Keeping an axe like new?

W

Wabajack

Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Messages
867
Hey all,

I found a place near me that has two Gransfors Small Forest Axes for $50.00 (Canadian Dollars) each :eek: so it’s quite a deal. I am planning on buying both of them, one to use and the other to replace it when I eventually wear it out. Here’s my question, in 20-25 years-ish will the back-up axes head still be nice and tight like the day I bought it? I am worried that the wood might contract over time. And what precautions should I take, and what do you suggest for a rust preventative?

Any help would be appreciated. :)

Thanks in advance,
~ Wabajack
 
My grandfather kept his axes in a bucket filled with sand and motor oil, he said it would keep the head rust free and the handle swelled and tight to the head.

I guess that wouldn't be the best option for a brand new ax, but it would work.

Frankly, I would just buy one of them and use it till it died, I bet that would be a long, long time. In 25 years, just buy a new ax. Really what are you going to save, 30 bucks over the span of 25 years of storage.
 
keep a lite coat of oil on the head and wipe the wood down with tung oil occasionally it should last a lifetime
 
I'm with shotgunner on buying a new one in 25 years. Alternately, you could buy both and give one away to someone who will appreciate it.

That having been said, if you are going to buy both and store one, I would give it a good soaking in raw linseed oil every once in a while. Note that linseed oil, if left on rags, will spontaneously combust... so dispose of them properly!
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
Note that linseed oil, if left on rags, will spontaneously combust... so dispose of them properly!
Click to expand...

Hey, does that go for boiled linseed oil as well?

Either way, thanks for that. I always keep the rag on top of the can so I dont' need to dirty more rags. Guess I should stop with that.
 
I seriously doubt you'll wear the first axe out. Keep it sharp and clean. 30 weight motor oil does a good job keeping the head axe free of rust, and the sawdust/oil bucket is a workable solution if you are so inclined. Some folk like to pin the axe so that the head will never work loose although this requires drilling a hole in your tool. Old timers in my neck of the woods used axle grease to protect the axe head. Don't leave an axe in a stump or on the concrete floor of your garage. You'd be amazed how quickly they can rust!
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
According to Wikipedia, boiled linseed oil will also spontaneously combust.
Click to expand...

That would defy a few fundamental chemistry laws. Such chemicals are however so each to ignite that almost anything can set them off, even sparks from friction which is the cause of most "spontaneous" combustions.

As for the axe, 25 years is a long time for the wood to stay stable. Plus in that length of time I would really hope you learn to hang an axe head. Quite frankly, unless you constantly bang the axe into rocks, you are likely to never wear it out.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
That would defy a few fundamental chemistry laws. Such chemicals are however so each to ignite that almost anything can set them off, even sparks from friction which is the cause of most "spontaneous" combustions.
-Cliff
Click to expand...

http://www.sintef.no/content/page1____7975.aspx

Quoting.... "MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The conclusions from the investigation may be summerized as follows:

Wood coating oil products (wood oils) containing drying oils may along with other commonly used products cause self-ignition by oxidation of the product. Oxidation is the main chemical process causing self-ignition.

Porous rags soaked in wood oils will only cause self-ignition and fire under special circumstances.
This fact is also confirmed by the rather low number of registered fires each year due to self-ignition by chemical processes (approximately 10 fires in residential buildings and 10 fires in other buildings), compared to the very high consumption of products that are capable of causing this specific type of self-ignition in addition to wood oil products.
... (snip)....
The oils tested can be divided into three classes with respect to fire hazard:

Class I - Extremely Hazardous oils:
�� Linseed oil.
...(snip)...
Final Conclusion
On the basis of this experimental series it can be concluded that wood oil products do represent a risk of self-ignition and fire, even though self-ignition occurs only under certain circumstances. Due to the fact that these circumstances may occur rather frequently, especially indoors as well as outdoors in the summer time, we recommend a clearly visible warning label on such products. That is, with respect to the fire hazard and how to treat application equipment after use."

If your theory doesn't fit the facts, you have to change the theory.

Or, not be quite so nitpicky on terminology.
 
Some fires may be caused by unknown factors. I suspect though that it would be a bad idea to keep old pieces of cloth that have been soaked in oil in an overheated shed or garage. Wood oil products represent a certain risk. Better dispose of them with alacrity.
 
I would use a thin application of boiled linseed oil on both the wood handle and the steel head. It will protect both very well. Maybe thin it 50/50 with turpentine if you want to.
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
According to Wikipedia, boiled linseed oil will also spontaneously combust. :eek:
Click to expand...

Right on. Spontaneous combustion can happen. Oil based paints, stains, and similar products (linseed oil) are one of the main culprits. When these products were more common I think you heard about this cause of fires more than you do now.

Now what scares me is spontaneous human combustion!!
 
Petroleum based motor oil won't do your wooden axe handle any good. Neither is it good for wooden rifle stocks.

Use linseed oil on wood, and "motor oil" on metal, not the other way around.
 
Watch out for those old rags! I've had them burn up on me before. I did some house painting work with a friend once and some rags caught fire in this guys garage, luckily I caught them and we didn't burn down his house. It's no joke.
 
For the spontaneous combustion, could turpentine or other
solvents add to the linseed and rags problem?
Who has not had some oily rags around? What really causes
the combustion, wish I knew more about this.

For motor oils, they publish stats on the temperature at
which they will burn (forgot the terminology). This type of
info might be available for linseed oil also.

Motor oil (used or new) is most likely carcinogenic and
toxic in the shorter term. I would like to keep my axes
relatively clean, especially since I might use one for food prep.
 
OK, I've got a Gransfors SFA. I'm happy with linseed oil on the handle, and the head doesn't rust. If you must use it for food prep(!), then use mineral oil.

I gotta go, I have to spread peanut butter on my bread with my axe!
 
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