tomahawk/ hatchet

[tompdw]

I am considering making a tomahawk or hatchet. I don't have a mandrel for the handle hole. does anyone have any helpful hints on how to build a mandrel or tomahawk? What kind of steel do I need?

[pete46]

I Would Just Punch Then Drift The Hole!
As Far As Steel Goes, Use Mild Steel To Learn: But Act Like It's Carbon.

[steveh]

ball pein hammers make excellent tomahawks.

[Rich Hale]

Drifts are a bit different shape for hawks. Forgeing your own would be good work

[Jmercier]

They're only different shaped if you want them to be different shaped. Joe Szliaski, ABS Master Smith, recommended that you actually dont want a "hawk shaped hole" for user hawks anyways because if you're in the woods and your handle breaks, it's far easier to use a square or round hole to secure the head on a makeshift handle than it is to try to carve a piece of wood to fit the typical "tear drop" shape you see on many hawks.

[Sandalphon]

Here is a very easy Tomahawk/Throwing axe from an HC rail spike:

Click Here then go to #12

Goto the entry for "throwing Ax" Entry #12 from the top. This site is also a great general reference for many adaptations on tools designs and other projects

[tompdw]

Gentlemen, thank you for the insights. I'm not sure if I will use a block of common steel and punch it or get a ball peen hammer. When I figure out what I will do there will be pictures.

[ThomasPowers]

There was a fellow in OH making/selling both hawk and hammer drifts. You might contact one of the local smithing groups there for details.

Even if you use a ballpeen hammer head you probably want to drift out the eye to make it larger.

[mike-hr]

Look at BP0163, Handled Punch, and see what the eye drifts i make look like. They fit the Cherokee brand handles the local hardware store sells pretty good. I make them from mild steel, and case harden with Kasenit if I feel like taking the time. There's different ways to make the initial hole. I was taught to slot punch, and drift to size. Figure out the circumference of the eye drift, and use a slot punch that's the same or a bit smaller. I usually use a 1/8inch by 1 inch slot punch, or a 1/8 x 7/8 for smaller holes and I get by fine. I don't know what traditional eyes are supposed to look like, I buy a case of handles and make all my hammers and set tools fit them, so everything I pick up feels natural to my hands.

[rthibeau]

I't's time consuming, but not that difficult to make your own drifts for hammers and tomahawks. The easiest way is to start with a hammer or tomahawk of the size you will be making in the future and size the drift to fit that. Samples are here: http://www.dancingfrogforge.com/HammerHawkDriftsc.JPG