How to: hawk head refinishing w/pics

shappa

shappa

Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
3,556
Hi guys. Seems like there's been a few threads about how to refinish/blue a hawk head.
Well, here's how I did it. It may not be the best way but it did get me the results I wanted.

The hawk is a KRJ that I got at a really low price. I re did one about a year ago and forgot to take pics for you guys. This time I got pics and refined the process a little bit.

Let's start...

A pic of the hawk head as I got it. Also a pic of it with a bit of flour on it to show off the initials a little bit better. It's pretty rough looking. But Kieth make some fine hawks designed to be affordable and still highly functional.

hawk033.jpg


hawk034.jpg


hawk037.jpg
 
Next pics...

I took it to a 60 grit belt on my 2x72 grinder. I could have done the same thing on my cheap sears craftsman belt sander inverted in the vise.
I just moved up thru the grits till I hit 220. I took my time. I wanted some of the forge marks to remain. I just like the look. I could have spent some more time and money on belts and got it down to a completely smooth surface if I had wanted it.
Not a great pic but you get the idea.

hawk039.jpg


Then I started hand sanding...a lot. 220 grit the slowly up thru the grits till I finished at 1500. I gave it a buff but I don't think it really made much difference.

krj001.jpg


krj005.jpg
 
Here it is getting ready for the blueing process.

krj006.jpg


The head was cleaned and then rinsed in cold water. I used rubber gloves so I wouldn't get hand oils on it. I handled it by the eye anyway.
Here's a shot of the head after the first coat of blueing. Apply blueing, wait 30 seconds then rinse in cold water. The head got a light rubbing with a superfine steelwool pad between applications.


krj007.jpg


And after the second coat.

krj009.jpg


krj010.jpg
 
I stopped after the second coat. I like the look of this level of color. The first one I did was a bit darker.
Here's some final pics of both of my KRJ hawks.

krj011.jpg


krj013.jpg


The makers mark now...

krj015.jpg
 
A couple of more pics...

krj020.jpg


krj022.jpg


krj021.jpg



Now go back and look at the fisrt pic and see what i started with. A lot of work but worth it.
 
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