Under a watch full eye, but no intervention, I used my friends forge and his guidence to make my first attempt to turn a 32 ounce ballpeen hammer into a Tomahawk. 4 hours of pounding and about 15 heatings. I used a belt sander to do the final shapping of the head and tiger stripe maple handle. Total time was about 8 hours. I'm just completing my hand made forge and super sucker hood. I need to find a chimmey and assemble everything. I hope to have my set-up completed in a few weeks. I'm hooked on this Blacksmithing for sure.

RJ

Beautiful work!  Even better, being your first hawk. The tiger stripe maple handle really gives it some character.

Good work and real good for a first piece.
Welcome to the site...If you would like to see the work of others on similiar pieces check in the axes and tomahawks section down the page a bit....

That came out very nice. Just make sure you use good quality ball peens as the new ones out of china are only case hardened. I have made a few from ball peens and they make good axes if the steel is good.

Thanks Guys,

I bought half a dozen old hammers about 20 years ago and they sat in a coffee can under the work bench. I just found them again about a year ago. That is what I used. I have played around with bending some metals and pounding out some simple things years ago using a rose bud for heat and then I bought an old forge got it working again and started making leaves, etc. This was my first real project. I teach Mechanical Maintenence class for the power industry and I have had the chance to build a good forge at home over the last few months. Since we have horses my hobby of blacksmithing is going hand in hand around the farm. I have read many topics on the internet and have to say I have learned so much from you guys and I appreciate your help.

Thanks Ron

If I haven't already said Welcome aboard Ron then welcome aboard!

 

You certainly have the knack for hand work, you'll pick up the craft quickly. That is a sweet hawk and for a first attempt it's outstanding.

 

I'm thinking you are SO going to fit in here. Welcome to the addiction, it's a life long learning curve and one GRAND ride.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

Wonderful hawk!  Genuinely impressive to see someone take their time, pay attention to the details, and then turn out a project to that level of fit and finish.  That's a rare thing these days!!

 

Very much looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Bang up! That's not a first attempt it's a first success! Nice work, keep it coming for sure!

Thank you so very much. I just bought a 8 year old Mule over the weekend and I started pounding out a "Mule Head" door knocker yesterday. I will post a picture of it tomorrow. I love to make things with my hands that are different. I have learned so much from these post already, thank you guys for all of your years of knowledge.

That's turned out really well, I'm impressed.

 

Well done yourself..

dude that's xxxxxxx awesome, i wish my first project had turned out so well..... ill be giving my first hawk a go around in the morning.