Steel for hawks

[Stuart Willis]

I have been using 5160 and ball peen hammers for most of my tomahawks. Would like to try a different steel and wondering what other people were using,any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Paul Savage]

I use 1/4" x 1 1/4" mild steel flat stock and do a wrapped eye construction with a pc. of 1095 inserted for the cutting edge. and all is forge welded.
Paul

 

[B Finnigan]

I use 1" 1080 wrecking bar pieces and 1" square 5160. There are quite few steel options with hawks and they all seem to work good.

 

[mete]

4140 will work well.

 

[Stuart Willis]

The 1" square 5160 is what I have been using. I have tried 4140 and liked it. Was wondering if 1045 would be good enough

 

[Justin.Mercier]

from my limited knowledge of metals for blades / edges, 1045 would probably be about the minimum carbon content for something to actually be hardened and hold a decent edge. I'd assume it would probably be sufficient, but this is not from experience, just from book knowledge of having read about the properties of differnet carbon steels.

I'm sure someone else here can expand upon this.

 

[Raymond Richard]

The 1045 would work just fine. There's alot of steels that will work. I've made a few out of rebar. Here's one I made out of a piece of S-5 jackhammer bit: http://www.bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=3788&websess=19537437988109 I've made several out of older jackhammer bits but alot of the newer bits aren't anywhere as good.

 

[Stuart Willis]

Thanks Raymond, That is one beautiful hawk. I have a little 1045 so Iwill try it

 

[birdog4]

If ya like living on th edge, try cable bruce

 

[Stuart Willis]

If ya like living on th edge, try cable bruce

Bruce here is one I have tried with cable

 

[J.Marsillo]

Nice hawk Stuart, I never saw one made from cable before.