Axemaking By Nick Downing

Nick has been active in the blacksmith trade for 25 years, the last 5 years as a full-professional axe smith. His passion are edged tools and axes. The axe is a broad concept and the models range from the traditional tomahawk to the everyday axe.

Nick gives a clear explanation of how the different parts of the axe are called. And makes a distinction between mono-steel-axes and composite or laminated axes.

The most used tools to make an axe are of course a good hammer, the compass, the ruler, the center punch, good tongs with a short sturdy jaw for a good grip while working. And last but not least a hotcutter chisel with a rounded cutting edge. A mandrill or drift for forming the eye should not be missing either. Always use a clean fire and ensure gradual, thorough heating.

Most commonly used steel grades are 415C, 1045, 1075 (C75), C60 (very tough with long life), 5160 and 10XX series steels (simple carbon steels).
Toughness of the steel is more important than sharpness retention. You can always sharpen an axe.

For a punch-and-drifted-axe (mono-steel) made of 415C steel, the tip is to pre-drill the eye for a heavy axe. This prevents uneven wall thickness of the cheeks at the axe body.

When making the wrapped-welded-axe the success factor is the good weld from eye to the end of the cutting edge. When folding the two halves must fit perfectly.
In the cutting plane you often introduce high-carbon steel (C75 etc.) cold. This makes the weld stronger by the confrontation of two different initial flow temperatures but during swelling ultimately the right peak temperature.

Nick gave a clear inspiring and technical talk with a nice explanation of how to forge an axe. You could see that he has chopped with this axe before. We asked for a final cut and we got it.

From beginning to end were 13 very engaged listeners from 8 countries with whom experiences were shared and questions answered.

Thanks to our cooperation with ABANA we will be publishing the recording of this Treff in not too far future.

The next Treff is on August 4.
Start: 19.00 CEST
Room Open: 18.45 CEST