forge welding adventure

[freekforge]

So in between work and drill i have been experimenting in the shop. I finally got a san mai knife to work out so i decided to try a tomahawk next and that worked out and it kept growing. the tomahawks were cool but an axe would be awesome so i knocked one out. Im sending several tomahawks to the sand box early next year with a couple soldiers i met during training which is unbelievably fulfilling. Any way here are a couple tomahawks and the axe.

 

[Black Hand]

Nice job!
If I was in the sandbox, I think I'd prefer a spike tomahawk - a stout spike ~3 inches long with some good mass behind it...

 

[freekforge]

Thanks i just finished another. I sent 3 over there last year 2 with spikes one without. They were more modern ones though so i wont post them here. My girlfriend carried one of my tomahawks when she was in A-stan and she said when ever they had to dismount the hawk went on the front of her vest. "Indigenous personnel" respect a tomahawk more than a gun from what im told. Im making one now that is going to be given away to a soldier in my unit at next drill. Its awesome seeing my tools get used by such amazing people.


Im working on a pierced eye tomahawk now that will have a 2.5-3" spike.

 

[freekforge]

And heres the one i finished up tonight.

 

[smo]

Very nice work :thumbsup:

 

[BillinOregon]

You're a good man, FF.

:applause:

 

[Kansas Jake]

Nice work and thanks for serving.

 

[freekforge]

Thanks all. Im having a ton of fun learning how to do all this. Started another one last night that im liking. I'm getting better at hammering to shape and not having to do stock removal. the last 2 I made the only stock removal i had to do was putting the edge on them.

 

[Crewdawg445]

I carried my hawk when I passed through the old middle E.... Thank gawd I never used it. Nice work there brother!

Might I add for a good strong weld try a flux, borax and a little iron powder.

This will help keep oxidation at bay and ensure a good strong weld, oxidation kills a good weld! This was obviously very important when making gun barrels!

 

[freekforge]

Awesome! were you carrying a traditional tomahawk? if so do you have any pictures of it?

One of the conditions of me sending a tomahawk with someone is i want pictures of them in country. The wear on the one i sent with my girl friend was pretty cool to see.

I use straight 20 mule team borax as my flux. Dad has been forge welding for years and he never bothered adding stuff to it so neither do I.

The small one pictured above has a place in my BP hunting set up, i tend to prefer a smaller tomahawk. My grandmas friend made me several shooting bags and one of them has a loop on it that fits the tomahawk perfectly. More importantly it also has a place in my search and rescue gear.

 

[Black Hand]

For general utility, I prefer a hammerpoll belt axe. I've used mine to clear brush, make/pound pegs, dig holes (hammerpoll end only), build shelters, carve trenchers & spoons, clean/butcher small game and cut/collect/split firewood.

 

[wattlebuster]

Good looking hawks :thumbsup:

 

[Crewdawg445]

I'll conjure up some, I don't post pictures in uniform so it's a no go there.

I'll see what I can find! :thumbsup:

 

[freekforge]

Storm blew our power out at work and they sent us home early so i had some shop time. Knocked this one out of a farriers rasp a coworker gave me.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Very nice, good storm!

I've got about eight farriers rasps just waiting to get thrown in the forge!

 

[freekforge]

these rasps were huge. they must have been for the budweiser clydesdales or something. over 2ft long and at least 1/2 thick in the center i have been getting 2 tomahawks and a small knife from each one however im on my last one so i need to shop around