Cleaning up cast tomahawk head?

[Art Caputo]

Here is mine done a while back. I draw filed the casting lines and rough areas, the Maroon Scotch Brite. Treated the steel with Kiblers aging finish(below) , then encased the head in a white vinegar soaked paper towel for a day to create some discolor and mild rust ares. Stained the handle with Lancaster Maple stain.

 

[NorthFork]

Thanks for all the kind words. Yes, I'm likely going to work the blueing back with some steel wool as it looks too new and modern right now. As for the book it's sitting on, I just got it in the mail the day I took the pics. Started reading it last night. I hope to be able to continue work on the handle this weekend or in the coming week after work. Like to get this project done soon.

 

[LRB]

I got 90% of all pits out. 100% of any casting marks. All file work. I then progressed on to steel wool. I gave up on any thoughts of wet sanding very early on.

If rust was a concern in wet sanding, use WD-40, or a similar product, instead of water.

 

[NorthFork]

@LRB

Oh no, rust was of no concern. It was that I felt in the end I could work more efficiently with files then sand paper in this one instance. I started, as advised, with wet/dry paper and water but an hour later was getting no where fast. I think the hawk head was ultimately just to rough for sand paper. I'm pretty sure the head was advertised as investment cast but it almost was as rough as sand-cast. Not quite, but nearly as rough. I was a bit surprised when I got it.