What is a fencing maul?
What is a fencing maul? |
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A fencing maul (sometimes called a fencing mell, post beater or fencing sledgehammer) is a type of hammer designed for driving wooden posts into the ground. | |||
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Both the head and the handle of a maul are constructed from a variety of materials. | |||
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Mauls are widely used in farming and agriculture for knocking in posts of no more than 1.2m (4ft) in height. | |||
A brief history of the fencing maul… |
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The word ‘maul’ originally derives from the Latin word ‘malleus’, meaning ‘a hammer’. | |||
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Fencing mauls were originally made from wood.
They had two iron hoops around each end, which were secured in place by heating, and placed on the head of the maul. When the metal cooled, it tightened around the wood and helped to prevent the wood splitting away on impact. |
Fencing maul vs. sledgehammer |
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A sledgehammer is a tool commonly associated with jobs involving a striking action, however a fencing maul can also be used. | |||
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The head of the sledgehammer has a much smaller square surface area, so when used, the striking force is more centralised. | |||
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The striking face of a fencing maul is much wider and rounder. This helps spread the force on impact over a greater area on the post head. | |||
