My firstest everest bit of blacksmithing

[yeoman]

Made from a railroad spike. When I finished I realised what I should have done to make it more historically accurate. As it is, it certainly still looks rustic...however I'm a bit bummed I didn't plan it better to start with. It won't be used for anything, except perhaps in re enactment or some such.

Took about an hour.





Dave

[Bill]

Well Dave, at least you have achieved something, I gather you're making a hammer head with axe blade from the spike, as they did not so long ago. Don't let it stop you from trying to improve, it's still a good talking point, being your first ever attempt, I just wish more people like you would get up and have a go. Well done........Bill

[g_r]

for a first attempt, id say its pretty good. As long as you still got 10 fingers and no burn-bubbles its a success!

[kimall]

Good start mate how did you make the hole?Cheers KIM

[Steven J]

Dave,

That is an excellent start. Your forging is very symmetrical and punching and drifting a hole of that size and getting it in the middle of the tool is quite an achievement.

It can take me an hour to make a simple hook!

Well done

Steve

[Dennis La Varenne]

Ummm, Dave?

What is it????

[yeoman]

It's meant to be some form of single handed axe, with a hammer face on the reverse side.

I made the hole by first using a punch to puncture halfway through from both sides, then I used what's called a drift, which is a tapered long bit o' steel, to stretch the small hole that I'd punched out to the right size.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Dave

[jindydiver]

Very impressive first go

[aroadik]

WOW !!! you made a shiny builders square out of a rusty old railway spike !!! sorry couldn't help it, first effort-I am impressed, well done, cheers Pete.