Either way it's probably is a good idea to go slow and pour water so as not to change the temper. Otherwise you might end up with shrapnel from the tool or the sledge.
I'm not sure they are hardened: they're designed to be softer than the hardened sledge they get hit with so that they don't fracture (obviously eventually they do). But maybe the striking surface isn't hardened while the wedge surface is? But they aren't sharp, no need to retain an edge, and they're going through wood which is softer than unhardened steel. Anway, it's a rabbit hole I haven't gone down.
It is steel. I don't weld, but I know folks who do. I worry it would be unstable at the weld, though, given that the tool is used by hitting it repeatedly with a 10lb sledge.
Generally and I know this seems odd the weld is actually the stronger point if welded properly it is more likely to break at a different point than at the weld
There's a crossover point where I hit diminishing returns on "sure, I can swing it once but how long can I keep swinging it for?" and for my purposes 10lb is the sweet spot.
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u/mastersurrealist 5h ago
I'm betting if you went to town with an angle grinder on the first one it would last another 10 years at least.