Hey guys, I was doing some yard work this weekend, wonder of wonders, and noticed that the axes in my shed had some rust on them. (I love axes, these are just working ones, a heavy short handled plumb, a big double bit and a big single bit). I know that I oiled them after sharpening them and before putting them away last year, but I guess it only last so long.
I was thinking that a patina of some sort might help them hold up better. So my questions are:
1. can I do it without removing the handles? (I think so, if not, then they're just getting oiled.
)
2. which method should I use?
I have rust bluing solution, and although it would take a while I could rust blue them. I have read about the cold blue and bleach method, and love the results butchesforge gets. There's also the hot vinegar and the mustard treatments. Of all of them the look of the cold blue and bleach looks best in my eye, but which would hold up best? will rust blue and bleach work together? (rust blue is a rust accelerent, which sounds like what is being accomplished with cold blue and bleach)
I'm not opposed either to do a different finish on different heads. the plumb actually has enough patina (it's at least 40 years old) that it probably doesn't even HAVE to be messed with, it rusted the least. the double bit I'd gotten from a friend and was rusty so I wire wheeled it before sharpening and oiling, so it was probably most susceptible to rust.
thanks guys.
Red
I was thinking that a patina of some sort might help them hold up better. So my questions are:
1. can I do it without removing the handles? (I think so, if not, then they're just getting oiled.
)2. which method should I use?
I have rust bluing solution, and although it would take a while I could rust blue them. I have read about the cold blue and bleach method, and love the results butchesforge gets. There's also the hot vinegar and the mustard treatments. Of all of them the look of the cold blue and bleach looks best in my eye, but which would hold up best? will rust blue and bleach work together? (rust blue is a rust accelerent, which sounds like what is being accomplished with cold blue and bleach)
I'm not opposed either to do a different finish on different heads. the plumb actually has enough patina (it's at least 40 years old) that it probably doesn't even HAVE to be messed with, it rusted the least. the double bit I'd gotten from a friend and was rusty so I wire wheeled it before sharpening and oiling, so it was probably most susceptible to rust.
thanks guys.
Red
