Baby Hatchet in Kydex bottom eject

Hey William, really nice piece. Hope to see you back in Haliburton some day.

Best regards

Robin
 
Thanks everyone!

Last one shipped out today! Gotta make some more.

Construction details... butt joint, with grade 8 bolt threaded into the bit, two grade 8 pins take shear loads (really you shouldn't be twisting too hard on a hatchet that weighs 12oz but just in case...). This method loads the joint primarily in compression and allows full thickness handle shaft with cleaner lines. I have broken about a dozen traditional hand tools in the last 3 years at work, all shattered inside the eye (hammers mostly but a few axes). Could be the crappy fit and wood of today's tools... personally I like modern tool steels and forging an eye into A-2 or S-7 would be a nightmare in my workshop anyway, so I developed a new layout!

mortising the handle and making a rectangle-tang for the bit would be effective too but lots more stock removal, also less torsional stability in the shaft... would like to try it anyway!
 
would there be an option for 6AL4V Titanium handles (at significantly higher cost obviously) in the future?

I have seen 6061T6 fail many times, but always due to mechanical vibration (I used to fab industrial cooling systems). I wouldn't anticipate failure of good aluminum alloy in this application especially this thick, but Ti would still be pretty cool :)
 
I work with aircraft aluminum and that stuff is really tough, wouldn't be worried about it breaking. And thinking about it a butt joint is probably all you need considering the direction of force from properly using an axe.
 
Nice work - you have some really unique looking designs on your site. I wondered why the handle appear "rectangular" but I can see that you do sculpted versions as well.

Cool stuff!
 
Liam Ryan said:
I work with aircraft aluminum and that stuff is really tough, wouldn't be worried about it breaking. And thinking about it a butt joint is probably all you need considering the direction of force from properly using an axe.
Click to expand...

Oh, I agree it should be fine in this application. But I have seen it fail many times from vibration. Lots of cracked mounts and brackets on charge air coolers and radiators. Industrial machines that see lots heavy shaking usually.

A cool idea might be to use an extra long bolt or threaded rod for one of the fasteners. Then use a nut where the head would have been and turn the protruding end of the bolt into a spike.
 
I've been thinking along those lines too for spikes etc but there's a lot going on already and my lathe is still at my old shop...

I'd like a 6-4 titanium handle for the cool factor (although it would feel warmer) and possibly its ability to reduce vibration, but it is very much heavier than aluminum alloys. Some of handles are 7075 t6 which is stronger than grade 2 Ti yet of course much lighter

Daniel I use files to shape the handles from billet so that's why most of the handles are minimally sculpted! Thanks!
 
I was thinking of this problem today and actually thought of something similar, instead of a bolt, turn down some round stock and thread it, but leave the other part as a larger hammer poll, or make it into a spike or what have you. If you use hex stock it would be easier to tighten and would probably look pretty cool too.
I have lot's of aluminum and just got a piece of scrap 4140 a coworker saved for me because he knew I was going to order some good steel for a project anyway.
 
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