JHCC Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Out of curiosity, has anyone here ever converted a carpenter's hatchet into a hot cut top tool? One caught my eye in the hardware store the other day, and it struck me that one could easily grind or cut the blade width to match the height of the eye, maybe spot-annealing the hammer end to make a softer struck end. Has anyone ever tried this, or is there a good reason not to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 using an axe for a hot cut and hardy has been discussed here before and yes drawing temper on the struck end would be a good idea as would using a flea market or yard sale one for a couple of bucks over a store bought one for much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 4, 2016 Author Share Posted July 4, 2016 Thanks. I didn't see the previous discussion, but I probably didn't use the right search terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I have an old Eastmen hand splitting maul that gets used as a cold cut, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 In the end, I made one from a piece of torsion bar: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 That was easy, wasn't it?! Good job, hoss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Having a good spring swage makes all the difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 man, you seem to be on a tool making craze! I get them some times. any specific project in mind, or just building up your tooling? Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 7 minutes ago, littleblacksmith said: man, you seem to be on a tool making craze! I get them some times. any specific project in mind, or just building up your tooling? Littleblacksmith I had an unexpected gift of TIME: a week that I was supposed to be on vacation (accompanying my wife to a chamber music conference where she teaches in the summer) had to be spent at home so I could keep an eye on my hospitalized mother-in-law. Rather than sit around doing nothing, I fired up the forge for about 6 hours a day for eight days running and got a LOT done. Yes, most of that was tooling. I've been in "make the tool to make the tool to make the...what was I making?" mode for a long time, so it just made sense to get a bunch of things made that I'd been needing or thinking about for a while. 23 minutes ago, littleblacksmith said: man, you seem to be on a tool making craze! I get them some times. any specific project in mind, or just building up your tooling? Littleblacksmith I had an unexpected gift of TIME: a week that I was supposed to be on vacation (accompanying my wife to a chamber music conference where she teaches in the summer) had to be spent at home so I could keep an eye on my hospitalized mother-in-law. Rather than sit around doing nothing, I fired up the forge for about 6 hours a day for eight days running and got a LOT done. Yes, most of that was tooling. I've been in "make the tool to make the tool to make the...what was I making?" mode for a long time, so it just made sense to get a bunch of things made that I'd been needing or thinking about for a while. Would have gotten a lot more made, too, if I hadn't burned a couple of pieces 3/4 of the way through making them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Papy Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 12 minutes ago, JHCC said: Would have gotten a lot more made, too, if I hadn't burned a couple of pieces 3/4 of the way through making them! JHCC Its good to know I'm not the only person that burns things up mid-project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 3 minutes ago, 51 Papy said: JHCC Its good to know I'm not the only person that burns things up mid-project. Several hours' work down the tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 3 hours ago, JHCC said: Several hours' work down the tube. what were you working on? it happens to all of us...... Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 A large-diameter (1-1/2") spring swage, drawing down the center section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51 Papy Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Ya know, that's what I like about this site. I can look at projects I will never have the skill to do, projects that are beautiful, so-so projects (some where mine) and failures (again some where mine)and everyone is supportive and willing to help you learn from your mistakes and let us new guys know "stuff happens" to both experienced smiths and beginners. Thanks all! Papy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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