=FAIL=

Picture this: a co-worker hands me what I think is going to be this massive, Viking-worthy axe, ready for some epic hand engraving. Turns out, it's a tomahawk-sleek, rugged, and way cooler than I expected. I'm pumped to engrave it, sketching scrollwork designs and even posting videos of my plans on social media. I was definitely in for a surprise... this tomahawk's steel is hard as a diamond, eating my gravers for breakfast and turning my clean lines into a hot mess. I spend hours sharpening my tools, only to break tips or watch my graver skid like it's on ice. What should've been a fun, free project to beef up my portfolio becomes a battle I'm losing. I'm barely making a dent, and the time and frustration are piling up. So I do a little reasearch and come to find out, even pro engravers say some materials are just too tough to tackle. They advise testing a small spot first or knowing exactly what you're cutting into before committing. This lesson could have ended very differently had this been a commision piece or something like a family heirloom. In the end, I'm waving the white flag on this one. I'm not finishing the hand engraving-it's just not worth turning my passion into a grind. I'm calling it: the tomahawk wins. And you know what? That's okay. Every project teaches me something, and sharing this defeat feels like a win in its own way. I think there are still plans for this Tomahawk, but I'm done fighting this fight. Walking away from this one. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯