Ball peen hammer/tomahawk questions...

[Scott Fulford]

Well I finally got a proper anvil and it has made quite a difference,this is only my 3rd forging project and I`m pleased with the outcome at this point,I started with a small ball peen hammer I picked up from a pawn shop for $2 and wound up with this....

Now,what I need to know is:
-what kind of steel do you recon this is? should I harden it in brine or warm oil?
-should I edge quench it or harden the whole thing?
-where would I get a nice thick dowel of curly maple for the handle?
-do you think I should grind it out more for a better finish or should I leave it "primitive"?
-should I be having this much fun doing something that makes me sweat so much or am I just sick?
Thanks for all the tips you give to us beginners,it`s invaluable.
Scott Fulford

 

[Reg ELLERY]

I am a bit of an amature at axes I have made a couple of dozen with a mate but i was mainly there as the power hammer and the spare set of hands. However a couple of the axes we made snapped at the eye tohard and too thin. I would be inclined to have the eye a bit softer or at least spend more time ensureing it was tempered to take the britleness out of it. We were using large railway spike. My mate was selling them for about $90 as a complete axe and handle. I have made a couple out of hammer heads they are much harder better steel also no problem with the eye.

Yours look great, primative looks good. Make one rough one smooth I'm sure if you had 2 the second one would always find a home.

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Leave it like it is and just edge quench it. Leave the spike soft or it'll break off when it sticks in soft or hard wood. How did you drift the eye open for the handle? Or did you just forge out the bit and spike and lesve the eye alone? Good job anyway.

 

[Scott Fulford]

Max,the eye got deformed while I was forging it,I used a steel spike to round it back out again,actually it was an oval to begin with but I think the round hole looks more traditional.I was thinking I should edge quench it also.
Bossman

 

[Lynn]

Drifting the eye has been the problem with me. I gave up on one I was working on because of that. What I did was take an old leif spring that was 1/2" by 3", upset the center, then tried drifting the hole. I finally got the small drift through but it took so long that I gave up. Suggestions?
Thanks, Lynn