Well Dad has been after me for an adze to rough out the bottomn of his wooden bowls he has been turning. So while he took one of the kids to visit grandma I played in the shop. Tried to get more pics of all the steps. But a little to busy working to get very many



I'd like to say the steel is something fancy but it started out as a 1" square of A36. Didn't harden anything spectacular as expected, but there is enough that it makes a serviceable tool. Didn't dull to soon cutting dishes in boards and blocks that were laying around. Only thing I'm not super happy about is the depth of the cheeks. Going to have to practice drawing them out.

I really need to get motivated and make more better tongs. That and make a better drift. Hard to forge out the cheeks with the drift squirting out. I am assuming that a longer less tapered drift works best for forging in the eye and cheeks.

Added 5 rings down each side of my vise stand tonight. Tidies things up a bit getting the tongs I have where I can use them. Bunk springs off a log truck make for super quick rings.



Planning a larger hole in my bolster plate for drifting handles



gotta try and clean out my camera. lens covers are not opening and closing properly now. pointed the angle grinder the wrong direction :(

It looks pretty well formed but I would like to have better steel for mine. I have made some from old ball peen hammers that work well (about 1045 likely). I have a Henry Taylor manufactured adze that holds a superb edge and must be more like 1090 steel. Maybe you could weld in a bit of old lawn mower blade for your next one? That's about 1090 with some added alloying that helps get longer wear and makes excellent gouges and other wood cutting edged tools IME.

I was thinking of welding in a bit, just didn't have a xxxx of a lot of time. barely got it done before he got back. you know I know better steel in the cutting edge is a must but he is very happy with it and its an occasional use at best tool. He's happy just to have something I made and show it off here and there. And thanks for the compliment

Yes, I think it will work well, just need more frequent sharpening. I sometimes use a big rubber hammer to drive mine instead of chopping with it. Carving gouges are good for cleaning up turning bottoms too and easier to make than adzes. I like mower blades for making gouges. Hook knives are also good... in case you need more ideas of stuff to make for him!

Yep, lots of tool to file back as time goes on. I've never thought of using it that way, I'll have to pass that on to him. He's after me to make a few large bowl turning tools for his wood lathe I have a few crooked knives made from files kicking around someplace.

I'm sure the transmission springs I have from the log truck would make nice chisels or gouges. little over 2 inches wide and 3/16 thick or there abouts.