after seeing a number of people modding the harbor freight fireman's hatchet into a camp axe, small forest axe, Gränsfors Bruks want-to-be, I decided to give it a try. It is not really going to be a how to as there is plenty of that for this. it is just going to show my version of the mod
to start, the hatchet in stock form.
I welded some bolts to the circular steel wedges, with a little contraption, pulled them out
this is the approximate area to cut out along with removing the spike
after cutting it and cleaning it up on my belt sander. I also thinned it out a bit. sorry I forgot to weight it before reinstalling the haft.
here it is complete
I was planning on re-heat treating it to try and get more potential out of the steel, but when I started grinding on it I discovered that it is actually cast steel. upon heating it to just beyond blue and letting it cool it still hard and a file didn't cut any easier. so I left it as is.
Well I hope you enjoy
to start, the hatchet in stock form.
I welded some bolts to the circular steel wedges, with a little contraption, pulled them out
this is the approximate area to cut out along with removing the spike
after cutting it and cleaning it up on my belt sander. I also thinned it out a bit. sorry I forgot to weight it before reinstalling the haft.
here it is complete
I was planning on re-heat treating it to try and get more potential out of the steel, but when I started grinding on it I discovered that it is actually cast steel. upon heating it to just beyond blue and letting it cool it still hard and a file didn't cut any easier. so I left it as is.
Well I hope you enjoy