Are you Properly Taking Care of Your Axe? How Professional Axe Makers treat handles.
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Dan
When my blacksmith buddy makes my axes, he says to use boiled linseed oil, "Every day for a week, every week for a month, every month for a year, and once a year after that." So far, no issues!
👍 I did that with my Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet years back. So far, so good.
So, every day for one year, then once a year.
@papajeff5486 that seems a bit excessive.
Regarding linseed oil on a new axe handle ; the classic mantra of , . . . "once a day for a week , once a week for a month , once a month for a year" . . . Was what I was taught.
Don't forget the inside of the lanyard hole. Also mentioned below, warming the oil will help it to soak in. Personally, I like Tung oil.
When I was young I put a generous coating of linseed oil on a new wooden ladder as per my father’s instructions and I remember it stayed sticky for months. By the time it was no longer tacky the ladder had every piece of dirt, grass and debris adhered to it. 🤦♂️. Proof there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. 😏
Linseed oil takes a very long time to dry, as you found out. Boiled linseed oil has drying agents added so it doesn’t take long.
Many thin coats are better and faster to dry than one thick coat.
I started using raw linseed oil instead of BLO, because I have little kids who like to help out, and most hardware stores BLO is just cancer in a can. The additives that make it dry faster are pretty toxic. So I use raw linseed oil, which takes a few days to dry, but I feel a lot better about my kids helping out. Wax/oil mixes, like beeswax and mineral oil, are nice for finishing handles too. Not as "weatherproof" as linseed oil, but I like the feel of a wax-finished handle a lot better than an oiled one.
Hi! By "kids helping" you mean helping with axe related chores or with saturating the handle?
Yeah, SkillCult made a few videos on raw linseed oil vs boiled a few years back. Definitely changed my mind a bit seeing all of the stuff like lead in it.
Also, I have quite a lot of old handles to oil, and I don't know how much oil to buy.
How much oil do you use aproximately on a regular axe handle?
@@michalurbanful Both, I suppose. They are young, and I try to let them help when they want and when they can safely help.
@@weakest_serb If you ask ten different people, you will probably get ten different answers, so there really isn't a right amount or right way. I just wipe on linseed oil until it stops soaking in, then let it sit for a little bit and wipe it down to remove any excess. Then let it sit in the garage for a few days or a week, and wipe it again to remove any oil on the surface. An old dry handle is going to soak up a lot more than a new handle, a handle that has been oiled or waxed before won't need much at all.
@@Factor85Labs Understood!
A great video SIR! Very informative.... Thank you!!!!! Take care of yourself.............
If I may suggest. Running a bottle cap down the front and back of the axe handle before application. Gives the handle a little more grip.
Whenever I'm doing a new axe I put some BLO on a paper plate or something and put the eye down on the plate. Let it sit over night until it absorbs all it can by capillary action. They can take more that way then you might think.
BLO is what was used to treat M1 garand stocks. Tung oil was used, too.
I think the 50/50 treated axe handle color is prettier too than the untreated raw wood handle.
Your 50/50 mix sounds like a great solution to apply to my homemade walking sticks and canes, also.
Thanks for making this short but educational video, Dan!
Tung oil is great also mix whit turpentine
As a furniture maker and green woodworker my personal favorite is from solventfreepaint. The Organic Raw Linseed Oil is freaking great. Doesn't smell like the big box store stuff, penetrates deeper, and lasts a whole lot longer. Works amazingly on all North American hardwoods.
The challenge with raw linseed oil is that it takes much longer to cure or polymerize. The BLO has “drying” compounds added to speed up the process.
Dan, I listen to you because you are a fine teacher, limiting your lessons to stuff we can really use, stuff we want. There is generally no BS. I’m medical and have read good research that indicates over and over, prevention is at least ten times cheaper than repair. Thanks
An alternative FYI -- Another option I like over the Linseed oil/turpentine mix is a 60/40 mix of Tung oil/D-limonene -- if you buy the pure forms of each, chemical toxicity is vastly reduced and it polymerizes in the wood like linseed. I personally prefer the finish of the Tung oil blend (and it smells good -- citrus 🙂). Downside is that it typically costs more than the alternatives. I sure appreciate your "get it presented" format, and also the behind-the-scenes work it takes to condense good content into meaningful videos.
Linseed oil it. After it dries, steel wool it. Work great for axe, hatchet, hammer handles, and guitar necks
Boiled linseed oil is literally raw linseed oil with mineral spirits and/or turpentine mixed in to make it dry faster.
Thanks dad, didn't know that. So glad you told me ... Uuuuh us🥴
More than that
Yep. Just added drying chemicals.
@@izaacbanks3337 Yep. There is way more in it than just that. There are numerous toxic chemicals in it that require you use protective equipment while handling it.
I love my G.B. Small Forest Axe.
Birchwood Casey's "Tru Oil" is damned good for tool handles also. All Weather, Soaks in deep, and hardens to rock like finish, in ware and toughness. Just saying if good enough, tough enough, and pretty enough for a multi thousand dollars firearm.........
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your information and adventures
1 part linseed, 1 part turpentine. Family has been using it for generations, grandpa was captain of the logging camp.
Today, before I saw this, after following the advice of a gardening channel for treating wood and wooden tools and metal, I ordered one gallon of raw linseed oil. I read that it dries slower and is food grade. Your mileage may vary.
I have a labour-saving tip:
Get a fiskars axe
My grandfather used to spray 50/50 BLO/turpentine under all his cars. They would smell like pine and never rust.
Same with my dad, learned it from some old school farmers way back when.
Did your Grandfather live in New England? just curious how it stands up to calcium chloride? AKA road salt
@@chriskeating5926Sorry Chris, I grew up in Sweden, but I’m guessing it’s similar. The turpentine allowed the mixture to seep in and the BLO hardens it to a rubbery film. After application he would drive the car on a dusty dirt road. I think that was supposed to add to the protection, or just cut down on the smell 😂.
@@jsollien127 Thank you so much for the advice... No need to be sorry have a great weekend
Ballistol
I prefer "Watco Danish Oil" ....they have many stains, I prefer Dark Walnut.....sand the handle to get rid of the laquer, (or scrape it off), or prior treatment and use 80 Grit sandpaper to open the pores of the wood....apply several coats, let it dry well between coats.......OnWard.......
Wise advice. I used this process to treat my home-made hardwood nunchakus.
Your mix of BLO and turpentine is exactly what I used on my Tipi poles and it works very well, they were in the weather for several years with no issue!
I like to add a little pine tar to mine, nice smell, a bit darker and a little more grip I find
Great video as always Dan. Just a plug for safety to recommend you touch on boiled linseed oil precautions with regard to disposal of the used rags. Spontaneous combustion is rare but still possible under the right conditions. 🔥 Take care brother!
This would be great on wood frame bow saws too.
Use paper towels and flush them so they don't burst into flames. Build linseed oils
Very timely video for me. I have several axes and hammers and maybe i have overdone the BLO. I was thinking about wearing cotton gloves and giving them a good rub down. Is fine steel wool too aggressive? I see here someone suggested using a piece of brown paper (bag). ?????
I'm a big fan of Danish oil for the texture it leaves on the handle.
I have had rags spontaneously combust from linseed oil. I now use paper towels and lay out flat to dry before disposing of them. Do not throw a soaked crumpled rag into a bucket and leave it!
Finishing a maple stock for a Kentucky Rifle Kit and using mineral spirits to thin pure Tung Oil. Have used BLSO straight out of the can and put it on til it wouldn’t soak in then wiped it off and it dried well on a shovel handle
Scoutmaster tip. Blood circle (if you can touch someone within 365°) and are yard. A roped off area to split wood, keeping other people out of harm's way. Be blessed
The way I would do it with linseed oil is to give light coatings for days. Clean the handle, get some linseed oil in a rag and give it a polish, let it dry (I'd let it rest until the day after), give it a pass with fine sandpaper, repeat until you're happy. On a new handle I would probably do just a couple of coats, for old handles a few more, you see when old dried handles will start looking better.
I have been forced to use mineral oil while in the field and it does a good job. Some friends use olive oil but being organic, it gets rancid after a while. Linseed oil is the best and next time I will try your trick of mixing it with terpentine. Where I travel to, linseed oil is not always readily available so I have to improvise, adapt and overcome.
Wicked awesome video Dan...🗣 thank you ! I always learn a new sliver of Knowledge watching your videos! SLAINTE '
I’ve made a small amount of 50/50 blo and mineral spirits and do a few first coats on the handles. Then straight blo. And then after that a 50/50 mix of blo and beeswax. Been good so far.
Turpentine 1 qt
Boiled Linseed Oil 1 qt
Pine Tar 1/2 pt
Japan Drier 1/2 pt
Ace stuff dude
In addition to the BLO I also heat my handles over a low fire or my stove top and rub 100% beeswax on all my handles and then I buff it in with a soft cloth. The handle grabs a touch more but it's still soft and smooth and even more secure and element proof.
You can also mix BLO and melted beeswax to make a wood finish wax kinda deal
Will have to do that with the new ax I bought
Thank you
Fantastic content 👌 👏 👍
Very good video.
Thanks for sharing brother
I have 2, one is some kind of plastic (Fiskars) and the other is a camp axe with a fiberglass handle.
However I would like something lighter, a tomahawk of some type with a wooden handle. I would probably just use mineral oil like on everything else.
Good tip thanks
Another good mix is BLO and pine tar from your local farm store or online. If your hand doesn't slide smoothly over the wood in a few days rub it down with fine steel wool. A piece from brown paper bag will work if there are nibs sticking up from dust after drying.
Isn't turpentine essentially pine tar that's been super distilled? (Genuine question)
It is a more distilled form. Historicly North Carolina produced turpintine thus the Tar Heel moniker. @@OffBitterShane
@@OffBitterShane pine tar is one of the products remaining after turpentine has been distilled out. Turpentine is being used as a solvent to assist the BLO being absorbed into the wood.
@@tommoore7602 ahh, cool, thanks for the info!
Learned something new thank you. I only used linseed oil never thought about adding turpentine
I stink on sharpening I use a disc any ideas
Nice 2 x 72s.
🙌
I have a real question here. Would that be another fireststarting method in an emergency to scrape your treated ax handle like fatwood?
probably work, but it would have to be an "EMERGENCY" before I ruined my axe handle....
The turpentine doesn’t cause any issues with the head when you soak it for the 24 hours?
Hey Dan.
We got a lot of raw linseed oil here, both cold pressed and warm pressed. Boiled can be bought but it’s not nearly as common.
What is - in your opinion - the reason to use boiled linseed oil and not raw? I’ve read, that the raw linseed oil penetrates deeper into the wood.
Thanks.
Love your vids, btw :)
🇺🇸🙋♀️🐴🍃 Great tip, thank you!
What else can you use that 50 50 mix on. Can you use it on a canvas tarp?
Great tip on axe handle care Dan! I have a ? about buying an axe though, what's the most reasonable price for one at say, an estate/yard sale?
Dam good info !! Nice job on video . 🇺🇸🇺🇸🪓🔪👍👍
I'm curious to know what your opinion is regarding mineral oil. I've been using it for decades on my wood handle scaled forged & stamped cutlery for kitchen food prep use. Apparently the mineral oil is inert & is even safe for human consumption for certain conditions. It has never become sticky on the wooden surfaces. Comments?
Also a little longer, more leverage on the swing?
Nice trick cutting the cordage, but, what did you cut the sticks with?
Dan, appreciate the video. What brand and type is the unfinished axe you're using?
Im not saying its right or wrong but we always used old motor oil
Any danger in breathing the mixture?
What is the length of the handle that was already treated? I’m working on a couple axes and wondering what length handles would be a good option.
Any less pain in the butt ways to get the lacquer off other than sanding?
I just scrape it off :)
Question Dan;
How do I retreat my handle? Do I just sand it down and reapply or just reapply over what I've got applied now
If it’s been treated over the years you just reapply some more oil. No need to remove the older finishes.
@@W_H_K okay thanks 👍
The treated handle is also longer. And in my experience any handle under 20 inches is basically usless. At least where i live in upstate new york. Waste of weight that could be carrying a more usefull tool. I chose a 2.1lb vintage hults bruks agdor boys axe profile on a custom 22 inch handle. And it turned out to be an absolute dream of a pack axe. Perfect for camping trips lasting 3 to 10 days. For more long term i would prob bring a full legnth. And i know everyone is gung ho about boiled linseed oil. But i prefer to spend the extra money and get tung oil. Just my 2 cents.
I like this video because i would never mix chemicals like that without extensive research that its save.
One of my handles gets sticky and weird. Anyways, don’t judge me.
Something that works much better is Tung oil.
Is that true more expensive
Do we have to remove the axe head for treatment or can we soak the entire axe handle, head and all?
You don’t remove the axe head. That’s assuming you axe head is fitting tightly to the handle. Apply with a rag.
@@mikepainter2135 I will rephrase my question.
Will it harm the axe head to soak it in the solution with the handle?
@@kenkneram4819 I use linseed oil without thinning it. It won’t hurt your axe head. Just thoroughly wipe it off or it might leave a gummy film.
@@kenkneram4819.. I think it would bloat the wood inside the handle and would eventually detach. I wouldn't soak it, just swipe with the linseed rag, you'll get a good seal.
@@kenkneram4819 No, it won’t harm the steel. However, there’s no need to soak for any longer than a few hours maximum.
The end grain is what soaks more oil than the sides and you want that so it doesn’t dry out and crack.
Be careful with your linseed rags. DONT starts fires.
Make sure to frequently kiss your axe.
ALL my carbon steel outdoor tools get GUN BLUED & coated with PASTE WAX (getting hard to find here) then you heat it up some to set the wax
WARNING! use a HEAT GUN or let it dry good before TORCHING it!
If you want a food safe alternative to gun blue try the Ferric Chloride method to induce black oxides on knives and other things that may be used for food.
Black oxide is still rust but it’s protective rather than destructive like red oxide.
It would be wise to watch a few videos on how it’s done.
I’ve been doing it for years and most carbon and tool steel go black to dark grey and it lasts a very long time and looks very nice. The only way to remove it is sanding.
🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓
Great educational video,
But why not just buy a steel handle axe instead?
Better to have an axe then to make axe of yourself......Or something like that.