mallet/hammer query

["Damon Ayer" <damonayer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

i have just gotten back online and have seen the recent
discussion. i am a mason at lincoln cathedral and have
found many sources for tools. there are other excellent
companies that sell masonry/carving supplies: crashaw's,
avery night (in Bath) for a couple. there is a man named
bruce wilcock in the shetland islands who made me a
hammer modelled on a fisher style. it was much cheaper
than many others commercially available. he can and will
make virtually anything and ship it to you. lump hammers
are horrible to work with. their design bleeds much of
the force of the blow out to the side. a properly
constructed hammer will work with you and give a much
more effective and less tiring blow.

a couple comments. roughing out limestone with a point
is not an effective method for working that material.
traditional masonry offers much more effective ways. in
the us there is a company called trow and holden in
vermont. they have many mallet headed chisels, both
tungsten and fire-sharp. they also sell a striking cap
to fit their 1/2" shank pneumatic hammer chisels that
easily converts them for use with a mallet. take care
all and enjoy yourselves.

damon