Making an Axe with a Dovetail Blade

Рет қаралды 489,245

Күн бұрын

In todays video I'll be making an aluminum bronze axe with a hardened steel tip that has been "dovetailed" in place. I was inspired by Black Beard Projects here on KZfaq. Go check out his channel for similar projects!
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Intro 0:00
Making the steel tip 0:13
Hardening the steel 2:15
Making a mold 3:05
Melting aluminum bronze 3:55
Pouring metal 5:06
Grinding axe head 8:00
Making the handle 10:00
Finished Axe 12:42

Пікірлер: 922

@HolosunGodOfOdin Ай бұрын

Man the foresight to cast those tig rods was incredible. Kudos! Looks great!

@Watchyn_Yarwood Ай бұрын

Would have never thought of that!

@williammaxwell1919 Ай бұрын

@Watchyn_Yarwood you and me both

@Hellsong89 Ай бұрын

Nah just experience in both welding with tig and foundry work. One solves a issue of another.

@natedawg3483 Ай бұрын

Because of your I've bought a 3d printer and built a furnace. Thank you, brother.

@SupremeDoge35 Ай бұрын

Because of *you

@robinson-foundry Ай бұрын

That’s awesome! I’m glad to hear it!

@Hoolahups Ай бұрын

@@SupremeDoge35 bro stfu mans just had a typo

@znefas Ай бұрын

@@SupremeDoge35they probably meant to say "because of your videos"

@Mdg87 Ай бұрын

I think he meant to say, "Because of your sick vidz brah, I bought a 4d printer."

@tinman7551 Ай бұрын

The trap for sparks on the grinder is genius, looks so much better than a bucket of nasty water on the floor 🤮. Love the videos 🥰❤️

@lazarusrex9545 Ай бұрын

Yeah, id' love to see a video on ow that was made.

@ValTek_Armory Ай бұрын

looks like simple stovepipe material with a jar added to the end. @@lazarusrex9545

@greerbriggs8421 Ай бұрын

gotta catch the sparks to reuse them later, otherwise it's just a waste

@eccomi21 Ай бұрын

@@greerbriggs8421The spark jar

@patriciusvunkempen102 Ай бұрын

why you so mean to me bucket :c

@becauseican2607 Ай бұрын

The spark collector is genius! This way you always have some spare sparks at hand👍

@anzaca1 Ай бұрын

0:28 3D Printing is a revolution for making casting molds, easily. An accurate, reliable form with little effort.

@The_Envix Ай бұрын

Sand in a crate process never gets old

@TheZombieSaints Ай бұрын

Making the little tig filler sticks out of the same alloy wad a genius idea mate! Well done indeed! 👍

@Sharpbevel Ай бұрын

A bronze wedge would have looked cool but I love this project. Great job.

@Enterprising_Aim Ай бұрын

Bronze wedge, and a bronze endcap for the handle would be nice touches.

@itoibo4208 Ай бұрын

it looks like it needed a groove along the edge of the steel to support it from side to side. Although he did put in that little hoop of steel, this looks like it will 100% move sideways if used as an axe a few times. very good looking art piece, though.

@MisterBones2910 Ай бұрын

@@itoibo4208 The pressure from the differential expansion and contraction of the metals might make it a more secure joint than you'd expect. For example look at the Canadian 2 dollar coin, after some early problems with the center falling out because of just how cold it gets up here were fixed they're generally very durable. Only way to tell would be to make a less-nice one and give it a good torture test.

@itoibo4208 Ай бұрын

@@MisterBones2910 maybe. One common action of an axe is to pull the handle sideways to split things. I feel like this would start coming loose after doing that several times. There are also side forces from just hitting things slightly off. I realize this is an art piece, and it is beautiful, but I would be afraid to actually use it, because it might be ruined fairly quickly. As you said, a test would be nice.

@MisterBones2910 Ай бұрын

@@itoibo4208 I'm a welder so I've got a good amount of experience with thermal expansion in metal, while I can obviously guarantee nothing I'd personally feel quite safe using it. Keep in mind that it's the same sort of pressure joint (not the dovetail, just the expansion part) that holds the head of the axe on the haft, at least when it's cut down flush with the head. The only worry I might have is if the bronze began to deform, but it's got quite a bit of meat to it and I'd imagine you'd notice it happening before it came off and took a bite out of your shin.

@haydenc2742 Ай бұрын

I think the steel really sets it apart...MUCH stronger and can be sharpened much easier than the bronze! Plus the two tone of the axe is incredibly beautiful! Love the shape of the handle and the overall look...DEFINITELY a beautiful piece! Keep em coming!!!!

@TheMaskedArcanum Ай бұрын

I also wonder if this axe would be surprisingly usable since it's not uncommon to use soft steel for the body and hard steel for the blade to get the best of both worlds. I suppose the only issue would be a crack between the two, but that extra loop seems to be more than enough to stop that

@MediocreNed Ай бұрын

@@TheMaskedArcanum I'm more worried about galvanic corrosion, aluminum and steel do not like to be touching each other. Maybe the copper will prevent said corrosion but I don't know enough about metallurgy to be sure.

@TheMaskedArcanum Ай бұрын

@@MediocreNed Looking it up, the steel he used is a low-alloy steel, and likely has an anodic index of -0.85, and apparently aluminum bronze with his proportions might have one around -0.35. That's a 0.5 volt difference, which from what I can gather means it needs temp and humidity control to be fine long term. Aluminum bronze itself is fairly great at being corrosion resistant, but it'd be much lower maintenance if he flipped his ratios since aluminum casting alloys have a -0.95. Then it'd be fit for harsh environments.

@MediocreNed Ай бұрын

@@TheMaskedArcanum So it won't corrode at the dovetail joint like I was worried about but it will be more vulnerable to patina/rust overall? If so, as long the axe is oiled it should be fine, tedious but doable.

@aikonlatigid Ай бұрын

There is no such thing metal like aluminium in the bronze age, it was tin & lead back then

@Darkwolfe73 Ай бұрын

So nice to see someone who still uses old school machinist tools and measuring instruments. My dad was a machinist, my grandfather a carpenter. This video was like watching both craftsmen at once.

@dallenpowell2745 Ай бұрын

That's awesome! We're opposites. My grandfather is a machinist and my dad is a carpenter. It's cool that we both ended up here to watch this beautiful creation come together.

@erikm9768 4 күн бұрын

Man i wont be able to cast metal in an apartment but i'm living that life through your videos

@duanelee6208 Ай бұрын

Absolutely beautiful. I really enjoy seeing young men create not only beautiful, but useful tools.

@angrysheepdog9744 Ай бұрын

The merging of colors and materials plus mechanical interlock is work of art.

@Yaivenov Ай бұрын

Beautiful. It has me imagining a version with fleur-de-lis in place of the dovetails.

@AnthonyIlstonJones Ай бұрын

A most vicious and beautiful idea, I like it.

@donaldlococo954 18 сағат бұрын

What a beautiful axe you made. Walnut is my favourite wood to work. The colors are perfect.

@FelipeBittencourt999 Ай бұрын

It looks beautiful! It's great to see how organized you are with your tools and the attention to detail that you put in each project. Hope to see more!

@benediktpaul157 Ай бұрын

Hi, blacksmith here: I really like the concept! Unfortunately that hardening you did was WAY too cold. The entire piece has to be glowing at least dark red, you can check with a magnet: as long as it is magnetic it is still too cold. Also there is a high chance that the casting got the steel too warm again to retain any hardness that would have been there

@fishman2586 Ай бұрын

I do agree about the quinch temp and you could be right about removing the heat treat with the bronze but I figure with the amount of steel there and the bronze only touching the back it should only temper the back abit and not the whole piece of steel but could be wrong, its possible that using an induction heater to only heat the edge of the steel and harding it after its been casted could work better but youd need an induction heater to get that controled of heat placement

@anvilsbane2196 Ай бұрын

Also a smith, I had the same concerns. It is super cool to look at, but my hangup is our predecessors didn’t make axes this way for a reason. Not saying it CAN’T be done, but alot of work to make it correctly.🙂

@billynomates920 Ай бұрын

oh. that axe looks nice. click. what an interesting video. i wonder if other commenters agree? "hi, blacksmith here, dark red, anealing, glass transition temp, something something" down the rabbit hole i go! 😄

@neil356 Ай бұрын

Only aesthetic improvement for me would be a bronze wedge.

@suprememasteroftheuniverse Ай бұрын

You forgot the most important part that seems goes over all the forging channel's heads: galvanic corrosion. That axe will just crumble to dust but what do I know? Nothing about lame channels and their quest for the daily trend.

@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156 Ай бұрын

Beautiful work, lovely axe head! The dovetail is a great idea. As a woodworker, 2 things I'd have done differently about the handle: 1- use a sturdier wood than walnut, like ash, white maple or hickory, walnut is a bit fragilw if you mean to actually use the axe 2- finish the surface with a card scraper instead of sandpaper, it gives more of a sheen after oiling, whereas sanding has a more "dull/mate" look, which might make sense if meant as a showpiece. 🙂

@zenhydra Ай бұрын

On a handle as short as that I don't think walnut will be an issue, and I don't imagine it's going to see a lot of hard use. On anything longer, or on a tool that's going to be a workhorse, I agree with you.

@Yaboyycrunch Ай бұрын

@@zenhydra yeah i agree, and a lot of things people forget it grain orientation. and if its just a showpiece then this little hatchet is fine but I worry about the eye deforming

@drmusrudloff Ай бұрын

@@Yaboyycrunch that head will be loose within the first 3 uses, the eye wasnt seated properly, it hits the bottom of the handle before even getting snug in the eye, you can see he just push it on by hand

@Yaboyycrunch Ай бұрын

@@drmusrudloff yup

@davek8409 4 күн бұрын

You are a very patient and talented artist and craftsman. The axe is a work of art! Very impressive!!

@Scobragon 12 күн бұрын

That is an astonishingly beautiful axe.

@villiersman951 Ай бұрын

an absolute work of art true craftsmanship at its finest

@theoldcyberguy3299 Ай бұрын

I wouldn’t change a thing. You are an artisan of the highest level. I LOVE this axe and I’m envious of your supreme skill.

@madhukeshnp Ай бұрын

Those pin holes in the cast to make pins/slug to fill in the voids was very thoughtful… loved the idea. Very good.

@eyeofbass Ай бұрын

Next-level craftsmanship. Meticulous attention to detail. Nicely done.

@SethKotta Ай бұрын

New frames need analyzing; click Analyze.

@mattke5etc Ай бұрын

@6:38

@boiboi505 Ай бұрын

New frames need analyzing; click Analyze.

@SethKotta Ай бұрын

@@boiboi505 New frames need analyzing; click Analyze.

@whocares6698 Ай бұрын

If anyone asks us, it was perfect the first time, no problems LOL. Turned out great.

@TwigPB Ай бұрын

Good work! You should try making a dovetail pickaxe as well but have say the left side be steel and the right side be aluminum bronze. Would be cool to see the dovetail "armory" grow

@BenKrejci Ай бұрын

Love the Premiere stabilizer message "more frames to analyze" lol

@sexypeople8036 Ай бұрын

I just want to say, that I appreciate the effort to pre-harden the axe, but there is a 0% chance that it stayed hardened after casting. Especially not when you preheated it as well. But other than that, Beautiful work. I would suggest that you edge quench it with a torch after you cast it. If you’re careful you wont melt any brass. Great work!

@longrider42 28 күн бұрын

I said it once, and I will say it again, you are an Artist, your work is extremely well done. Keep using that brain to think up new and different things to do. Oh, and you have a GREAT work shop.

@roblesmetalart Ай бұрын

Awesome work. I love how you combined 3-D printing, steel shaping, sand casting Bronze, and woodworking into one project. And it looks sooo good. Well done my friend!👏👏👏

@garycornelisse9228 Ай бұрын

That turned out very well. I do watch a lot of videos about projects much like this, and I constantly find myself asking the same question, "don't any of these guy own a milling machine or a router table". Yes, it turned out well with the hand tools, BUT.

@opa_plays_mw5318 14 күн бұрын

Well thought out, and well executed. Love that Grizzly!

@charlesdebarber2997 Ай бұрын

I adore your videos when they drop. Only a few a year, but always top quality. I'm proud of you for how your skills have improved over time too.

@conservative-ku3lz Ай бұрын

What a creative mind, and very practical at that. Awesome job. What a beauty.

@Krazykal 27 күн бұрын

I really like that belt grinder setup, never seen one with a catch tube like that before.

@archangel6497 Ай бұрын

Absolutly amazing 100 times better than that just random damascus stuff. 10/10 great job!

@marshallb9924 Ай бұрын

Just to second what Natedawg said, thanks to your videos, i found out how approachable something like sand casting is. It's one of my favorite hobbies now. I made half the Christmas presents i gave away last year, and I'm making my own tools for the garden now. Thanks, man.

@KenFullman 18 күн бұрын

Great looking project. Might have been a cool idea to construct the handle out of two woods (say Ash and Teak), dovetailed together down the entire length of the handle.

@paulfryman6371 Ай бұрын

dude this video I was kinda suspicious of the thumb nail and then I watched it it was the actual thing you made awesome work keep it up I'm am dropping a sub because of this one

@postopken2789 Ай бұрын

This is definitely my favorite of all your projects on this channel! This isn't too different in concept from the way a lot of axes were made historically, with a mostly iron head and a steel edge forge welded together. Putting the steel in the mold and casting around it is such a cool idea too! The dovetail turned out amazing, and I love how the steel and bronze look together.

@T_B Ай бұрын

What kind of hatchet job is this?!?! 🤣 That dovetail design looks perfect! The device to catch the sparks is damn brilliant!! Someone else mentioned it already, but, it needs repeating: the foresight to incorporate the welding rods in the mold is other-worldly!!!

@filmmaka77 Ай бұрын

Love the project turned out gorgeous! My only suggestion would be some sort of acid treatment on the head. It would make that border between metals pop like crazy

@Dellpodder Ай бұрын

Great project! It's cool seeing how you've expand both your craftsmanship skills and your workshop over the years.

@bruderk4257 Ай бұрын

I've not yet seen something like this. This axe is an absolute beauty without loosing any functionality. I love it.

@analogdigitalphotomusic6098 2 күн бұрын

Really like the way it turned out! Using Damascus for the steel part would’ve looked really nice too.

@rhianGT Ай бұрын

Love the steel tip idea and the dovetails. Beautiful piece.

@Boslandschap1 Ай бұрын

It looks amazing, a job really well done, also really smart how you organised your project I'd say you can really be proud of this project!

@_6ix- Ай бұрын

The dovetail look is so satisfying when it's a perfect fit

@LiquidAudio Ай бұрын

Mate that is phenomenal work, absolutely beautiful!

@maxb3248 Ай бұрын

That is beautiful. A very common way of making an axe is to use a lower carbon steel or iron for the main bofy and a higher carbon steel for the edge, but to use two completely different metals? Never have I even heard of something like that before. Amazing work good sir.

@matthewmarting3623 Ай бұрын

This man knows a thing or two! As soon as I saw your spark collector I started taking notes but I would never have thought to include tig wire in the original mold. It would occur to me that I might want to cast some with leftovers but putting those holes in there is genius.

@jlunde35 Ай бұрын

Wow, more art that function. Beautiful and magnificent.

@davenesbitt7716 Ай бұрын

Great work, I like how you showed the first attempt and then the fix.

@rosellabill Ай бұрын

I smiled at that. When you used the same colour hammer to put the wedge in. Great job

@az80311 Ай бұрын

I love hatchets and axes. Your work is so complex but easy to understand and appreciate. I watched two of your videos in a row and enjoyed the watch. You have a way with metal and wood. Keep up the good work and thank you for the entertainment and education.

@kenneth2512 11 күн бұрын

That's a freaking work of art!

@sethwiles1255 Ай бұрын

Clever idea! Excellent execution! And I definitely learned a few things

@jameselkins7022 Ай бұрын

Absolutely beautiful workmanship. I am an old long time design & production engineer and I am impressed.

@Arceus3251 Ай бұрын

The tick welding idea with the same alloy was brilliant! Worked well. Finished product looked gorgeous too :)

@ronlandis8639 Ай бұрын

I love this. In ancient times, steel was a rare commodity, available mostly as meteorites. So the early mints made dies in a similar manner by making the die faces about 1/4" thick and attaching it to a bronze body. Come to think of it, the engraving tools were probably made similarly.

@subliminalvibes Ай бұрын

Wow Dude, this axe was rad! Thank you for taking us along for the ride. 👍😎🇦🇺

@robandsharonseddon-smith5216 Ай бұрын

Love it. No chance I'll ever do anything like it, but really good to watch.

@GaisaSanktejo Ай бұрын

Love the project and some of your innovative techniques shown here, including your catchment jar below the belt sander, very clever!

@TheMadMonk9 Ай бұрын

It's a BEAUTIFUL effort. Thank you.

@davesalisbury1820 Ай бұрын

Gorgeous craftsmanship!

@SmellyCatCreations Ай бұрын

Sir that axe is nothing but pure beauty and really well made video. Great work 👏🏻

@mrlondon963 Ай бұрын

A work of art. Beautiful.

@travisbowman1529 Ай бұрын

man I really really really like that hatchet you made. Very inspiring for someone like me who has know previous knowledge or expierence in doing that type of work. Glad that it turned out well for you.

@SuperSuperSpork Ай бұрын

A double edge sword with this same design would look amazing

@asdfASdf-qv8jx Ай бұрын

incredible work of art and impressive skills in metal and woodworking.

@TrevorDennis100 Ай бұрын

Seeing you hold the hammer by the middle of its handle @7:45 reminds me of when I was doing my toolmaking apprenticeship at the Ford UK Apprentice Training School at Harrold Hill in Essex. We rarely saw the boss of us all, but he had a workshop at the end of one of the workshops, so one day when walking through the workshop he say an apprentice using a hammer as you were. So he took the hammer and cut off the rest of the handle telling the apprentice that you _always_ hold a hammer by the end of its handle. I am 74 now, and long since retired, and I am not sure I agree with him as I am sure there have been times when I used a hammer that way. On the other hand, I have just counted, and I have fifteen, all different, hammers in my toolbox, so I'd argue that if I found myself wanting to use a hammer holding the middle of its handle, then I was probably using the wrong hammer.

@constantinbarbu. Ай бұрын

i find that swinging a hammer just to hit something hard, its best to use the end of the handle, but for a more delicate or finer approach the middle or any other part is preferable for balance and control, and thats what i do mainly because i dont have many hammers of diffrent dimensions

@Watchyn_Yarwood Ай бұрын

Just out of high school, I worked on a crew building corrals, cattle pens and fences from wood and wire all over Texas and Oklahoma. Try hammering a nail or staple into oak wood and you'll soon learn the only way that's gonna happen is if you hold the hammer on the end.

@vaelophisnyx9873 Ай бұрын

middle for control, end for maximum leverage

@macedindu829 Ай бұрын

Great result. Nice job. It's easy to see your improvement over time, which is really helpful.

@shaneraven2621 Ай бұрын

I think it's a genuine work of art, Bravo!!!

@shinrakishitani1079 Ай бұрын

love the walnut and bronze combo

@Gogsnik Ай бұрын

I love the catch bowl on the grinder, I don't know why they don't all come with one of those fitted, so much more efficient and tidy! :D

@chrisnorton3494 Ай бұрын

Reminds me of a dwemer axe. I need this. ❤ it's a work of art

@rayreus7138 Ай бұрын

the ocd inside my head tells me its wants to see the axe polished to a mirror finish. and always love this kind of crafting video.thank you verry much for the entertainment

@mmartian1969 Ай бұрын

Haven’t seen your channel before, but this axe is gorgeous.

@rdw6156 Ай бұрын

Very simple yet elegant design

@joesmith1574 Ай бұрын

That is pretty slick! I like the difference between the metals, really stands out. Walnut handle is cool, too!

@dwightvoeks9970 Ай бұрын

It's beautiful. Great job and creativity. I was originally thinking those dove tails need to be super precise to get them to fit but nope. Not if you cast them in you don't. Kudos!

@Loran1972 Ай бұрын

Ta hache est juste magnifique !!! Superbe réalisation !!! Bravo… 😉👍

@Webby123 Ай бұрын

Awesome idea on this build, and I think it came out beautiful. After you welded that loop on the edge, steel, I thought next time you could also drill some holes on the inside of the dovetail pattern to lock in the Bronze. I like the added loop for sturdiness, and also a little handle to lift it out of your kiln. Great job, you’re very talented

@kentieber7309 Ай бұрын

another awesome project. love how you incorporated joinery into the design

@HBSpartanIV Ай бұрын

This thing looks SICK!

@carlhitchon1009 Ай бұрын

Beautiful craftsmanship (and design).

@stevefry2972 Ай бұрын

What an amazing project. Beautiful!

@Acidburn1155 2 күн бұрын

Wow that thing's beautiful!

@jasonvandervalk3679 Ай бұрын

This is true passion we need more of this in todays world

@isosev Ай бұрын

Superb work on that handle. Clearly took a ton of time and a lot of patience.

@Metalstacker Ай бұрын

Wow, really interesting project and well made! It looks gorgeous!

@Enigma-Sapiens Ай бұрын

That's beautiful, excellent work! Yes, I would love to see it incorporated into other projects!

@donaldevans5752 Ай бұрын

WOW that is incredible , brilliant job , awesome workmanship .

@martinbisschoff988 Ай бұрын

Beautiful work. Respect.

@scottkelly4020 Ай бұрын

Phenomenal! Love your videos. A true craftsman at work. 👏👏👏

@nigelbeaumont1109 Ай бұрын

Absolutely Stunning

@jamespierce7723 Ай бұрын

Beautiful work great craftmanship .something this nice needs your makers mark.thanks for the video

@cptairwolf Ай бұрын

Some engraving on the handle and etchings on the blade and you've got yourself a museum piece!

@SiTengoTiempo Ай бұрын

Fantastic work. Great to see all the steps and the re-casting.