Ed Steinkirchner Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 this is an axe, or maybe a tomahawk, not really sure. But anyway, the blade is a piece of leaf spring off an OLD truck (1935ish). the handle is sugar maple, and the wrapping is copper wire scraps from my brother the electrician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Steinkirchner Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 xxxx! my bad, only meant to post once, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul42` Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Very nice... I've got an piece of whale bone... might have to borrow your design. Good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukellos Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 When I was a boy (sometime just after the fall of the Roman Empire ) axes that looked a lot like that were still in use in some parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Folks used them to build houses, canoes and to carve wooden utensils. They worked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Steinkirchner Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 the axe does work very well, and it isn't as heavy as an axe with a normal head. the problem with it is the head keeps pulling out of the handle so it needs a pin or bend in the tang to keep it in place. i had it fly off into the jagger bushes at the edge of the woods when i first used it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Heck, they still make and use them in them in many parts of the world. Nice job on a primitive looking axe. Rotate the blade and you have an adz, another very useful tool for wood working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 The UN manual of blacksmithing includes instructions for making that style axe and how to hardface it using cast iron "crayoned onto" it if you don't have access to good High C stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Steinkirchner Posted April 6, 2010 Author Share Posted April 6, 2010 sorry, havn't been on for a week. just read your post sam. that is a lot faster than i go from "i want to make one of those" to "well its done". but for the sake of others wondering. to mount the head. after the blade is forged, measure the widest part of the base of the tang,subtract 1/8 inch (3/16 for soft wood), and drill a hole that size in the handle. heat half the tang to red, not orange, not yellow, red, and burn it in to the last 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch(add 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch to that for softer wood). once it burns the hole, pull it out and let it cool till it just turns wood brown when it touches it(much too hot to touch so don't grab it!). when it is at this heat, drive it home with a piece of wood so you dont hurt the edge. if done this way you have a hard time banging it out with a hammer. dont let the fit be sloppy! the head will either stick into what is being chopped and pull out of the handle, or fly out of the handle and land in the nearby jagger bushes and make fun of you. sorry im late on the answer, but it might help someone Ed Steinkirchner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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