Belt Axe HT

[Stonedog]

So, being a poor school teacher, the belt axe I want, I just cannot afford.

I can afford a Vaughn carpenter hatchet though and from that, with a bit of judicious grinding I can fabricate the belt axe that I DO want!

So, I want it to be fully functional as a chopper and a hammer around camp.

I have a Tim Lively style forge and have made knives....

How do I heat treat a belt axe?  Specifically the Vaughn that am using?

[Ragnarok Forge]

Contact Vaugh and find out what steel the hatchet is made out of.  Post it here and then we can help you get it right.  I make a lot of tomahawks and hatchets and use steels that are moderate in carbon levels and oil quench them.

[Roadkill]

I have a 'hawk we made from a railroader spike years ago. The steel is soft.  Can we harden it some how?

[gudspelr]

Roadkill- You can't harden steel if it doesn't have enough carbon in it.  If it was made after it was annealed (softened) and not subsequently quenched, AND has an appropriate carbon content, you can quench it and harden the edge.  One problem with RR spikes is not all of them have much carbon.  The best to try and use are stamped with HC on the head, for high carbon.

Stonedog- Clay's a great resource for hawks and hatchets.  I've seen several of his in person and they're real nice.  Good luck with yours.

Jeremy

[Roadkill]

Thanks for the info. There are so many here that know so much, and so helpful

[Ragnarok Forge]

Rail road spikes can be hardened a bit.  They are low carbon steels.  You want to harden them with water or preferably superquench.  You can look up the recipe and make it at home.