Recommendation? Can there be too much patina?

[Square_peg]

What Josh said.

Don't do nothin' to that prototype but preserve it. Maybe mineral oil, Boeshield, or plain ol' WD-40. Use something that can be wiped off in the future. Boeshield is a spray-on wax that can be wiped off later with naphtha or charcoal lighter fluid. It dries so it won't attract dust like mineral oil or WD-40 would.

Someone is currently selling an 'axe wax' made with beeswax and BLO. I make my own with beeswax, BLO and turps, equal parts melted together. This too can be wiped off with naphtha, charcoal lighter fluid or even mineral spirits, though MS is not so good on wax as the others are.

 

[BuddyC]

Ok.. so I don't see what I like to do. I don't care for the overly wire brushed old tools that I see some selling. I like an old tool that looks like an old tool but is ready for work. I've used electrolysis but I've found that simply dropping a crusty old piece of metal in a bucket of vinegar for a few days then cleaning that up by hand (soap, water and a brush or steel wool) leaves a really nice surface. I get the cleaning vinegar at Walmart. It's slightly higher in acid than standard vinegar.

BC

 

[Meloveoldaxes]

I have a couple of ax heads with thick scale on them. What grit sandpaper do you use?

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

I have a couple of ax heads with thick scale on them. What grit sandpaper do you use?

I went back and forth between the wire wheel and emory sandpaper with 220 grit for the thickest stuff then going slowly with 500 grit and a little 1000 grit (Not necessary but I wanted to be careful to preserve the patina.) all on a 1/4 sheet sander. Finishing off gently on the wire wheel again.

 

[Meloveoldaxes]

Thanks for the info!