Don A Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 I've had it on my mind to forge myself a tomahawk drift. Those cast ones that you buy have a tear-drop shaped cross section. I have some 1.25" round that would work, but I'm having a hard time picturing how to forge a tapered tear-drop. Any ideas? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Murch Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 It doesn't have to be tear drop shaped, but it is important that it has 1/8" of taper per 1" of drift length. Average finished size of a tomahawk eye is 1-1/8" x 1-5/8". I really like the flattened octagon shape. Basicaly rectangular with the corners chamfered. A pieced together rectangular drift can be made by forging 4 pieces of flat stock on edge to the 1/8" per 1" taper, and welding them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 A teardrop is an oval that has been "pulled" on one side. Visualize a round, tapered punch and flattened to an oval. This can be done by hand or in a very large swage, i.e., a 1" punch can be put between 3" round swage halves (if they meet) and forged oval. At this point, the tapered oval is forged on one side so the the narrow side of the teardrop forms. The punch can start curving away from the hammer blows during this operation and has to be kept straight. You have now forged a tapered, teardrop punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted December 6, 2006 Author Share Posted December 6, 2006 Thank you for thr information. I'm going to give that a try this Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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