A story...

I was working with a company which imported exotics from Mexico, Belize,
and Guatemala. I was asked by some sort of a lawyers' organization to
make presentation gavels from lignum vitae -- one of the woods we
imported. It seems that these are part of a tradition for the organization.

Then, I saw their 'specs'. They required it to be made out of lignum
vitae SAPWOOD! As I recall, they even specified the maximum percentage
of heartwood which would be allowed. Well, under normal circumstances,
lignum sapwood isn't any better than any other sapwood -- what people
think of as lignum vitae is the heartwood. So, we didn't even import
any of the sapwood -- no market, except for a bunch of crazy lawyers.

My guess is that whoever made the gavels for them in the past, used
whatever he could find and told them whatever was necessary to keep them
happy, and keep them from suing anybody. Some jobs are better run away
from then taken on and just the number of lawyers involved was enough to
scare just about anybody. Anyway, I decided that they were trouble and
that was that. Did anybody here get the job?

Bill

John wrote:
The gavels with brass banding around the head are primarily decorative
and the bands are meant to be engraved. I've never tried to obtain just
the bands separate from the gavels but aren't they just short sections
of large diameter brass tubing, or thin bar stock whose ends meet where
the handle joins the head?

The show/presentation gavels tend to be smaller in size than those that
might see real use in a courtroom or town hall, probably because they
don't occupy quite so much desk/shelf/wall space. If there's any chance
that the recipient might be tempted to use it, even ceremonially, then
you want to make one that's at least 10 inches long and of a size and
heft that is in proportion to the user's body type. In other words you
don't want to put a whopper of a mallet in the dainty hands of a petite
female, or a small, delicate desk ornament in the hands of a judge of
Wagnerian proportions. These tools must suit their users if they are to
be truly appreciated.

Any nice looking hardwood is acceptable. Walnut, maple, oak, beech and
cherry are popular; mahogany, ebony and rosewood are for the truly
special person and occasion; and cocobolo, bird's eye maple or some
other highly figured wood (if you can find them in this size) are
probably too nice to give away.

If you're going to make the presentation box as well then a french fit
is a class act. But you'll probably spend more time making the box than
the gavel.

Not all gavels are hammer style. There's a palm type that sort of looks
like a handle-less hammer head. The ends tend to be of larger diameter
than the hammer type because they are held on end in the palm of the
hand. You can dish the sound/strike block to serve as a stand, or turn a
flat face in the center of either end, to keep these ones from rolling
off the desk...

J.


mike wrote:
I have been asked to make three gavels and blocks for a presentation.
Has anyone any helpful hints as to style and type of wood and also
presentation box ideas. The commercial ones I have seen have a brass
band around, can I buy these in the UK?

A Happy New Year to All

Regards


Mike