I recently posted some pictures of my LG 50#. Since then I replaced the dies with combo dies from Littlegiant Hammers. The ones on the hammer were poorly made replacements that would not stay in place. The new ones are so much better. Today I pounded out the start of a machete for a friend. It started out as a leaf spring. I HTed a piece and it got hard and showed a very fine grain, after I shattered it. After I play some with it, I think it will work out well.
In the pictures, you can see a leaf of the spring. I cut it in half, then forged the machete shape. The tang got a little too long, but I have plenty of material to work with. The last picture shows it after cutting off about 2 inches from the blade tip and bevels partly forged in. It started out over 3/8 thick and is now about ¼. This took about an hour, including getting my forge up to temp. Still learning about the hammer, but it sure BEATS swinging a hammer by hand (pun intended). It was 98 outside today.
Chip Kunkle
In the pictures, you can see a leaf of the spring. I cut it in half, then forged the machete shape. The tang got a little too long, but I have plenty of material to work with. The last picture shows it after cutting off about 2 inches from the blade tip and bevels partly forged in. It started out over 3/8 thick and is now about ¼. This took about an hour, including getting my forge up to temp. Still learning about the hammer, but it sure BEATS swinging a hammer by hand (pun intended). It was 98 outside today.
Chip Kunkle
