Belt Axe Workshop

[Ian Pratt]

  Hey folks  -   I wanted to pass this along  -  there are a couple spots open in Rich Mcdonald's Belt Axe Workshop coming up May 19 -21 at Canter's Cave in Jackson, Ohio.  This is a really fun class where participants ​learn the basics of making a traditional tomahawk / belt axe  - from forging, finishing and heat treating the head to properly fitting, shaping and finishing a handle.
 
  I am posting some of our friend Joe McGee's photos taken during last year's class. You'll find more info (including how to register) under the heading "classes" on the Southern Ohio Artisan Workshops site at  http://www.southernohioartisanworkshops.com/   Please take note that the class fees include your meals and lodging, which makes these classes an excellent value! 


  You can see more of instructor Rich Mcdonald's fine work at  http://www.longknivesandleather.com/   The first couple of photos here are of Rich demonstrating at the anvil.

[JCKelly]

I might respectfully add -

When you are finished forging it, heat that forging up red-hot and let it cool. In air is OK, so is buried in ashes or lime. Just do that one heat & cool cycle before you harden it. The purpose is to refine some of those huge grains developed during forging, and at least put the whole thing in the same metallurgical condition. You will find it lasts much better.

If some heat treated forging breaks and you see little crystals, well, those are the "huge grains" of which I spoke.

The heat of forging also burns out some of the carbon from the surface. I know it sounds paradoxical, but this soft "decarburized" layer on the surface sometimes causes quench cracks. Might be a good idea to grind of a few thousandths in the region you expect to quench.

Thats all, folks

Your P.I.T.A. metallurgist

[David R. Pennington]

Looks like fun!

[homerifle]

It was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to anyone!

[eagle24]

Wish we had some workshops like this closer to me.  Self teaching smithing takes some time and lots of screw ups.

[Ian Pratt]

I just wanted to bump this up, will remove this after the class -  The belt axe workshop is just a few weeks away. There is still room for one or two more in the class.  If you're interested or have questions you can PM me directly, or for more info you can use the link listed above for the Southern Ohio Artisan Workshops website. 

[Robert Wolfe]

I signed up - looking forward to it.

[g2608671@verizon.net]

I like it.  Summer camp for dudes.