How do I Build Instead of Buy a Renaissance Battle Axe?
- 1). Draw the shape of a double-edged blade on a steel plate with a permanent marker. You can draw one freehand, or download and print an image from the Internet and trace it onto the steel.
- 2). Put on safety glasses, gloves, apron and heavy work boots, fit the cutting tip to the acetylene torch and light it.
- 3). Cut the blade shape out of the steel plate, taking care to stay just outside the line.
- 4). Grind a bevel on each side of the cutting edges of the blade.
- 5). Finish shaping the rest of the blade with the grinder, right up to the permanent marker line.
- 6). Smooth the steel to a shiny finish with the buffing wheel.
- 7). Cut a 1/4-inch notch about 8 inches deep into one end of the wood dowel, using the band saw.
- 8). Fit the blade into the notch in the dowel, so that the the narrow portion between the two cutting sides is centered in the notch. Leave an equal length of notch above and below the blade.
- 9). Fix the blade in position by driving a nail through the notch above and below the blade.
- 10
Conceal the nails by wrapping the dowel above and below the blade with leather thong or leather shoelaces. - 11
Affix the spike finial to the dowel above the blade. Depending on the fit, you may need to glue it into position with 2-part epoxy.
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