Just realized why my early axe heads always cracked

Back in the day... we just went by color and feel for the heat. I remember one axe head I made that cracked straight down the middle during quenching. It was because I got impatient and didn't let it cool evenly. That mistake cost me a whole day's work. Nowadays, with digital readouts, it's less guesswork, but part of me misses the old hands-on way.

2 comments

2 Comments

matthew5843h ago

Yeah, that "cracked straight down the middle" is a gut punch. I did the same thing by not preheating my oil enough one time. You really learn respect for the old way through those expensive mistakes.

ben_jenkins613h ago

Costly mistakes like that are brutal. I once rushed through sealing a concrete patio and it cracked within months. Now I never skip the prep work, no matter how long it takes.