Tomahawk Round/Square diameter??

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vannmann

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Feb 19, 2011
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I made a few hawks awhile ago, and want to make a few again...I used whatever I had laying around but want to actually order some steel this time and need some input from you guys on diameter of steel...I want to do a few in square stock and a few in round stock. What diameter round and square should I get for a medium sized hawk? I hot cut the hole and use a drift for the handle opening if this helps determining size! Also, any suggestions on decent steel that is workable? I think I used 5160 in the past, but I dont see it offered...so whatever is decent, feel free to recommend.
 
I use 1" square,round will be hard for you to slit and there is more material in the square even if you square the round up,been using 1045 and like it so far-hope this helps--Regards Butch
 
Thanks butch, where do you get your 1045 square from? Is it hard forging compared to 5160?
 
7/8" and 1" work pretty good. We get ours from speedy metals.. A 6" long piece of 1045 is about $4.40..Shipping takes about three days to our door..
 
Ive used speedy before, went smooth. Kentucky, you usually use about 6" per hawk? how much are you compressing to fatten up the head?
 
The wife approved a new set of tongs...which do you think would be best for holding a hawk? I was thinking 1" V tongs for holding 1" square?
 
Either grant sarvers OC 1" v-bit tongs or the same in Tom tongs if your gonna buy em'.
 
vannmann said:
Ive used speedy before, went smooth. Kentucky, you usually use about 6" per hawk? how much are you compressing to fatten up the head?
Click to expand...

We usually start with 6". measure 1 1/2" back from one end(this is for the poll). From that point measure for your cut. Thats around 1 1/4" long. That leaves you about 3 1/4" to make a blade from..Plenty ;)
 
Sounds like a good size, I always end up grinding back that cold shut on the edge a bit, and then draw it out again.
 
I worked at drop forge outfit as a machinist.I helped a friend get some old die blocks to use as anvils he was into hammer forgeing. For this get gave me tomahawk that was made by a friend of his. It was made from a 1 1/2# ballpean hammer head.I gave him some 31/2# hammer heads that we were making for stanley. We made them out of 4140 he lik,em but there was to much steal in that size. Hammer heads make good axe,s because of the steal & because they have a hole for the drift.Machiean shops can be a good place to get some steal they may let you have some "drops" or other scrap cheap. Even d2 or o1 maybe
 
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