Making a Tomahawk Drift

by Allen Dyer & Tam written in the May / June 2007 Hammer & Tong

Tomahawk Drifts & Hafts

Tomahawk drifts and hafts present a bit of the chicken or the egg?” conundrum. If you are going to handcraft your hafts then you simply forge a tapered drift to your own specifications. On the other hand, if you are going to purchase standard tomahawk hafts, you should purchase or forge a drift to match the cross section of your pre-made hafts.

How to Make a Tomahawk Drift

Mark Sperry demonstrated the following process for making the handled style of drifts used at the Williamsburg Blacksmith Shop by forging a short length (3" to 4") of larger stock (at least 1"x1") to a longer (about 18") handle of lighter stock (1/2" x 1/2").

Step 1. Scarf.

Reduce the end of the larger stock to slightly more than 1/2" x 1/2" and prepare a slightly convex scarf. Also prepare a matching scarf on the ends of the longer ½" bar.

Step 2: Weld.

Use the “drop the tongs method” to forge weld the ½” bar to the tapered cross section. In the photo Mark Sperry tests the fit of the scarfed ends. Mark recommends going through several dry runs of shifting from the forge to the anvil, matching the scarfs and dropping the tongs PRIOR to heating and fluxing.

Step 3: Shape.

Shape the 3-4" length of heavier stock into a tapered, tear shaped cross section.

Since tomahawk hafts come in from the top of the eye there is a greater amount of taper (1/8" per inch) compared to a hammer drift.

Mark Sperry hint: during shaping, hold one corner of the bar in place with the step of a London Pattern anvil, the “V” notch of a swage block, or even against the cut-off hardy.

Fig. 01:

-- RebStaup - 31 Jan 2008

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