I do mine like this just to have it.
public static void registerToolCrafting()
{
GameRegistry.addShapedRecipe(new ResourceLocation("obsidian_axe"), new ResourceLocation("OTA_Tools"), new ItemStack(OTA_Items.obsidian_axe), new Object[]{"ii ", "is ", " s ", 'i', OTA_Items.obsidian_ingot, 's', Items.STICK});
}
and then call it in the main class you use to run the mod
@Mod.EventHandler()
public static void init(FMLInitializationEvent event)
{
Obsidian_Crafting.registerToolCrafting();
}
the JSON file is structured like this
Sorry if this wasn't helpful for your meta problem.