Benton Frisse Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I found out what happens with a bad weld when folding a hawk. Folded this and made it from mild steel with a tool steel bit. Hand carved red oak handle. There's a bad weld towards the top of the eye. I found it by once it was finished, plugging the ax into a log about two dozen times only to find out that where the bad weld was had started to peel back! So, I ground it off with a file and tried to clean it. I was going to scrap it by my father wanted it. So I went ahead and made a sheath for it... which didn't work out like I wanted, either. But hey, it's all about learning, right? The close up of the ax head already mounted shows the bad weld, you can see the wood debris stuck in it. I made this back in January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcc Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 No bad weld annoys me like this one, because normally you find it when the thing is about done. I've made it a rule to grind the end of blade and inspect the edge before drawing it out. I do that just in case I didn't get a good weld and it is much easier in my opinion to re-weld it while it's thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benton Frisse Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 Yessir, I totally agree with that. I have since then learned from a few bladesmiths that "when you think it's forge welded, do it three more times to make sure". Since then, it's proved to be a nice little technique. Nonetheless, I was pretty bummed when this happened. :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I found out what happens with a bad weld when folding a hawk. Folded this and made it from mild steel with a tool steel bit. Hand carved red oak handle. There's a bad weld towards the top of the eye. I found it by once it was finished, So, I ground it off with a file and tried to clean it. I was going to scrap it by my father wanted it. So I went ahead and made a sheath for it... It should have been repaired or destroyed so no one can get hurt. When all else fails ask Mr. Lincoln or Mr. Miller for their blessing and electric weld the piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benton Frisse Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 Ah, my apologies, Glenn! Luckily we have no shortage of company from the miller family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 A failed weld sucks but if a person doesn't fail now and then they're not doing anything. I cast my vote with Glenn, a failed blade should either be repaired, destroyed or otherwise made unusable. It may be two generations from now and somebody might take down great grand dad's hatchet, try using it and get injured, losing an eye is a definite possibility where bad welds on striking tools are concerned. A good way to make a wall hanger nothing but a wall hanger is to plug weld it from the back to a plaque or frame. Looks fine but is as unusable as it gets. Originally Mr. Miller was a blacksmith who was tired of losing money to failed welds on built up pieces. He invented the stick welder and one of his first customers for the new Miller Ark welder was Samuel Yellin. (Mr. Miller didn't speak English as a first language, hence he spelled Arc with a K) Hobart was a blacksmith as well and invented the oxy acet torch so he wouldn't have to mess with a forge with simple field repairs. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately there was so much competition from blacksmiths in his own family he decided to try something else hence Hobart commercial kitchen equipment was born. Sorry for the windy digression, my point is: using modern metal working tools IS the tradition of the blacksmith, the black iron gang invented the things. Should we turn our backs on the old timers' and their efforts for some philosophical notions? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan C Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Trying to remember where I saw or read this but one of the steps they gave for forging an axe head was hammering in the bit in such a way that tests the strength of the weld. My first impression when I read that was "that's odd, first forge weld it and then you're going to split the seam" but apparently the reasoning is sound as at least at that stage you could correct the flaw. Now it's going to drive me crazy trying to remember the source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benton Frisse Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 Frosty, you never fail to impress me with your knowledge... nor your imagination! I try my hardest to stick to traditional methods, but sometimes I jump over them. I can only do so much with a file before I start to lose my marbles (or whats left). Some projects I use no power tools at all, some I use quite a few. This just shows that I need to practice my forgewelding still. Even months later! Always room for improvement. Also, I will take your guys' advice and either fix it or make it a permanent wall hanger. No need for anyone to become a pirate in my lineage ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcc Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Yessir, I totally agree with that. I have since then learned from a few bladesmiths that "when you think it's forge welded, do it three more times to make sure". Since then, it's proved to be a nice little technique. Nonetheless, I was pretty bummed when this happened. :/ I can give an amen to that statement. I always try to give one last weld just on the blade to make sure. I say try because I don't always do it and often regret not doing it. I would take everyone's advice and hang it up in your shop as a reminder. I've got a nice axe I forged in my shop for that purpose. I had it finished and ready for heat treatment when I noticed a 1/2" bad weld in the blade. I tried to fix it but it must have flux inclusion or a tiny bit of scale. While I was totally bummed, it was still a learning experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris john Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Hi Benton i read somewhare long time ago some smiths hot riveted up near the eye to be safe on some . Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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