Exhibit from Lin Rhea - Master Smith

[kbaknife]

[LONGBOWKID]

Beautiful work. That handle is classy and rugged at the same time.

Hickory and walnut maybe?

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Karl for posting this.

I got a new computer and now I am having some trouble with my photo hosting site and uploading pictures.

The axe is a smaller size bearded axe. I started with a 1 1/2 round bar X 3 inches long of L-6 steel. The handle is Ash and Walnut. The handle is about 21 inches so it is mainly used one handed as a tomahawk would be.

I just thought I'd show you what I was working on.

[DANA HOLMAN]

Very nice Lin, you always amaze me with what you can do
Dana

[gudspelr]

Really like the profile, including the square back.  For an axe or hawk, do you do a full quench or just the cutting edge?

Jeremy

[Lin Rhea]

Just the edge back about 3/4 inch or so. There is no point in hardening the whole thing considering the very real possiblility it will crack from the eye outwards. The hammer poll would take the hardening, but most likely it wont do any steel driving. Maybe a wood wedge.

[4est trekker]

I now have to wipe the drool off of my keyboard...thanks!     I love everything about that tool.  I'm a sucker for a good belt axe/hawk, and that is a phenomenal package, particularly the profile of the head.

[dcmeckel]

Lin, did you do that with a hammer on an anvil or do you have some sort of a machine that beats the metal flat for you?
David

[Roughcountry]

Wow, a trapper would love that and I happen to know one. Thats one project I'm really wanting to learn to do.
Thanks Karl and it's a beauty Lin  

[Lin Rhea]

Both. I use a power hammer to help me with the elbow grease, but it I did most of the work.  :D

[kansas stik man]

awesome job lin that handle looks great really sets it off!  wish i lived closer to where you teach you classes id love to be your shadow for a while lol.

[chinook907]

Man look at that.  How much does the head weigh Lin ?  Elegant.  I generally carry or pack an axe when  running traps and I know I would walk a little taller and go a little faster with that one in my hand.

[akaboomer]

That's a really great tool. The things you do amaze me Lin. Outstanding is understating it.

Chris

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Robin and Chris.
Tim,
 It weighs about 1 1/4 lb. I am studying axe head patterns from earlier days. I never knew there were so many. Thanks

[gudspelr]

Thanks, Lin.  I kinda figured a full quench could cause some potential problems and not necessarily gain a guy a whole lot but wanted to make sure.  By the way, are you looking in some particular books or are there some online sites that you're finding some of the older axe head patterns?  For some unknown reason, I'm rather fascinated by hawks and smaller axes.

Also, how are you drifting the hole for the handle?  Are you leaving it tapered (like a hawk) or taking it to a straight/parallel dimension and using some wedges hammered in from the top?  I noticed you have a bit sticking out at the top, but it almost looks like it's turned down at the neck where it goes into the bottom of the head?

Jeremy

[Lin Rhea]

You can look around on the web and find a few books with sketch drawings showing the variations. Try "axe patterns". We have a library where I work and there are some there too.
I made my drifts. They are slightly tapered and I wedge the head. There is about 1/8 of the wood sticking out. I spend a lot of time fitting the handle to the head. I hate it to get loose.

[allen newberry]

I like that one!  
p.s.  It looks like I might be able to make it to Petty's Thursday.

[gudspelr]

Thanks, Lin.


Jeremy

[GRINCH]

Beautiful work Lin.