Lots of good advice, check your local woods. I made some out of
hop-hornbeam a number of years back, no problem. Also made a replacement
for some European hornbeam that split on me out of yellow birch, which has
held up to three years of steady mallet work as well as its look-alikes on
my lathe tools.

The leather is as much for your elbow as anything else. Eats vibration
which might otherwise be transmitted back up your arm. Sure, it helps
spread the load a bit where the metal meets the wood on tanged chisels, but
not really needed on yours, if you avoid long-grained woods for your handle.
Especially unneeded if you make your mallets out of green wood and soak in
PEG 1000. That process makes a good soft-blow mallet because it keeps the
outer surface soft.

"Mike" wrote in message
news:d4Ypb.108911$Tr4.295325@attbi_s03...
I recently picked up a set of old socketed chisels with very nasty
handles.
I am planning to make a new set of handles on the Delta lathe I just
bought.
What is the best choice of wood for the handles. Someone suggested ash. Is
there other options to consider? Also, is the leather rings on the end of
the old handles for hand protection or just for ornamental purposes?