Trying something new

Jon Buescher

Well-Known Member
I’ve made several wrapped eye axes successfully and had some failures along the way. I’ve been watching YouTube a lot over the last couple years (sorry @EdCaffreyMS I know how you feel about YouTube experts.) I spent some time looking for drifts and such to make a traditional style axe/hatchet and whooooowiiiieee! They $pendy!!! So I went to Sun Rental in Walla Walla and got a smallish jack hammer bit that was shaped like a meat tenderizer hammed, 2” cube on the end. Forged it out into an axe eye drift that fits this 26” axe handle then punched this axe eye and started drifting the eye, I am going to split the bit at the end and forge weld A 1084 bit from some .270x2” stock. Looking for feedback here so start yelling!
 

Attachments

  • D82C4DD4-3159-4730-9846-C39737F6A575.jpeg
    D82C4DD4-3159-4730-9846-C39737F6A575.jpeg
    601.3 KB · Views: 14
  • FE2A23BC-50D2-4914-83CF-C6E2C76FDD38.jpeg
    FE2A23BC-50D2-4914-83CF-C6E2C76FDD38.jpeg
    214.9 KB · Views: 16
  • 3F6F4806-02A1-4AA5-96F6-FA149DF0D155.jpeg
    3F6F4806-02A1-4AA5-96F6-FA149DF0D155.jpeg
    620.8 KB · Views: 15
That is a great start. It is not easy to punch and drift large stock by hand especially by oneself. I would start slowly working the cheeks now to thin them some. I am sure you know this but keep an eye on straightness of the eye and the general alignment of the piece It can get away from you quickly. I know because I have ruined more than one.
 
Something else to mention. If you enjoy general forging too take a look at Black Bear Forge’s youtube channel. He knows his stuff and it is well worth listening to him.
 
Back
Top