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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Lin Rhea on August 09, 2014, 06:41:00 PM

Title: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 09, 2014, 06:41:00 PM

It was a rainy morning which is unusual in August here in my neck of the woods. I figured to get a little forging done so I figured to practice on a hatchet. It started looking pretty good so I just stayed with it and got it heat treated. I started with about 3 1/4 inches of 1 1/2 inch round of L6 steel. I sort of squared it so it would lay still while I slit it.
      (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14871018815_3886576426_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oE6RN8)

      (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14683542197_de1a4d3f25_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/onwZwD)

I used a home made drift that I forged a while back and pulled and spread out the blade.
      (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14683467368_39768b3557_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/onwBhu)

I profiled and cleaned up the sides and hardened the blade and the poll. It's in the oven now for the second time winding up that stage of heat treat.
      (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14683411370_300f8ac12b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/onwjD1)

I should have some more pictures tomorrow late.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: chall on August 09, 2014, 07:01:00 PM

Ive always wanted to do this. Waiting for more.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: tomsm44 on August 09, 2014, 07:51:00 PM

That's going to be nice.  A hatchet is one of the things on my bucket list, but I'm not quite ready to tackle something like that with my limited forging experience and equipment.  I'd love to build one with an as forged finish and walnut handle.  I guess I need to forge me a draw knife first to shape the handle with.

Can't wait to see this one done.

Matt

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: kbaknife on August 09, 2014, 09:56:00 PM

That's really aggravating.
Not nearly enough in-progress photos.  :D

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: just_a_hunter on August 09, 2014, 11:20:00 PM

No doubt you forge smiths are a step above. I love all your work. Thanks for always sharing.

Todd

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: gudspelr on August 10, 2014, 01:16:00 AM

Lin, that's fantastic. The last picture is my favorite. For anyone who hasn't forged before, that REALLY good, smooth finish on that hot steel is amazing. Your forging skills are something to strive towards. I had some challenges slitting and drifting the two hawks I've tried-it's quite the skill by itself. Thanks for sharing some progress photos.

Jeremy

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 10, 2014, 10:09:00 AM

I don't intend for you to misunderstand. The last picture is of the thermo cycle after I smoothed up the forging. I forge a little "past" the finished object, then refine by a combination of finer forging and grinding.

This one is ready to finish up the surface. I should do that this afternoon and will post some pics. I drifted the eye slightly larger than some in the past so I could beef up the wood in the eye.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 10, 2014, 10:26:00 AM

Here are some other shots through out the process.

Here I am starting the actual drift. Looks bad but it will start to smooth out as I lay it on it's side and smack it making the eye form to the drift.
    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/14876141642_46e8a49356_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEy7CJ)

This is the rough profile which can be refined by grinding a little, maybe by forging too if need be.
    (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14689801630_e3f10202cb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oo65eU)

This another shot after it has been profiled and smoothed up during the thermo cycle. You can see that it has some shape to it rather than having "straight" sides.
    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/14873425931_062e942d84_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEjcm8)

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Xander on August 10, 2014, 04:21:00 PM

Love it Lin!  A good hammer poll hatchet is something I have been wanting but don't yet have. Great for camping.

Do you use a flatter for smoothing your forgings out on large things like this?

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 10, 2014, 04:35:00 PM

No, I just hammer them out. Thanks

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 10, 2014, 07:14:00 PM

I got the head finished.

    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14880550862_0835dee53c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEWHkL)
    (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14877838151_59e02dcc32_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEGNWT)
    (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14880523452_b4ba0fc85b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEWzcb)

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: bjansen on August 10, 2014, 07:37:00 PM

Excellent work Lin!

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: srtben on August 10, 2014, 08:50:00 PM

Beauty!

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Xander on August 11, 2014, 01:33:00 AM

Home run!!  Love that head, gotta get me one of those...!


Waiting to see the haft.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 11, 2014, 05:29:00 AM

a thing of beauty!

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 11, 2014, 10:00:00 AM

 (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14883791514_7dda9a1ff1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oFejF5)

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Bobby Urban on August 11, 2014, 10:27:00 AM

can you share some pics of your drift?  I struggle with not having the whole thing smoosh when attempting to drift w/o drilling first.  

Well, I don't have JS or MS as part of my makers mark either but I would like to improve.

Very nice looking hawk/axe head!!

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Bladepeek on August 11, 2014, 10:33:00 AM

Lin, that's ALMOST too pretty to use. But then I bet it really begs to be used just so it can show off.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: gudspelr on August 11, 2014, 04:07:00 PM

That head is awesome! The haft is looking like it should be very nice, as well. I struggle when drifting to have both sides of the eye even...yours looks fantastic. I like the overall shape-very useful design.

Jeremy

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Track on August 11, 2014, 05:22:00 PM

Outstanding!

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Hopewell Tom on August 11, 2014, 05:25:00 PM

That round rusty looking hunk turned into that thing of beauty and excellence. A Marvel to be sure.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 11, 2014, 07:42:00 PM

Thanks.

Here is the tools that I used to slit and drift this hatchet. Top center is the slitter on a bent handle so I could hold it easier under the power hammer dies. To the right is the next drift that spreads and lengthens the hole and then the final drift on the left.

    (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3911/14704436257_46f2cb43b3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/opo5B4)

This is the slitter showing the angle. This is probably mild steel (I don't remember)so I have to reshape the end from time to time.
    (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/14704378838_bc26e12fb4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/opnMx5)

That picture also shows the orientation to the power hammer dies. I sometimes turn things lengthwise depending on the need.

This is the final drift. It is driven in top and bottom of the head to impart an hourglass shape to the hole. After this, if I need more flare to the eye, I will hang the rim of the eye on the horn tip and tap it lightly working it around to get it even.
    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5595/14890637792_5110cd9637_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oFQpQm)

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on August 13, 2014, 06:02:00 PM

Looks good from where I am sitting   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Roadkill on August 14, 2014, 12:09:00 AM

Art + muscle+ talent= perfection.  That would look so good splitting up an elk

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Bazooka Joe on August 14, 2014, 07:17:00 PM

That is outstanding!  Love the finish
Rick

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 20, 2014, 02:59:00 PM

 (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/14795972527_981251ef50_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oxte9B)

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Track on August 20, 2014, 04:46:00 PM

Outstanding! Really like that handle too.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Soonerlongbow on August 20, 2014, 06:06:00 PM

Awesome!!!!

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Alexander13 on August 21, 2014, 11:37:00 AM

Awesome, I'm always inspired by your work and really want to try a hatchet/ small axe.  Do you make you own drifts?

Thanks you!
Joel

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: gudspelr on August 21, 2014, 12:28:00 PM

That looks really nice. Can I ask what grit you finished the head to?

Jeremy

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 22, 2014, 08:25:00 AM

Thank you gentlemen.

I do make my own drifts. I just forge them from 4140 or mild steel if that is all I have. Remember to make them as smooth as you reasonably can and the taper is important. Nothing extreme. Just about 5 degrees or so. The very top and bottom may need a little more so you can start the taper easier and also be able to knock it back out as you need to.

I take the finish to an even 120 then scotchbrite belt. There may be times when I go to 320, sure, but I mainly want the finish to look even.

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: chall on August 22, 2014, 08:33:00 AM

beautiful work !

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: ron w on August 22, 2014, 08:28:00 PM

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :notworthy:

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: fedora on October 10, 2014, 11:04:00 AM

I want a full size axe in the same design.  Can you do that for me?

Title: Re: Hammer Poll Hatchet (handle is done)
Post by: Jack Guard on October 10, 2014, 01:52:00 PM

That was fun to watch you post.  thanks so much.  

The Hatchet is beautiful !