First axe

[ApprenticeMan]

Made my first tomahawk today. Watched Modern Marvels on axes and finally got the urge to get my buttocks off the couch and go do some smithing. Forged from W1 square bar, the eye hole was slot punched with a slot punch I made from 4140 1 inch round bar, then I drifted it to shape (first time I ever made and used a slot punch too, worked out very well). Hardened in Park's, then draw tempered with a torch (will do a 400F temper for an hour or two when I get my temper tank up and running again). the handle still needs to have the wedge finished and the metal wedges added. Here is pictures:

[m_brothers]

As always Sam, great job. What are you gonna use for a finish on it? And are you gonna use that for youself (wood) or give it to someone. Since, I haven't bothered making a hot cut, that has somesort of a handle attached to it yet, I bought a cheapo hatchet to use for now. Wouldn't recommend your awesome hatchet for that though. Great job, do you know the dimensions off hand? BTW, does this one go into the pile of "To be finished blades and what not" ??? Lol, jk.

[Covforge]

Nice work Sam.
Travis

[ApprenticeMan]

Thanks guys!

John, nope I will finish this one off completely tommorrow. I will use regular old mineral oil or linseed oil or beeswax, whatever is on hand hehe. What type of dimensions are you looking for? Head is 7 3/8ths long from edge to poll, handle is 15 1/4 inches from under the head, the edge is about 2 3/4s of an inch long. Not sure what it weighs, I would say about 1.5 pounds. Only chopped a little pine to test it out a bit, dang it chops real sweet. Once I get the handle on and wedged I will for sure put it through it's paces on some hardwoods.

[m_brothers]

Sweet Sam. Good luck with finishing it. I guess I can't poke at you for not finishing it. Gonna try a larger axe for more serious chopping after that one???

[ApprenticeMan]

This one was fun, nice and small to fit right perfect on my belt and be light and fast to swing all day, cuts like an axe much heavier too. I wish I had some larger size bar I'd definately try for a larger axe.

[m_brothers]

Cool. Do you go camping a lot, cuz this would be perfect for that. You don't have anything in any larger sized stock??? Maybe a large damascus axe would be cool. Lol. Either way, can't wait to see it when completely down.

[larrynjr]

Great looking axe Sam! Keep up the great work!

I took a forge welding class today so I'll have some pieces to take pictures of and show here tomorrow sometime. It was a great class, learned alot and was able to stick all the welds!

[m_brothers]

Cool larry, - not trying to hi-jack the thread Sam - but where did you take this class??

[ApprenticeMan]

Originally Posted by m_brothers

Cool. Do you go camping a lot, cuz this would be perfect for that. You don't have anything in any larger sized stock??? Maybe a large damascus axe would be cool. Lol. Either way, can't wait to see it when completely down.

I don't do NEARLY as much camping as I would like, but you are 100% correct it would be perfect and I look forward to next season to try it out (too cold now). I have some larger stock, but not good enough steel for a proper axe.

Larry, sounds exciting!!!!!!!! Cannot wait for the pictures, something tells me perhaps there is a steel bit/wrought/mild body axe in the bunch?