Tools
Developing a Process to Forge Viking-Style Hammers.
On May 8, 2014 by jaustinOver the last several months I have been practicing the forging of Viking style hammers with forge-welded faces and peens. I am gradually developing a set procedure and a set of proportions to make these beautiful hammers in various sizes. I have settled on using mild steel for the bodies and W1 steel for the
Axes & Straight Blades
Welding a Bit into the Type M Axe
On April 23, 2014 by jaustinI just welded a large, finely-layered, shear-steel bit into the Type M axe I have been working on. These pictures show the bit after it was fixed into a cleft in the wrought-iron axe body, then again after the welding was done. The edge is a little over 8″ long.
Axes & Straight Blades
Progress on a Type M Axe from Wrought Iron and Shear Steel
On March 21, 2014 by jaustinI thought I’d show some pictures of the progress I’ve made recently on a large Type M axe that I’m forging for a good customer from wrought iron and shear steel. A few weeks ago I posted about beginning to refine the wrought iron for this piece. I forged a billet for the axe which
Axes & Straight Blades
“Axe for the Woods”…finished
On February 20, 2014 by jaustinAbove is yesterday’s axe after grinding, heat treating and polishing. I think it’s a good effort in this direction but I would like to widen the poll a bit on the next version. I am pleased with the mandrel I made and am getting a better idea of how closely bound the shape of the
Axes & Straight Blades
An Axe for the Woods?
On February 19, 2014 by jaustinI thought I’d try my hand at forging an axe with an asymmetrically welded eye which might be useful for work in the woods. I made a new mandrel which helped me give the axe a more wedge-like cross section – which I would expect to see on felling and limbing axes. This axe was