommending a maul over a mallet. 

Regards,

Ben