How are adzes made?

12th August 2021


	How are adzes manufactured?


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			Adze heads are usually hand forged, although in modern times this can be a little more complicated than hammering a piece of metal into an adze shape on an anvil.

			A specially crafted tool called a power hammer is used by woodworking tool production companies to create adze heads. Each part of the hammer is shaped to stamp a piece of metal in a certain way, as described below.

			Creating an adze head
			Step 1 – Heating a steel blank The end of a long, thick, steel strip, called a ‘blank’, is heated in a furnace.

			Step 2 – Cutting off a billet Using one of the sections of the power hammer, the blacksmith punches off the end of the steel blank to create a smaller piece of steel, known as a ‘billet’. This will be shaped into the adze head.

			Step 3 – Picking up billet Using tongs, the blacksmith picks up the white hot steel billet for shaping.

			Step 4 – Scraping off forge scale The blacksmith rubs the steel billet against a flat surface on the power hammer to remove any imperfections on the surface of the tool.

			Step 5 – Create an eye A rod on the power hammer is used to punch the adze’s eye hole (the part of the head that fits the handle).

			Step 6 – Carefully rehearsed shaping sequence The blacksmith shapes the head and the blade of the adze by inserting it into a series of different parts of the power hammer. An experienced blacksmith can do this with rhythm!

			Step 7 – Drawing out As the blade cools, the blacksmith uses the power hammer to ensure that it holds its shape.

			Step 8 – Squaring off blade The end of the blade is cut off to ensure that it is straight – an uneven blade would not carve wood evenly or efficiently.

			Step 9 – Shaping eye Using another piece of metal, inserted into the eye hole to make sure that it can’t be stamped shut, the blacksmith shapes the eye of the adze to make it look neat.

			Step 10 – Quality check The blacksmith now checks the head for quality. If he is not happy, it will be rejected.

			Step 11 – Sharpening adze When the quality of the adze has been approved, its blade is sharpened on a grinder.

			Step 12 – Coating adze head The head of the adze is coated with a protective layer of paint or black oxide.

			Step 13 – Inserting handle The adze head is then slid onto the handle so that it wedges onto the end.