Forging a tomahawk from a railroad spike 9. Hardening the steel, and doing a scratch test.

Step by step video of my method to forging a tomahawk from a railroad spike on cheap homemade tools. Geared more for the novice and intermediate smith with a bit of experience under the hammer and a basic understanding of heat treating on simple carbon steels. However there are many videos posted as I did not wish for the beginner who wishes to learn to get left out and lost somewhere on how I forged and finished this thing. see my website www.customknivesbyscott.com for examples of my work and knifemaking slideshow tutorials.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Blacksmithing
• blacksmith
• knifemaking
• knifemaker
• bladesmithing
• bladesmith
• forging
• tomahawk
• railroad spike
• railroad spike tomahawk
• gas forge

[crucifytheswine]

u should get an old tar, or mastic bucket, they are netal, and most roofers would just give you one sir.

[MrIronman1979]

@crucifytheswine I have plenty of cleaned out 5 gallon metal buckets. A plastic bucket will work just fine as long as you don't let your steel touch the bottom when quenching. Metal buckets conduct electricity and I weld for a living, so there is less chance that an accidental arc flash will ignite the oil. My large oil tank is made of Tubular steel and my slack tub is also plastic because leaving water in a steel bucket just invites rust. So thanks for the "advise"..but I have my reasons.

[Lakesideforge]

how did you make the stamp ?

[MrIronman1979]

LOL....uh...very carefully. : D

with some needle files, a belt grinder and alot of patience and finesse....coupled with some hardening and tempering knowledge...and alot of fucked up blanks to teach me what NOT to do.

[TechnicusJoe]

Interessting, as far as ive learned hardening of a master, he told me the best color is cherry red, hardening and then holding it straight up and waiting to she the sky blue lines coming by to anneal it a bit. works really well and then cool the whole thing and you can use water or oil, only with water you need to be a bit faster

[MrIronman1979]

Depends on the steel. Some steels just crack in a water quench especially if under 1/4" thick or so...and warpage is a MAJOR issue....I try to temper two or three times anyways...no such thing as being too safe

[AuzziGamer1996]

whats your forge made out of??

[MrIronman1979]

@flamedrag18 You may have deleted your comment...But I'll respond to your comment anyways. 1st: Who may ask are YOU to call my work "shotty"?. 2nd. If you'll notice, I TEMPERED the whole thing to a sky blue (softer and springy) {in the next video} EXCEPT the cutting edge and point which I left much harder and therefore capable of holding a decent edge with more abrasion resistance..however more brittle. Your comment was in itself contradictive, tempering gives more flexibility, not brittlenes

[crucifytheswine]

no, guard? I am calling osha, lol. u from virginia?

[TechnicusJoe]

Can be, but Ive hardend steel that's under 1/4" without cracks or any warpage.