August 20, 20169 yr Well, large hawk and small trade belt axe Hawk has a 3 1/2" cutting edge, 19" hickory handle, body of 1018 with a 1084 bit. It's left a bit rougher than I normally do hawks so I did a kydex blade guard figuring it be a good one to throw in a truck or side by side tool box. Belt axe as a 3 3/4" cutting edge, 14" hickory handle, body of wrought iron with a 5160 bit. I left this fairly rough as well, it's my take on a trade axe or hatchet. Also first time using my new stamp, just an anvil with my initials, WJC. I normally use an electro etch and stencil, but that don't work too good on rough forge finished metal.
August 20, 20169 yr Really nice lines on the belt axe. Your stamp looks classy as well. Where did you get your wrought iron stock? Must be pretty refined, can't see a trace of "grain".
August 20, 20169 yr Author Thanks, the wrought iron was an experiment, it came from an old wagon wheel, about 10" wide, 1/4" thick that had been used for a brick ledge on a fireplace, found it when we tore the old house down. House was built around 1901, and the iron was fairly corse. I basically forged it flat and cut and stacked it, think it was 6 layers, a triple fold, then cut down the middle and triple folded again. It came out pretty clean, but I didn't etch very long, just enough to give a little age and grey to it. Also, I didn't finish it finer than a 120 grit belt, a finer finish and a longer etch would bring out the grain better. Stamp is a little too deep, should have hit it once, not twice with the big hammer, wrought iron is soft at heat.
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