Garden hoe head

[Stormcrow]

This was commissioned by a Zombie Squad member as a present for his sister. Most of the forging was done with Gunnhilda, my homebrewed power hammer. I started with a piece of new leaf spring stock, forged out the neck and spread out the preform for the socket. I actually used math to figure up the size of the socket to fit a regular hoe handle with a bit of shaving on the handle to ensure a tight fit.

Then I rolled the socket and cut the hoe free from the parent stock.

Then I spread the blade out and thinned it down.

Because the neck got forged a bit off-centered when I forged it, the blade came out off-centered. I trimmed it more even and ground the edge bevel in.

I stamped my touchmark on the blade, the first time I've done that on a hoe. Then came the part of the process that is most difficult for me, bending the neck into the appropriate angle. If the angle's off a bit, it won't work very well.

Then I hardened the blade and neck in commercial quench oil.

After that I tempered it in my kiln.

This morning after pulling it out, I drilled a hole and forged a little nail to make sure that it stays on the handle once it's fitted.

And now it's off to its new home, in time for Christmas.

 

[Boxer Bill]

James,
May I suggest taking advantage of my free inspection & testing of all your future projects. My lab will subject every knife, sword, axe & garden tool to a series of stringent field(my backyard) tests(chopping fire wood & limbs) to certify both edge holding & handle comfort before being released to your customers. I'm particularly fond of bowie knives, by the way! Merry Christmas! Bill

 

[Dan Pierson]

Well done! As it happens I was just re-watching your Gunnhilda video where you're holding one of
those and wonder just how you made them.

 

[messerist]

Very cool!

 

[jonathan creason]

Very cool, James!

 

[Stormcrow]

Thank y'all!

Sure, Bill, but I have to charge a small insurance fee for each test piece. The rates vary depending on the item to be tested.