How to Forge a Set hammer.. (steeled face)

[allessence]

This how to covers making a set hammer out of mild steel and forge welding on a face of 5160..

Let me know what you guys think..

https://youtu.be/No11sKGBkPk

[baldy347]

I finally had a chance to watch this one as well,really enjoy these ;many thanks for posting them.
wayne

[Matt Shade]

Didn't have time to watch the whole video yet, but liked what I saw.

I assume you make your own drifts? Do you have a reference on them with dimensions? I have looked at hawk and axe drifts and they are pretty expensive. I'm sure I could make one but haven't come across any dimensions for one either.

[allessence]

I will make my own drifts based on the handle design I like.. or if I want to sell a product like an axe, hammer, or throwing hawk and want the customer to have easy access to handles commercially available..

This eye wasnt really drifted.. drifting a hole is to establish a refined shape based on the shape of the drift..

This eye was round punched to size then flattened . The eye was finished at that point... no drift..

I forged in the chamfer's later in the process than usual so had to clean the eye back up to remove the material that got displaced back into the hole.... it was actually punched, shearing off the displaced material..

With round punching an eye the size of the punch determines the eye size and bevel in the eye..

At some point I will do a video on traditional methods of hammer eye forging vs slot punching and drifting which has been made so popular by a few Smith's with huge followings..

Hope this helps..

[Matt Shade]

That makes sense. I'd have more interest in trying a wrapped hawk or, or laminating a small double bit axe where you basically just weld a long bit in each end and shape the eye, so I'd need a drift of sorts for either of those ideas. I'd probably end up making my own handle too though so I guess I could make the drift however I wanted it.

[allessence]

Hawks are fun and easy to make.. Not sure if you had seen this picture of one I made this past summer at an meet called the Big MOE..

Before someone takes on ax making I suggest refining the process via hawk making..

[Matt Shade]

I did see that, its awesome.

I should try making a hawk sometime but aside from them being fun to throw I don't have much use for one. I keep a 26" estwing axe in my truck and use it fairly often and have ideas about making something like that and fixing what I don't like about it, and I can be a glutton for punishment, so that will probably happen before a hawk

[allessence]

Matt sell them right along with your leather work and other accouterments..

That is a pretty good undertaking.. That estwing hatchet..

Looking forwards to the deed..