Install Steel Bit

[Red Owl]

Some years back I bought a brass pipe ax. It is a poor pipe and a poor ax. In any event there are a few of these that have had a steel bit added. The bit is often dovetailed in place. I am wondering if I should try such a modification. I would make some sort of filing jig but even then I might just mess things up. Has anyone done such a thing and how did it work out?

 

[TDM]

Personally, I don’t think it’s worth the effort. The strength won’t be there.

 

[DiMarco_Mercantile]

I agree with TDM. The brass will still be significantly softer than the bit, and it may end up deformed after very little use. I’d keep it as is, and use it only for smoking or a neat wall hanger.

 

[rich pierce]

It looks cool but pipe tomahawks as said above are not for chopping. The challenge is to file the dovetail and the bit perfectly flat. That’s very hard to do. Easy to end up with bad gaps. In general I’d make the steel blade minimally thinner than peen the brass till it binds in place, then file both to match.

 

[Red Owl]

Thanks to all- my big concern was if I could ever dovetail the thing and get a good fit. Well somebody else's Christmas present.

 

[RLD090646]

This is one I did many years ago. Have not had any trouble with it as concerns the bit. The eye is not tapered so I put a wedge in the top of the handle to keep it tight. It smokes just fine also.

 

[tenngun]

Such was a weapon and not a tool. Smaking a human body it’s unlikely to deform even if used on the head. Using it to butcher an animal also would probably be safe. Chopping wood enough to see you through a cold night, or just building a shelter is another story.