Where do you buy materials for an axe head?

T

TigerBlades

Joined
Sep 21, 2021
Messages
52
Hello. I've been making knives for a while, but I wanted to make a traditional axe. Problem is, I can't find the steel blocks you'd use for the head. Any place to buy them?
 
Nobody sells the blocks that I frequently see on YouTube? I would just do a welded axe, but I don't have welding equipment or knowledge
 
Seriously, I'd just keep working on one knife design, one style, one steel type, until you have decent fit and finish.

I wouldn't sell anything.
( especially mentioning here violates the rules)

il_1588xN.3437411761_e3ky.jpg
 
If you're near the portland area, Metal Supermarkest should have what you're looking for, IIRC. If not them, one of the steel suppliers in the area should.
 
12345678910 said:
Seriously, I'd just keep working on one knife design, one style, one steel type, until you have decent fit and finish.

I wouldn't sell anything.
( especially mentioning here violates the rules)

il_1588xN.3437411761_e3ky.jpg
Click to expand...
Sorry, I'm not following, who made that?
It wasn't quite ready for the handle to go on...
 
T
Online metals has tool steel in 4140, 4142, O-1, D-2, A-2, and others in any size and thickness you want. 1X3

Online Metals | Buy Metal Online | No Minimums or Cut Fees!

Buy metal online - Free MTRS & No minimums or Cut Fees - Same day order processing when placed by 1pm! Shop Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Copper, Brass, and more!
www.onlinemetals.com www.onlinemetals.com
 
12345678910 said:
Seriously, I'd just keep working on one knife design, one style, one steel type, until you have decent fit and finish.

I wouldn't sell anything.
( especially mentioning here violates the rules)

il_1588xN.3437411761_e3ky.jpg
Click to expand...
Also, didn't mean to break any rules, didn't know there was much. That was one of my earlier knives by the way.
 
TigerBlades said:
Hello. I've been making knives for a while, but I wanted to make a traditional axe. Problem is, I can't find the steel blocks you'd use for the head. Any place to buy them?
Click to expand...
If you are equipped to forge the axe it isn't usually too hard to find a source of 4140 bar in a good size for axe and hammer heads. It isn't necessarily the best steel for axes but it is fairly decent.
 
TigerBlades said:
Also, didn't mean to break any rules, didn't know there was much. That was one of my earlier knives by the way.
Click to expand...
That etsy page is showing several.

That's my point, they are all "earlier knives" I wouldn't put my name on them, let alone try to sell them to people.


Forged does not mean they need to look rough, neither is it an excuse.

Try stock removal for a while.

Look at these photos every day, study them every day.
See the differences between yours and theirs.

Knife Gallery,

Our KnifeGallery. com website: This 'sharpbycoop' site serves as my BUSINESS website only
sharpbycoop.com

Custom & Handmade Knives

Your place to find information about custom knives.
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com


Post your photos here and ask for a no holds barred critique.

Custom & Handmade Knives

Your place to find information about custom knives.
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
maybe they will be too nice, but maybe they will teach you.




That's another point.
"Tiger blades" sounds like a chinese or pakistan sweatshop.

Once you have learned to make a quality knife, use your own name.
Your name is your brand.

There is a ship ton of actual info in the stickies.
If the links are broken, search further.
There is a tremendous amount to learn, but it's all here and it's all free.

Work on drawing sketches.
You can't create what you can't visualize.
 
Last edited:
TigerBlades said:
Also, didn't mean to break any rules, didn't know there was much. That was one of my earlier knives by the way.
Click to expand...

TigerBlades said:
Please explain for my knowledge what you mean by that.
Click to expand...
I didn't have the context of whose work it was. I don't want to go too far off topic, and you didn't ask for a critique, but that particular piece doesn't look clean enough in profile or bevel grind to be competitive if you look at the maker's sales section here (depending on the price). However, if you have a market for your work, then you can ignore the comment.
 
12345678910 said:
That etsy page is showing several.

That's my point, they are all "earlier knives" I wouldn't put my name on them, let alone try to sell them to people.


Forged does not mean they need to look rough, neither is it an excuse.

Try stock removal for a while.

Look at these photos every day, study them every day.
See the differences between yours and theirs.

Knife Gallery,

Our KnifeGallery. com website: This 'sharpbycoop' site serves as my BUSINESS website only
sharpbycoop.com

Custom & Handmade Knives

Your place to find information about custom knives.
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com


Post your photos here and ask for a no holds barred critique.

Custom & Handmade Knives

Your place to find information about custom knives.
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
maybe they will be to nice, but maybe they will teach you.




That's another point.
"Tiger blades" sounds like a chinese or pakistan sweatshop.

Once you have learned to make a quality knife, use your own name.
Your name is your brand.

There is a ship ton of actual info in the stickies.
If the links are broken, search further.
There is a tremendous amount to learn, but it's all here and it's all free.

Work on drawing sketches.
You can't create what you can't visualize.
Click to expand...
I have to sell some (for a what they cost to make and 10-20$ extra), to be able to afford more materials.
 
TigerBlades said:
I have to sell some (for a what they cost to make and 10-20$ extra), to be able to afford more materials.
Click to expand...
To follow up on what others were suggesting, I'll also suggest taking some time to seriously think about the above comments questioning the quality of your current knives.

I understand needing some way to pay for the materials and tools required to make a knife, and a lot of us have gotten to the point where this hobby actually does pay for itself. However, as a new maker, are you confident that your knives have the correct heat treatment for them to hold up to tasks they will undoubtedly do? Are you confident that your handle design is comfortable for a variety of knife related tasks? From the picture, it looks like that would work as a shiv, but it's really hard to tell if that blade would be useful as a whittling tool. a prybar, a letter opener, slicing bologna, etc...
If you can find buyers willing to pay you for that style, congrats. But another thing to think about is are you going to want that knife around in a couple of years as an advertisement of an example of your work and skills?
I'd suggest getting a part-time job and saving the money you make for knife making. It's been said that the way to make a million dollars as a knifemaker is to start with 2 million dollars. It's not quite that bad, but I'd bet that a majority of the makers on this forum who make knives you drool over have a "paying job" that supports their knifemaking, and not full-time makers. I wouldn't have gotten here or been able to equip my shop if I didn't have another job that paid the bills.
 
weo said:
To follow up on what others were suggesting, I'll also suggest taking some time to seriously think about the above comments questioning the quality of your current knives.

I understand needing some way to pay for the materials and tools required to make a knife, and a lot of us have gotten to the point where this hobby actually does pay for itself. However, as a new maker, are you confident that your knives have the correct heat treatment for them to hold up to tasks they will undoubtedly do? Are you confident that your handle design is comfortable for a variety of knife related tasks? From the picture, it looks like that would work as a shiv, but it's really hard to tell if that blade would be useful as a whittling tool. a prybar, a letter opener, slicing bologna, etc...
If you can find buyers willing to pay you for that style, congrats. But another thing to think about is are you going to want that knife around in a couple of years as an advertisement of an example of your work and skills?
I'd suggest getting a part-time job and saving the money you make for knife making. It's been said that the way to make a million dollars as a knifemaker is to start with 2 million dollars. It's not quite that bad, but I'd bet that a majority of the makers on this forum who make knives you drool over have a "paying job" that supports their knifemaking, and not full-time makers. I wouldn't have gotten here or been able to equip my shop if I didn't have another job that paid the bills.
Click to expand...
They are pretty cheap, considering free shipping. You can tell which knives are Gen 1 as I call it, and Gen 2. I am in Gen 3 at the moment, making more premiumly finished knives. Making a 10 dollar profit is not much to question. As I make more beautiful knives, the price will not be as cheap. I have also destruction testing my knives, and it survived well. The heat treatment is not a concern of mine.

It gets heated up to non magnetic, dipped in canola oil, then after that tempered at 500F twice. The heat treat is good. I plan on making the grinds more slicy (Gen 3), but this is my humble beginning. Also, how do you upload pictures?
 
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