Varnish or No Varnish on a Handle?

A

Able_walker

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Jul 16, 2015
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When looking at the various threads and pictures of peoples "Favorite Axes" or "What did you rehang today" it seems to be all over the map. A bare handle may be a better grip to the purists but a little varnish looks nice and develops a patina.
 
Unless your axe will be out in the rain a lot, all that needs anything is the ends, so try a bare handle first, then varnish, oil, etc., and see what you like. I always put something on them, but like a thin coat more than thick, even if it means putting more on regularly. Also, I rub varnished or lacquered handles with fine steel wool so they aren't too grabby.

Patina develops on bare handles even faster!
 
No varnish on my axe handles. Just several coats of plain old boiled linseed oil works for me.
 
I like to oil my handles then put some beeswax on them . it helps waterproof them some and it doesn't blister my hand, especially if I make sure it gets nice and deep into the grain.
I initially had no experience with the blisters that varnish gives you , but the one handle that I left the varnish on was a shovel and it didn't take long for me to realize that I new first hand that varnished handles suck.
 
I like a tung oil finish. More natural look than varnish and better water resistance than BLO.

Somebody made a point in another thread about those new thin grippy gloves and how you won't blister from varnish if you wear them. It's a good point. I frequently wear that type of glove now.
 
Coming from the boating/marine world (where friction/abrasives and UV light are important), I'd never use varnish on anything. It is my firm belief that varnish is a marketing solution, not a preventative, preservative or protective agent.

But I don't know from nothin... I'm a weekend warrior computer/finance guy who chops wood/uses an axe for fun and exercise to heat my garage/shop where I keep my tools and toys. I stopped at BLO because my better half said she loves the smell. It reminds her of when her parents & grandparents got their hardwood floors refinished when she was a child. Something out there could be better but for me; if it aint broke...
 
How about painted accents? I imagine for a smaller axe it wouldn't interfere grip wise...

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Looks sharp although the only reason I can think of for painting some part of a handle is not to lose it in the woods. Lee Valley Tools sells vivid colour aniline dyes/stains for wood. Presumably these wouldn't interfere with viewing wood grain nor impede an oil finish. Varnish is a surface coating which is fine for seldom used items or wall hangers and if you're really intent on using one then track down some genuine spar varnish. If the "spar varnish" can list of ingredients says 'urethane' don't buy it, it's not the real thing.
 
300Six said:
Looks sharp although the only reason I can think of for painting some part of a handle is not to lose it in the woods. Lee Valley Tools sells vivid colour aniline dyes/stains for wood. Presumably these wouldn't interfere with viewing wood grain nor impede an oil finish. Varnish is a surface coating which is fine for seldom used items or wall hangers and if you're really intent on using one then track down some genuine spar varnish. If the "spar varnish" can list of ingredients says 'urethane' don't buy it, it's not the real thing.
Click to expand...

The Big Blue hardware store carries Cabot's brand Spar Varnish. It is an alkyd resin based varnish and is great quality stuff, it is getting harder and harder to find good quality oil/solvent based finishes anymore.
 
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