Scrap rat Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I see alot of Hawks being made of tool steel, i plan on using mild steel and adding a tool steel bit.... Is this ok, i like spike hawks! What are the pros and cons to solid tool steel vs mild with a tool steel bit? And for slit and drift method for spike hawks what size blank do you guys use? I was planning on 1x4inch square bar. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Haven't made on myself, but cost would be a factor between tool steel, and mild. You will have to be proficient in forge welding to get it right, and a lot of folks are not, soooo. 1x4:seems awfully large for a hawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hawk Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Rat, I've forged dozens of throwing hawks with A-36 mild steel. You're not forging a straight razor. It hardens more than one might think. I have never had on break or bend. The socket needs to be 1 1/4 " wide minimum to mount securely on the haft. A 1x 1 x 4 " blank will work fine. Drill a row of holes for the socket before slitting to get it straight. Spike hawks are evil and dangerous, avoid them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Even as late as the American Civil War steel could cost 6 times what wrought iron did and so was often used sparingly. I have a factory made adz where they forged it from WI and then welded a thin pad of steel on the back of the working end so that the "edge" would always be steel---pad looks to be about 1/8" thick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggwelder Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Rat, I've forged dozens of throwing hawks with A-36 mild steel. You're not forging a straight razor. It hardens more than one might think. I have never had on break or bend. The socket needs to be 1 1/4 " wide minimum to mount securely on the haft. A 1x 1 x 4 " blank will work fine. Drill a row of holes for the socket before slitting to get it straight. Spike hawks are evil and dangerous, avoid them. i`ve had good success with RR spikes as well as mild steel. quenched in super quench, holds an edge just fine for throwing. just remember, you are not splitting bricks. spike hawks sell better. non spike hawks throw better. IMHO. i use digging bars, crow bars, pry bars, etc for camping hawks. usually HC steel. whatever is cheap or free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Oh, if you meant 1x1x4 then OK. I thought you meant 1x4x? rectangular Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap rat Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Yes 1x1x4, what stock do you guys normally use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 for the bit, 1 x 1/4 inch.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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