I welcome all fans to work with steel. Today we will look at how to make a durable kitchen hatchet knife. Such homemade you can thinly chop tomatoes, as well as chop vegetables, bones and more. The author used Nitro-V steel, which contains nitrogen and vanadium, as a starting material. Such steel is very durable and it is perfectly protected from rust and oxidation. Thanks to vanadium, steel can withstand large bending loads. Quite interesting, the author got an ax handle. If you are interested in the project, I propose to study homemade work in more detail!
Materials and tools used by the author:
Material List:
- steel of the Nitro-V brand;
- paper, pencil (for a template);
- stainless steel foil;
- brass pins or the like;
- material for linings (G10, wood or a combination thereof);
- epoxy adhesive;
- pins for the handle to your taste;
- oil for wood (if the linings are wooden).
Tool List:
- tape cutting machine;
- belt sander;
- an electric furnace for hardening;
- a liquid nitrogen;
- drilling machine;
- sandpaper;
- vise and clamps;
- grinding stones;
- polishing machine.
Hatchet manufacturing process:
Step one. Ax Profile Making
First of all, we draw a template of the future hatchet on paper, and then cut it with scissors and transfer it to paper. Now you need to cut exactly such an ax out of metal. The author copes with the task quickly and simply with the help of a tape cutting machine. Such a machine generates little dust, does not form smoke and practically does not heat the material.
Of course, due to complex sections, the profile cannot be cut perfectly. Then there is still grinding, you need to process the profile on a belt grinder, and files may also be needed.
Step Two Heat treatment
First you need to harden the steel, wrap the blade in stainless steel foil and send it to the oven. Steel should be heated at 1065 ° C for 20 minutes. Then we remove the ax and blow it with carbon dioxide until the temperature drops to 110 ° C.Then the author took an ax out of foil and performed low-temperature hardening in liquid nitrogen.
In conclusion, the author performed a two-stage tempering of steel at a temperature of 205 ° C. That's all, we produce the final grinding on a tape machine.
Step Three Lining
We make lining for a hatchet, the author has them combined, from different materials, everything looks pretty interesting. Of course, it’s better not to use wood for a kitchen ax, it’s best to use synthetic materials such as textolite, G10 or the like. Such a handle will not be afraid of water, and will look great during prolonged and harsh operation.
We cut two pads, grind them together so that they turn out the same. We also drill holes for the pins. It is customary to use brass as pins, this metal looks great and is resistant to oxidation due to the presence of zinc in the composition.
Step Four We finalize the ax
The author polished that area of the ax where the fingers will be close, this will protect the hand from scratches. Just round the sharp edges with sandpaper. Also, if desired, we apply a pattern on steel by etching.
Step Five Assembly
We install the pads on the handle, the author used epoxy glue. We clean all glued surfaces well with an emery cloth to get scratches, for which the glue will cling. We collect the handle, tighten everything well with clamps and leave the glue to harden.
In the end, it remains to cut off the excess and form the final profile of the handle. We grind the handle well to a smooth state and cover it with a layer of varnish or epoxy glue. If wood has been used, it can be soaked in oil.
Step Six Sharpening and testing
The hatchet is ready, we sharpen the blade. Good steel can be sharpened to a razor condition, while the blade can hold the sharpening for a long time. For sharpening, it is customary to use grinding stones and machines based on them. A whetstone can be watered with water, so it will grind much better. Some craftsmen also use sandpaper for sharpening, but it needs to be fixed on a level plane, for example, glued to glass.
That's all, now the hatchet is ready. The author of the homemade product easily cuts paper, so the ax turned out to be sharp, despite its massiveness. The hatchet also looks great, in the hands of the master it will be a great tool. On this project can be considered successfully completed, I hope you liked the homemade work, and you found useful thoughts for yourself. Good luck and creative inspiration, if you decide to repeat this. Do not forget to share your ideas and homemade things with us!
