hatchet tomahawk

[archer08]

hey guys im just starting a new project im turning a hatchet into a tomawak by removing steel from the blade i originaly saw this on youtube and i know it is possible but do you guys have any suggestions.

 

[fast14riot]

Two questions, what abrasives brand are you going to use? I need to know so I can go buy stock because you are going to be using a lot!

Second question, why?


-Xander

 

[hughewil]

I used a cut off tool.

 

[Crazyotter]

First, you can turn a hatchet into a tomahawk look a like, but it will not be throwable. As an axe is thrown, the head works downwards. I'm on my third handle, and as many throwing sessions, on my roofing hatchet. Its the way the eye is formed.

Cut off wheel on an angle grinder, EYE PROTECTION, MASK, LEATHER GLOVES!!! Watch the direction of the wheel, and stay out of its path.

Get a bucket of snow to keep the metal from overheating and ruining the temper. Change the snow regularly, it'll turn to ice as it melts and freezes. You might need to change gloves too.

Last, use a bench grinder. Once you remove the bulk of the metal, this is the easiest way to finish the metal removal IMO.

Enjoy.

 

[iwouldhurtafly]

Here is an old hatchet I hung on a hickory sledge hammer handle... I think it has that hatchet hawk look...

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Nooooooooooooooooooooo I honestly think it's a really really bad idea. Tomahawks ≠ hatchet, even if modified. They may belong within the same Family but are in separate Genuses let alone Species.

Just my opinion, though. By all means do what makes you happy!

 

[foxx]

Why not just keep it as a hatchet, and get a tomahawk? Neither have to be expensive to be good working tools.

 

[fast14riot]

My opinion is you will lose all benefits of either tool and gain nothing in the end. Hawks are hawks, light, packable, easy to repair, ok choppers. Hatchets are sturdier, better choppers, splitters, and capable of bigger tasks. They can be considered interchangeable, but to try and make one from another is ging to result in a chimera.

If you were tempted to do it properly, I would go this route: forge the cheeks down and draw the edge out. Drift the eye to a hawk shape and using a fullering tool pinch the poll and draw it out. Hot cut the poll off a bit to maintain proportions.

if you are looking for an inexpensive 'hawk, get a piece of used car leaf spring and forge it out to a fan shape on one end and to a point on the other. burn it through a piece of maple or hickory, glue, tie, pin or secure it however you want. Search for some projects on here by member Pipeman.

you can also grind down a piece of leaf spring to the shape you want for this method, but start with a 1/4" thick piece atleast.


-Xander

 

[iwouldhurtafly]

Here is an unfinished hawk that was pretty easy to put together. Ground, welded, and forged from a leaf spring to make one single piece of steel. Really not a lot of effort involved.

 

[abcdef]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1019508-Estwing-tactical-camp-axe-mod

 

[Samon]

I kind of done that, not for the sake of making a tommy, but because the hatchet was beaten up and not being used. I wanted a smaller bearded axe as I already had Gransfors Bruks sfa and decent tomahawks. Did it slowly with an angle grinder and a file

it's a good axe, used mainly on stuff close to ground as it's a beater and has a short handle, but atleast it now gets used/abused!

 

[archer08]

in response to foxx, because im not throwing it im using it to shape traditional bow limbs.