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View Full Version : General Metalworking Pattern Welded Felling Axe



RobertG Burns
10-21-2013, 2:04 PM
I wanted to share a recent project that I have been working on, I have been trying to make a wolf's tooth pattern axe and this was my first attempt which was a disaster on the side of the pattern but it still turned out to be a nice axe. This axe was wrapped and welded with a body of mild steel and an edge of 1095 and 15n20 with a central core of 1084 giving the edge about 32 layers. The head is 8 1/4 inches long and the edge is a little over 6 inches, with the weight of the whole axe sitting at about 4 pounds. The handle is hickory and measures 35 1/2 inches long. All comments are welcome thanks for looking.


Oh also I did take photos step by step on the forging of this axe head so if anyone is interested in seeing the process I can post that in a separate thread.




http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s526/scottishsmith24/1385664_674309749260241_784392850_n_zps20ebc446.jp g (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/scottishsmith24/media/1385664_674309749260241_784392850_n_zps20ebc446.jp g.html)


http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s526/scottishsmith24/1377499_674309482593601_917420167_n_zps0df99227.jp g (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/scottishsmith24/media/1377499_674309482593601_917420167_n_zps0df99227.jp g.html)


http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s526/scottishsmith24/IMG_1454_zpsf5f2f6df.jpg (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/scottishsmith24/media/IMG_1454_zpsf5f2f6df.jpg.html)


http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s526/scottishsmith24/735625_674309365926946_729799980_o_zpsabb6cd40.jpg (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/scottishsmith24/media/735625_674309365926946_729799980_o_zpsabb6cd40.jpg .html)

Charles McKinley
11-02-2013, 11:22 PM
That is a piece of art!

I look forward to forging with you again.

RobertG Burns
11-03-2013, 12:51 AM
Likewise Chuck it was great having you at the classes this summer. Thanks for commenting on the axe it really has become one close to my heart and hard to sell.

Dennis Ford
11-03-2013, 7:20 PM
The axe is very impressive. Your comment on it being close to your heart and hard to sell makes me wonder if there is much market for hand made axes. I appreciate the skill and labor that went to it but can not see myself spending the kind of money it would have to bring to make your labor worthwhile. Hopefully others feel different and will pay handsomely for this type of work.

RobertG Burns
11-03-2013, 8:44 PM
Thank you Dennis. The custom or hand forged axe market is an interesting one. No different then the custom knife market or the chisel market. Many would say they could get a set of chisels from home depot for $5 and then people will go to Rockler's and get a single chisel for $100+ dollars. It really comes down to what you want to get out of your tools and how much upkeep you want to do. This axe was more on an experiment and out of the realm of my normal axes, normally a felling axe of this size even hand forged would top out at about $375 and smaller axes could even be at $100. This price range for a normal hand forged axe is not out of the realm of possibility for most wood workers or outdoors/ axe enthusiasts. In fact those prices are comparable to Granfors so while yes more expensive axes don't really have a place for anyone but very specific customers the normal hand forged axes tend to do much better sales wise due to there higher performance and affordability. It's shocking to me how no one I have ever met that uses an axe even bothers to check if it's sharp no one or at least most people don't think axes are supposed to be sharp and the difference between a store bought axe and a hand forged axe becomes worth the price difference.