Replace faces when they become worn rather than replacing the entire tool. These mallets are suitable for driving chisels and striking work without damaging its surface. Choose a mallet with a face that's softer than your workpiece to avoid marring it when tapping or striking. Lighter weight mallets are good for tapping work into place and driving a chisel to make small cuts. Use heavier weight mallets when assembling joints, dislodging stuck parts, and making aggressive cuts with a chisel. Longer mallets allow for more powerful swings.

Rawhide faces are more durable than plastic and won't distort the surface of soft sheet metal, such as brass, aluminum, and copper.

Hickory and ash handles resist vibration.