handles?

[disduster]

so i have been refurbing a lot of axes lately, coming out great but i'm not pleased with my handles. i sand, stain, and them put a coat of poly on them.
What do some of you guys do. Just sand and finish with teak, tung, linseed oil. i want that smooth finish for a proper stroke. I find the poly leaves kinda of a sticky feeling like a gym floor. I have 3 on the bench right now, i plan on doing just a sand and some teak or tung. Any thoughts, Axe men?

 

[Chris_Norden]

After you've used an axe without poly you will never go back. Blisters are a pain and the reason poly never gets used. Just do it like they used to, linseed oil. You don't need to do it much, sometimes I won't oil them if I fitted the head right. But if you wrap the handle with some kitchen towel, pour on some linseed oil (boiled or raw, it don't really matter but boiled dries quicker) and then wrap the lot with cling wrap and leave for a few days, you'll find it'll do the job. If its a user it'll look grubby after a while but don't worry about it. If its a looker give a polish with carnauba wax or beeswax and you're done. Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[disduster]

thank you, i'll give it all a try and report back. :thumbup:

 

[A Visitor]

Be careful with the BLO and towels indoors- it could spontaneously combust. Never happended to me but I did enjoy the film in ninth grade shop class.

 

[Chris_Norden]

Thanks for pointing that out, I forgot to mention that I put them outside where nothing bad could happen and the wind can dissipate the heat before it builds up. Thanks.

 

[Kentucky]

I usually use linseed oil. I just ordered some hickory hafts today and a new Drift.

 

[Col. Cornelius]

Linseed Oil. Rub it in good with your bare hand to generate some heat and "burn" it into the wood.

 

[backwoodsboy]

scrape wiht broken piece of glass????????? maybe not to sure