My First 'Hawks

[RatDrall]

I'm done with my CS Norse and Frontier tomahawks. I didn't know what I was getting into when I ordered them, but it was a fun project that kept me busy for a while.

I'm going to describe what I did, then you guys can tell me what I did wrong, and what to do different next time:

1. Sand down handles to match the heads
2. Stain handles
3. Restain handles because I put it on too thick.
4. Rub the stained handles down with oil.
5. Buff the hell out of the handles with cloth rags to rub the oil in, and get any excess stain off
6. I put the handles in the freezer overnight, then the next morning I held the head in my hand and whacked the top of the handle with a rubber mallet to seat the head.
7. I drilled 2 holes in the handle of the Frontier Hawk to hold the paracord wrap in place. I didn't do this on the Norse Hawk.

I didn't know this at the time, but it turns out that the oil I used stripped most of the stain off. It turned out looking very cool, so I left it that way. I also didn't know that the stain would stay on better in areas where the wood was more heavily sanded. Next time I'll rough the handles up real good with some course sandpaper before staining and see how it turns out.

Also, I believe I probably shouldn't have drilled the holes for the paracord in the Frontier Hawk. I'm betting that I severely weakened the handles by doing this. Am I right, or should it not matter?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[vector001]

you didn't say where you drilled the second hole in the handle, brother - i imagine it is high towards the middle of the handle, and i think i see that in on of the pictures, in the middle of the handle.

there are several ways of tying the paracord so that it is friction-locked onto the handle, with no holes, and thereby less-jeopardizing of the handle's integrity.

that's what i do.

find some good knot references - i just played around until i got the way i have done it for years - my paracord is removable - i don't like those tie wrap methods where the bitter ends are on opposite ends of the wrap - mine both go out one end, and i am tying the ends into loops nowadays, because i have a through-tube in my new Gen 1 Mk 4 handles, which replaced their predecessors' metal rings i had in the butt of each one, which was a design feature to hold a lanyard or tie-down....

just mess around and you will get it.

good job on the hawks.

vec

 

[wayne1967]

Nice job. Now don't get into a throwing contest and have someone split your handle.

 

[Dusty One]

Good job, but I agree with vector , you dont want to be drilling any more holes in the middle of the handle. I have found some examples for wrapping paracord handles on the net. Will see if I can find them again and post here.

 

[Snake Dr.]

You've got em looking Good, I really like the Norse Hawk ! Thank's for sharing the picture's,

 

[tholiver]

6. I put the handles in the freezer overnight, then the next morning I held the head in my hand and whacked the top of the handle with a rubber mallet to seat the head.
[/QUOTE]
Nice Hawks!
:thumbup:
Ummm whatsup with the freezer thing? Thats a trick i've never heard about. Whats it supposed to do?

 

[RatDrall]

I figured out how to tie the cord so that I don't have to drill holes, and so that both ends wind up on the same side. Do you think I'll have any problems from the hole that is near the top of the cord wrap on the Frontier Hawk?

Thanks for the replies everyone! I had a lot of fun putting them together, I think I'll order a few more and give some away as gifts...

Nice Hawks!
:thumbup:
Ummm whatsup with the freezer thing? Thats a trick i've never heard about. Whats it supposed to do?

It's supposed to cause the handle to shrink slightly, then expand after you have the head on and allow it to heat back up to room temperature.