Linseed Oil and Staining

aZhu

aZhu

Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Messages
174
Hey guys, I tried searching for this but most threads talk about staining a wooden axe handle prior to using boiled linseed oil to finish.

My question is this: I have an axe that is already coated with a few layers of BLO. After a few months now, I want to stain the handle so that it'd be darker with a nicer color. How would I go about doing this?

-Just apply oil based stain over the handle?
-Sand down the handle first, stain, and then reapply BLO?
-Sand down handle, then mix BLO with stain and apply together?

Thanks for your input.

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Depends on the stain, and what kind of penetrants are in it. Unless you really soaked the handle in linseed, you should be able to lightly sand off the top layer, then stain and oil. The stain might not do as well as on virgin wood, but it's worth a shot. No mistakes, only happy accidents.
 
jpeeler said:
Depends on the stain, and what kind of penetrants are in it. Unless you really soaked the handle in linseed, you should be able to lightly sand off the top layer, then stain and oil. The stain might not do as well as on virgin wood, but it's worth a shot. No mistakes, only happy accidents.
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I've read to use only a stain with no sealer. Is it okay to mix the stain in with linseed oil or do both of them as separate processes? Any stains you recommend on a hickory handle?
 
Yes, sealers are def bad news for this application, but some stains have added ingredients that will help them penetrate wood. Some oils do too.

I've never mixed stain and linseed oil or the like, you'll have to wait on someone else for an answer to that. Give it a shot on a spare piece of hickory, or just hit the handle with it. Experimentation may not always turn out perfect, but nothing ever does.
 
Good advice already. Definitely stay away from the sealers like Minwax. They leave a less than ideal finish for grip, IMO. My favorite thing to stain handles is water based dyes, like Fiebings leather dye. It doesn't change the texture and feel of the wood.
 
If you want to get a somewhat close idea of what your handle will look like and not go for the happy mistake method (which btw the happy mistake method is usually how I approach staining my own projects) you should pick up a cheap handle of questionable grain and do exactly what you have done to your axe handle so far, then start experimenting with sections of the handle until you have figured out a formula that gives you the look you are after. This will take some time (most likely days, if not a couple weeks) and patience but at least you will know exactly what you need to do to get the look you are after. You will probably want to number each section to identify it and take notes on each one anytime you do anything to it. This way if you are doing different things to say 5 sections of the test handle you won't have to try to remember exactly what you did to section #3 after you have done 4 or 5 different steps to 5 different sections. It can get confusing real quickly if you don't take some kind of notes on the different sections.

One last thought, I would sand the handle with 100 grit to start with and lightly sand between all coats of stain and oil and any combination there of. Good luck.
 
thefirstsuspect said:
That axe is in such nice condition do you even use it ?:)
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I've used it on a camping trip last year. Didn't chop too much with it but there are a few scuffs on the wood that you can't see. It's a great axe. Thanks to all for your input!
 
i have been working on a some cheapo hickory handles from the hardware store and they have been HORRIBLE to stain. Such a dense wood, the stain just sits on top and wipes away. only sticks in the sparse soft wood around the grain marks. So far all Ive come up with is just brute force--sand, stain, repeat. Fiebling leather dye is an interesting option. that stuff is strong. stained my hands brown for a week. good luck
 
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