Frapping Mallet

I was doing some research on pioneering for an upcoming Camporee with a pioneering theme.  I came across a blog called Ropes & Poles.  One of the articles was about a tool called a frapping mallet.  It is used to tighten up lashings on larger projects.  You wrap the rope around the handle, brace the head against your spar, and use the handle as a lever to tighten the lashing.  I could not find much else on frapping mallets on the internet.  I don't think these are available for purchase anywhere.  I did find an old sailors tool called a heaving mallet used on rigging in a similar manner.

Nevertheless, I was intrigued and had to make one.  This is not your typical project that anybody can make in their kitchen, but if you have the required tools, and know how to weld, it's not that hard.

Materials
1/2" x 18" iron pipe
1-1/4" x 6" iron pipe
scraps of hardwood
spray paint

Tools
Cut off saw
drill press
center punch
hammer
1/4" and 1/2" drill bit
die grinder
wire wheel or belt sander
welder
1-3/16" (40mm) hole cutter

Procedure

Cut both threaded ends off of the 1-1/4' x 6" pipe.  The 6" piece will be reduce to 4".  Cut one threaded end off of the 1/2" x 18" pipe.

Mark the center of the short piece with a center punch and drill a 1/4" hole.  Remember to use oil.

Now repeat with a 1/2" drill bit.  That was the biggest drill bit that I had.  I had to enlarge the hole with a die grinder to get the 1/2" pipe to fit through.

Remove the paint near the weld joints with a wire wheel or belt sander.  Put the 1/2" pipe through the hole and weld it both at the hole and on the inside.  Spray paint it the color of your choice.  Use the 1-3/16" hole cutter (without the 1/4" bit on the inside) to cut some hardwood plugs to put inside.  That way, you can use it to pound in stakes, as well as for tightening lashings.  It does not do a good job pounding in large stakes like you might use for a 3-2-1 anchoring system.  You need a big mallet for that.  I will show you how to make one in a future post.