The BLO soak

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Just how effective has it been for you in tightening a loose head, and how loose of a head has it tightened for you ?

I'm currently soaking a 10-12oz ball peen that was fairly loose, looser than I expect to be remedied by a soak but I can't get the step wedge out and the original handle is otherwise still good.

I'll let you guys know If it works.
 
I really haven’t noticed boiled linseed oil tighten a loose head for me. I’ve applied coats and some heads actually loosen which is frustrating. This has happened to me on pick axes, and pick mattocks and a couple hatchets. I recently got a 1945 WWII issued Diamond Calk pick mattock which was tight. I tested it out on a log and it stayed tight. I applied some BLO and the day or two after it got loose and I can’t get it tight again. Those are friction fit so I guess it’s different and tricky.
 
Hello,

I have also found that soaking in Linseed oil , both Raw and Boiled does not usually tighten a loose head.

My experience with Linseed oil is to apply it sparingly and wait for it to "dry".

Linseed oil appears to be best for wood preservation only , it is very effective in this role.

Cheers.
 
In my experience BLO only just penetrates the surface layer (it can be removed with a scraper), definitely not enough to swell wood. Water or antifreeze will swell some wood a very small amount, but not enough to cure a very loose head & even then it probably won't last. There might be a way using very hot liquids........
Soaking isn't a method I'd use to cure a loose head.
 
It doesn't work.

You actually have to drive the oil into the wood somehow to get the effect you have been told you'll get. So if I were to try it to actually make it maybe work, I'd heat the oil up (and the hammer too, like just leave it out in the sun til it's hot), put the hammer in a heavy plastic bag with the hot oil, and hit it with some vacuum like a shop vac to draw the oil into all the wood pores that will take it.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Just how effective has it been for you in tightening a loose head, and how loose of a head has it tightened for you ?

I'm currently soaking a 10-12oz ball peen that was fairly loose, looser than I expect to be remedied by a soak but I can't get the step wedge out and the original handle is otherwise still good.

I'll let you guys know If it works.
Click to expand...
Have you tried putting 7 roofing nails and 2 screws in it? I see that a lot.
 
I'm going to have to put something in there if the BLO doesn't work because the handle is loose but won't come off and I'm not replacing it.

It happens to be the original green painted octagonal Proto handle , and while there are actually repros available I'm not doing it.
 
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