I have used boiled linseed. Then a read a mix equal parts boiled linseed and turpentine. It is supposed to penetrate better. It seemed to work well. Then I read that a mix equal parts B.L.O , turpentine , and bees wax. So I tries that and I must of had the mixture off because it left the handles sticky. What do you like to use?
Buff hard and the sticky should clean up. Any of the combo's you mentioned above will be fine. I just use plain BLO to K.I.S.S.
BLO/ Turpentine/ Pine tar in equal portions. I don't know how much the pine tar is different than BLO, but it does add some color and I like the smell. I also have BLO/ Bees wax in a solid that I use with heat on handle, head and leather. Melted the wax , added BLO- poured it into a cardboard tube to set up.
Oh, you mean hand tool handles. I was thinking of the handles on the tractor loader or the splitter valve I do my best to keep those tools safely in the shop, well out of the weather, and preferably, unused.
If there are any "fuzzies" on a handle, I use a concave-curve cabinet-scraper on it to smooth them. Any factory lacquer gets sanded off. Then a quick smear of danish oil seals the wood nicely, while serving to reduce any blisters. KISS- that's me.
I use linseed oil , teak oil or danish oil . Sounds like I might have to try the turp mix next time so I know but so far I'm happy with the above oils , if the finish is tacky I'll leave it in the sun for a couple of days or just use it as is , it's not that much of an issue .
As for treating an axe handle, I put it in a bucket of antifreeze. Old loggers tale says the glycerol swells the wood tight against the head, but does not dry out.
An old favorite, always dogs or some other critters running around so not something I would do. There is a product called Swell -loc made for chair rungs that uses dipropylene glycol and is low toxic instead of ant-freeze. I couldn't find it, cost more in small quantities- dipropylene glycol can be found cheap on-line as it is used in perfumes and craft stuff. That's more of a loose head fix/ preventive.....better that a half a pound of nails/ screws lol
They put additives into antifreeze now that make it unpalatable to humans or animals so as to reduce issues. As long as you use new antifreeze and not something from a few years ago, you are safe.
Do they have an additive that would keep me from stepping in the bucket? lol That's my luck and I try not to push it
Nope but they have big warning signs not to leave toddlers around half filled buckets! I guess due to a toddlers big head in comparison to their bodies, they can topple in and drown. This is in no way funny because as a sheep farmer I have tons of buckets around and do worry about my 3 year old getting into a sheep's pail and drowning. And you are right about the old antifreeze, I had a sheep wonder into my old sawmill and died a few days later. I suspect she got into some antifreeze since we were in the process of changing out a blown engine. This was old antifreeze though, not the newer stuff.
A few years ago I stumbled upon a Norlund "Voyager" ax head among some miscellaneous junk...A few days ago I finally decided to carve a handle for it....I had some beech which required some dressing and cherry which was basically ready to go....I realize the beech is a better wood for an ax handle however since this little ax will likely not see too much action, I decided to go with the cherry. The finish is 2 coats of shellac and 3 final coats of urethane. Here are a few pics of the process.....Twister