I haven't posted in a long time. Too many irons in the fire (groan!)  I FINALLY got my larger forge up and running.  I'll post some pics soon.  One of my first projects in the new forge was this adze a friend asked for.  My first try at forge welding with gas was okay, but not perfect.  I used an old spanner handle, drew it down to about 1-1/4 inches wide, doubled it over twice and welded to make the boss for the handle hole.  I punched and drifted the hole for the handle and put a slight curve in the blade.  Not pro, but not too bad.

It looks like a nice adze!  

Pretty clean work!

Not a bad looking adz, you done good.

The adze looks fine. If you make another one, or more than that matter, you might want to shape the handle eye like that of a pick or mattock (tapered or cone shaped with the larger dimension on the top). The reason is that during use a lot of pressure is place along the top of the tool (wood surface you are working) causing the head to pull from the handle - therefore the need for a tapered socket. Good luck, and keep up the nice work. -Charlie

Good advice Iron Duck!  I was mostly building the head for a handle I knew I could easily find.(ACE is the place!)  Arizona is not the best place for handle hardwoods... or hardwoods... or wood! If I can develop a tool handle out of sandstone I'll be a wealthy man! :rolleyes:  We have Pecan if you can get to it before someone chainsaws it into short pieces, but that requires a lot of looking.