Cast Hawk heads (Pix added)

[Leatherbelly]

  I acquired a pair of hawks from Smiling Fox Forge awhile back and have been filing for what seems forever trying to get the casting marks out. The extruded marks come off easy but the indented ones are truly a pain!Anyone ever work on these castings? I really like the shape of these heads but the work involved making them smooth seems a bit much.Of course, I picked the roughest one to start with.Thanks in advance.  Roy

Will post pix as soon as my batteries charge.





I added the un-worked one for comparison.

[Robby]

LB, If it is the hammer pole axe, it is cast from an original, rust pits and all. This is the second one I have done, and I use files to maintain the original shape and a little 1" rubber disc sander that fits in a dremel type tool, I cut little sanding discs from self adhesive discs of different grits I get at a auto parts store. Even so It is a lot of work, but worth it, I think it is the nicest styled cast head out there. In fact I was grinding on it about half an hour ago, and thinking of calling the folks at Smiling Fox Forge and suggesting they take one, fill all the rust pits with bondo, smooth it out, and use it for an upgraded version of the original pattern, for guys that want a 250 year old axe, that looks like it was made yesterday, HAH!!
Robby

[Ken G]

This the one?  If so, I agree with you guys.  It's the best hawk head out there.  Good looking design and very functional but what a pain in arss to work.  Fortunantly i have a belt sander for getting most of it out of the blade but the rest is 100% elbow grease and file work.   

[Leatherbelly]

    Yep, that's the beast! Sure is a great looking skull buster tho! I think in about four months I'll be able to post," My First Hawk"!  I've "hand bombed" about an eighth inch off the blade and still have lots of inclusions showing. (a sixteenth off each side) They will have to stay for fear of making the blade too thin. I've really come to appreciate the work of the masters like Ken,Charlie and Chuck building these hawks. Thanks for the inspiration!

[LRB]

  That is really, really nice Ken. Most excellent!

[lew wetzel]

love that hawk ken!!!i looked up smiling fox forge and checked out the head in question and it looks as if you would have alot of work to get it nice....a very nice casting but a little rough....

[Berks Liberty]

That is nice!  Can anyone recommend other places to get parts to make a hawk.  I've been looking at making one myself.  Thanks

Jason

[Ken G]

Thanks guys!  It is a wonderful head but a lot of work.  It would be nice if someone cleaned it up and made a new casting.  I'll buy several I'm sure.

R.E.Davis is one of the best places to get hawk heads and handles. 
http://www.redaviscompany.com/triggers.html

Ken

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Does anyone have any pointers on installing a steel bit into a brass head, other than just be careful.

Coryjoe

[P.W.Berkuta]

Hi, Leatherbelly, I went looking for that hawk head but could not find it - did I need to type the "magic word" at smiling fox forge?? any who here are a couple I have been working on - the heads are from R.E. Davis -



Still a fair amount of sanding but not as bad as yours .

[angus]

Beautiful work and detail to all who have posted!
Questions from the gallery. Are you guys hardening the heads or leaving them soft as cast when finished? What method are you using to finish the head?

[P.W.Berkuta]

Angus, since I only use them as decoration I do not harden them and as for finish some I rust blue some are "French Grayed", and some are a combination of different products - depends on how I feel that day

Beautiful work and detail to all who have posted!
Questions from the gallery. Are you guys hardening the heads or leaving them soft as cast when finished? What method are you using to finish the head?