Hawk Drift-Blacksmith Depot

1

12345678910

Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
21,855
I have recently acquired a tomahawk drift from the Blacksmith Depot
(Kayne)

It's cast not machined and has a very rough as cast finish.

For those of you who have used this before, would you recommend polishing it on a slack belt to get the scale and rough texture off before using it?

and

Since it is a cast ductile iron, how much is this going to deform in use?
Is it worth me making a copy of that profile onto a "using drift" and save this one as a pattern or final finish drift?

image_stream2.php
 
It won't hurt to smooth it up some. They usually hold up quite well if you make a large enough slot before you start using the drift. You want to do your drifting pretty hot and don't pick up the drift bare handed after you have used it a couple times.
 
Raymond Richard said:
It won't hurt to smooth it up some.

They usually hold up quite well if you make a large enough slot before you start using the drift.

You want to do your drifting pretty hot and don't pick up the drift bare handed after you have used it a couple times.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ray.

I've read your posts and this page a bunch of times.
http://www.hawknknives.com/forging/_forging.shtml

What size of burr are you using and how long is your slot?
I'm sure I won't copy that exactly, but it helps to have a good reference point to start with and avoid some mistakes.
I found this, is that still good info ?
If I'm going to use a drift I try and make the slot approx. 1 1/4" long by 5/16" wide.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6750265&postcount=8


..and thanks for the advice about picking up the drift, but I've burned myself plenty already and I'm pretty sure that it won't be the last time either...
 
Last edited:
I usually burn myself on the drift first before I put on gloves. Do you already have your hafts? If you do this is what I will normally do. First I'll take a wire and run it around the haft where you plan on stopping. Mark the wire and then measure it. I'll try and make the slot about 1/4" less than what I measured on the wire. The 1 1/4" X 5/16" is just ball park and from my 63 year old memory. The burr I like using the best for making this slot after I have the holes drilled is 1/4" solid carbide straight burr. Those run about around 12 bucks each so go easy on them. Not sure if you caught that I like to do the drifting after I have most the hawk forged. If you drift it before hand the eye is always getting in the way and will get distorted during the forging process. Also after you have the eye drifted put the drift back in and then put the drift in a vise. Then eyeball the blade of the hawk. If its not lining up with the drift your need to heat up the head, put the drift back in the vise and take a big wrench and line the blade up with the drift. A step most don't think of doing until everything is done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top