Restoring an old family axe

Awesome work :thumbup: I have done quite the same with my fathers old axe ... it is some kind of heritage to keep the old tools alive, eh? And of course, it is in memory of my father who passed away too early.

Cheers Vincent
 
Some guys don't like the effect of a vinegar soak, but that's what I use, too. After a day or so I'll take the head out, and scrub it in the sink with a small stainless brush and some soap. If it needs more attention, it goes back in and gets scrubbed again the next day. After rinsing, I dry them with a heat gun and after they dry, while still warm I rub a little Johnson's paste wax on with a paper towel. It'll come off quick with use, but the ones stored in the back room waiting to be hung stay nice. Of course, you need to take any advice from me for what it's worth. After all, I am the guy who put BLO on top of stain/sealer and wondered what went wrong. (Still haven't attended to that little problem)
 
That axe is an unusual pattern. I' m thinking Humbpldt since you're grandfather worked at Yosemite. Very cool axe. Nice job on the restoration.
 
Thank you. It fell off the wall recently and damaged the edge. I had to re-sharpen one of the edges. I also discovered a Keen Cutter hatchet in my family garage and restored that too.
 
killa_concept said:
I've honestly never had any issues with BLO on rags and never noticed any significant heating up. I know it's widely spread knowledge (and even a warning on the product), but I feel it might be one of those situations where the right circumstances (low humidity, high temp, sun exposure and excessive drying agents in the mixture) caused spontaneous combustion a couple occasions and the warning label was tossed on. I don't believe linseed on it's own is has the issue, so I'm sure it's the drying agents used in the boiled variety...

Personally, I throw my rags with BLO into an empty paint-can just to be safe
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As a rookie in construction 35 years ago I was tasked with rubbing linseed oil (presumably BLO) on the cedar entrance door of a new house. Just at quitting time I tossed the oily rag (old T-shirt) on to the plywood subfloor. Next morning the rag was hot and smouldering and had darkened the floor underneath. I was one lucky SOB that the darn thing hadn't ignited! If some folks out there are sceptical about this just try this yourself (soak a rag with BLO) and leave it somewhere fireproof (concrete floor/steel pail/ fireplace) to experience for yourself. Merely picking up the rag after a few hours will help convince because it will have already become warm or even hot.
 
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