the bearded axe project

L

loneronin

Joined
Oct 15, 2006
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I found a 700gr hatchet in a market that had an elongated and teardrop "eye" for the handle with a beatiful shape. I took it with the idea of modifying it and obtaining a bearded one with the addition of a steel beard obtained from the leafspring of a truck thick enough to be forged. then I cut away a piece of the bevel of the purchased axe and welded the leafspring. then I forged the new bevel, reshape the profile, heat treated and sharpened it. with a nice piece of walnut I made the curved handle and with a piece of thick leather a sheath to protect the edge (and myself).

for those who want more details I also made a video of the various steps of the transformation:


I will appreciate any of your comments!
 
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I am in no way able to comment on the axe, other than to say it looks like a great project! Do you expect the welded joint will be decent strength? Is that how a bit is usually welded ? How long is the handle, overall size of the head/bit, etc.? Can you post a couple photos of the finished project?

As for the video - I'm sorry - I could hardly watch it. The panned still shots, always in motion is very difficult to watch. Still photos are great to show detail. Panning across them make it very difficult to see the detail you are interested in for very long. Video should be to show things in motion, still shots should be... still. Just my 2-cents worth.
 
Hi TR, the bit can be forge welded if you want to make it in the traditional way or can be one single piece with all the head. I'm not able to forge weld such a big piece so I decided to try to stick weld it. as you can see in the video I chamfered the bit and the head to get full penetration of the weld. Then I forged the bevel of the bit. That was the critical point in my opinion. I was scared that forging the bevel the weld would crack but nothing happened. then I remove the excess material and heat treat it. again, I was a little nervous about the weld at the moment of the quench. but everything was ok so yes, I expect a decent, maybe a good, strength.
Here some photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BnHfUvhJgkiGmezB9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gR3VbjaDeZjGLdjM9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XtvanYmteiE9Zqo97
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ejq3vuCvKRWdcP436

I will take some mesurements tomorrow
 
I would have worried about the weld during quench also! I'm glad it stayed together for you. Your project looks great! I'm sure if the weld has held up until now it will be fine in use. Good work!
 
Thank you so much for you comments guys! I can add that I bring with me the axe in the woods last week-end and it performs very well. it has a convex sharpening angle and also after some abuse on the hardest branches holds the edge. the heat treatments are good in the end. and the shape of the handle is incredibly confortable and safe. I'm really pleased of it.
 
Interesting project. The only thing I'd be worried about is separation after accidentally striking with the lower portion of the beard, especially if any twisting is involved.
Even then I'm sure it would take repeated stress like that to do it.
Good job.
 
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