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Dusty One

Dusty One

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Oct 12, 2004
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Wanted to share new Hawk I put together. Purchased head couple years ago at antique shop. Made handle and friends Dad just finished sheath.
8" long head 21" handle she's a big one !
 
Solid looking axe head. Looks like it'll bite well. Personal projects are nicer than purchased ones IMO.
 
The handle is hard rock maple. Watco danish oil clear finish.
No idea how old the head is, there is some sort of mark on it
but can't make it out.
 
If you wish to give the haft a traditional finish, one method is to scorch the maple over the forge or use a propane torch. Continue scorching until you have the shade of brown that you like. You can even scorch darker vertical lines to give it a imitation curly maple look.

After scorching, sand it down lightly by hand with 320 grit sandpaper. With a few coats of beeswax you will have a nice antique looking haft.

I have a picture of a hawk with this finish on my website if anyone is interested.

Stephen
http://www.north-river-custom-knives.com
 
Stephen,
Will have to try the torch on the wood. Have you ever done it when it already has some Watco oil on it?
 
Hello George.

No I have not. I would put some Watco oil on a piece of scrap maple and try it out before I tried it on the haft.

If I remember correctly, Watco oil is mostly linseed oil but I still wouldn't want to breathe in those fumes so please wear a proper mask.

Stephen
 
Stephen,
Thanks for the input I'll have to give it a try on a piece of scrap.
Also nice knives and hawks on your web site will keep an eye on it....
 
This is my first post over here on the A,T, & H forum, and I have to say that is one hell of a nice hawk.
Congratulations on a job well done.
 
Dusty One said:
Stephen,
Will have to try the torch on the wood. Have you ever done it when it already has some Watco oil on it?
Click to expand...

I just torched a hickory handle that I had tried to make blacken with leather dye (first) and then (when that didn't work) I removed what dye I could with mineral spirits, resanded, and then applied minwax ebaony wood stain. By the time I was done I called the resulting finish TOXIC UGLY. My bet is you'll experience what happened to me when I first applied the flame to my toxic ugly haft: the area being torched will burst into flames. :o Just blow it out and reapply the flame to the area and any existing finish will be burned off. In the end I got a very nice black finish using the torch. Just be careful how you do it and where you do it. Use common sense and work with caution. :thumbup:
 
Q: Thanks for the input. I think I may just leave this one the way it is. Will have to pick up some other heads and play around a bit. Do you have better luck with leather dye or by burning them ?
 
Dusty One said:
Q: Thanks for the input. I think I may just leave this one the way it is. Will have to pick up some other heads and play around a bit. Do you have better luck with leather dye or by burning them ?
Click to expand...

Leather dye didn't work to well. Burning worked better, but dried the haft too much imho. I have read that applying india ink is "the best method" of "ebonizing" wood. India ink is next!
 
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