Recreating an 18th Century Hatchet (The Woodwright's Shop - S06E12 - Toolmaker's Art)

rjdankert

rjdankert

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[video=youtube;_rhcSXAlE98]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rhcSXAlE98&list=PLuqMfMyNaN6PBvFA-n-MmnWeUqkyt2W3x&index=6[/video]

Bob
 
Nice video. You can tell the shop was made to hold two men, not three! Poor Mr. Underhill looked to have quite the job just trying to stay out of the work path and still be visible on camera.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Nice video. You can tell the shop was made to hold two men, not three! Poor Mr. Underhill looked to have quite the job just trying to stay out of the work path and still be visible on camera.
Click to expand...

Full disclosure: I've never forged a thing in my life. I am fascinated by the physical skill and the ability of a smith to visualize the finished item in a block of iron required in hand forging. I've observed it in person and on videos, but realize that is no substitute for actual hands on experience. FWIW, it seems to me that a smith has a specific task to do with each heat and a minimal time to accomplish it. The anvil is close to the forge and the tools needed at the ready.

"Strike while the iron is hot".

Bob
 
Yup! Layout of the shop is critical to efficient forging. You only have a narrow window in which the material is in the right heat range, and you want to work accomplish the job in as few heats as possible, so there's usually no more space around the tools than is needed for the intended number of workmen. You'd probably want more space around the anvil if you were working with a three man team, but the size of the shop and the layout looks to be made for a two-man.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Yup! Layout of the shop is critical to efficient forging. You only have a narrow window in which the material is in the right heat range, and you want to work accomplish the job in as few heats as possible, so there's usually no more space around the tools than is needed for the intended number of workmen. You'd probably want more space around the anvil if you were working with a three man team, but the size of the shop and the layout looks to be made for a two-man.
Click to expand...

Did you happen to notice how the drift was used from both ends of the eye to give an "hourglass" shape to the inside of the eye?

Bob
 
Yup! Makes it easier to fit to the handle without a sharp transition in the wood while still having room for the tongue of the handle to expand into when wedged.
 
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