Patina On Old Axes...Good Or Bad?

M

mhutch

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Mar 1, 2015
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This question is partially out of pure curiosity, so if anyone can elaborate on anything related to patina, rust, and the chemical processes behind them I'd love to understand more. The first few axes I've restored I soaked in vinegar or used electrolysis to remove the rust but a couple of the old axe heads I have look pretty good despite some pitting and a heavy patina (which I understand to just be a form of rust?). I imagine for more valuable antique axes it may be better to leave them as is as opposed to removing the patina but is there any risk of further rust developing if I do this? Could I just oil or wax them and call it good? Or is there some way to refinish steel while still preserving the patina?

Thanks
 
Patina on axe heads is typically ferrous oxide, and it's good because it inhibits the formation of rust (ferric oxide).

Vinegar can remove both the rust and the patina. A wire brush attachment on an angle grinder can remove the rust and leave a lot of the patina remaining on the axe.
 
Hello MHUTCH, Well patina is great it shows that it's a high cabon blade which is great. Rust can be an isuue. one was of treating the rust spotts with out touching the patina sections is a trick i use on old Their-issard Knives when thge get to spotted is use an old cork with a dip in some lemon juice then dip into salt and rub the spot clean or if you need a smaller tool try using a piece of cork or maybe a pencil eraser done the same way. It will also clean you Au Carbone knives and make thm shine if the patina look isnt what you care about. So if your at a tag sale or flea market and come across some old black looking knive for a few dollars buy and that will clean it up. Also that trick works on cookware as well on the outside for blemishes and on the inside where you get say patterns from cooking rice alot in a certain pan and get those destinguished rice patterns left behind. Well good luck! Drew
 
drewg1973 said:
Hello MHUTCH, Well patina is great it shows that it's a high cabon blade which is great....
Click to expand...

False, Iron, high carbon steel and mild steel develop the same kind of patina.

i generally concider patina to be a good thing as it help preventing active rust, as mentioned above.
People collecting tsubas (antique metal disk used on a japanese sword) use bones, teeth or antlers to clean red rust without damaging the patina underneat, its a slow process and takes alot of patience so if you are not up for it, brass wire wheel would work but might remove some patina.
 
I like to get rid of rust--but a true patina is probably worth keeping, in my opinion.
I should ad that most heads I find are rust buckets and I soak them in vinegar.
 
Steep subject and a good question. I think there are some links to be found on the internet for preserving iron artifacts that might be helpful for you.

I am for sure not the guy to discuss the chemistry of patina.

If I wanted to stop further rusting I would heat the head in boiling water and then oil it. It will change the look though.

I really suggest you do more research.
 
On my axes out in the garage the shined ones are constantly getting patches of red rust. The ones with patina, almost never have rust.
 
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