how to assembling a stone tomahawk

How to Assembling a Stone Tomahawk.

Tomahawks were used as tools and weapons by many of the native tribes that inhabited North America prior to its colonization. These general purpose instruments have enjoyed recent popularity in the form of tomahawk throwing competitions and tournaments. Whether you plan on using your tomahawk to learn a precision based skill or displaying it as a decorative piece of historical memorabilia, you can make your own 'hawk much like the Native Americans did so many years ago.





Soak the wood handle in boiling water. Take the slotted end of your handle and put it in boiling water to soften the wood. This will make it easier to attach the head of your tomahawk.

Test the softness of your wooden handle with your pliers. If the wood bends with relative ease, you should be able to mold it around your ax-head.



Prepare to attach your ax-head and handle. Take your length of sinew and cut a length about 10" to 12" using your scissors. Using your pliers, carefully bend the slotted end of your handle outward to make room for your ax-head. Be sure your wood does not crack when doing this.

You should keep boiling water at the ready. Heat will go out of your wooden handle at a fairly quick rate. To maintain the flexibility of your wood, you will need to keep it hot.



Test your fit. If the notch in your stone isn't deep enough or the slot in your handle is insufficient, you simply won't be able to fit your stone on your handle. Once the wood is soft, check to see if the head fits and make adjustments if you find it necessary.

Your stone ax-head should fit firmly into its slot and should require some amount of pressure before it pushes into place.



Apply your epoxy. This will help to hold your ax-head in place and make your tomahawk sturdier. Place some epoxy in the slot of your handle. You'll want to keep a rag close by soaked in a solvent, like alcohol, so that any excess or errant epoxy can be cleaned before it discolors your tomahawk.



Affix your ax-head to your handle. Now you should be able to slide the notch of your stone into the slot of your handle. This might take some effort on your part. Be firm, but don't exert so much pressure that you crack the handle.

Once the stone is in place, bend the ends of your slotted wood back inward to snugly hold your stone ax-head in place.

Wipe any epoxy on the visible parts of your stone or handle with your solvent soaked rag.



Wrap your sinew around the head of your tomahawk.In a figure-eight pattern, wind your sinew very firmly around either side of your tomahawk handle and the top and bottom of your ax-head. Your sinew should cross in an X shape on the flat sides of your stone.



Tie off your sinew. You may also want to apply a little bit of epoxy to your sinew to ensure it is firmly attached to your tomahawk. After you have wound the ax-head and handle sufficiently in a figure-eight patter, wind the remaining sinew around the base of the ax-head, and tie it off with a sturdy knot of your choice.



Wait for your epoxy to dry. While waiting, you can begin cleaning up, but you should also take a moment to look over your tomahawk. If you notice any dripped epoxy, wipe it clean with your solvent soaked rag.



Add finishing touches. Now that your tomahawk has finished drying, feel free to add any personal touches. You may want to add feathers or beads, or maybe even draw designs on the head of your tomahawk.



Tips.

Always follow proper safety procedure when using tools.

Allow all glue/epoxy to dry completely before handling your tomahawk.



Warnings.

Exercise caution when using metal cutting or welding equipment. You should always observe proper safety measures when using these kinds of tools.

Be careful when using a grinder or stone cutting saw. These kinds of equipment can cause serious injury if not handled properly.





Things You'll Need.

Alcohol (or epoxy solvent; optional), Cold water, Epoxy, Eye protection.

Grinder or stone cutting saw, Head protection, Pliers, Pot (for boiling water).

Respirator or mask (for stone dust), Sandpaper (to polish stone ax-head).

Scissors, Sinew, Stone (for ax-head), Wooden handle.