Tomahawks from ferrier rasps

[johngalt]

Anyone who has made these, I would love to see them and see the techniques used to make them.

 

[cfry526]

Hi, I made one, and it was not too bad. I have a picture of it on my website, www.fryknives.com under the tomahawks section.

Chris

 

[tnmike]

Did you get the pic I emailed you? They are pretty simple to make. Wrapped around a drift and forge welded to itself.

 

[johngalt]

Yeah I got it tnmike, thanks! When you do your forge weld do you add Borax or any metal powder in between, or just forge it hot together. I have also heard some makers use a small piece of high carbon file sandwiched between the ends as it's folded together. I check around and see that most folks temper the cutting edge and leave the rest of the hawk soft to absorb impact on chopping. All these ideas sound good and I'm going to put some ideas on design on paper, then wood for a template.
I think I over research everything and need to spend more time just doing, but that's me, I'll never be happy unless it's perfect and we all know that will NEVER happen.

 

[mewolf1]

I have'nt made one, but I did buy one from this guy(indirectly)and love it.
http://www.ozarkknifemakers.com/

 

[B Finnigan]

If you are using a rasp then there would be no need to insert any carbon steel since the rasp has more then enough for a hawk. The fold/sandwich technique is for mild steel or iron with a carbon insert for the edge. It can be done dry w/o flux but you really need to have clean even surfaces. If you have not forge welded before I would not suggest you attempt it at first.

I only HT 1" of the edge and leave the rest at a soft spring temper.