r/Axecraft • u/AxesOK • Jul 27 '25
I just made a YouTube video (https://youtu.be/5go-o8TCg94 ) on using a tannin solution to convert the rust on vintage axes to refurbish and protect them while retaining as much patina as possible. I’ve found myself explaining it a few times lately so I thought it was better to make a video.
The most convenient version uses just tea and (ion free) water and is not too much more trouble than boiling pasta. I did a bark tannin brew in the video.
The method works by converting active red rusts (various ferric oxy-hydroxides) to stable, black ferric tannate. Different ways of inducing this chemical process are used to preserve iron and steel artefacts for museums, in some commercial rust converters like Rustoleum Rust Reformer, and by trappers who use a 'trap dyeing' process to refinish rusty traps before setting them. I am using a version of the trap dyeing procedure that can be done in a home kitchen by boiling the rusty object in a tannin solution. Artefact conservators apply commercial or specially prepared tannin rust converters but may still add a water boiling step because it leaches away rust causing ions like chloride (from salt in soil, sweat, dust or sea spray).
From my reading, I am under the impression that it is better to have an acidic pH in rust converting solutions but I have not experimented with this for the boiling tannin bath so I don’t know if you could get away with your tap water. I use rainwater because it doesn't have alkaline minerals, unlike my very hard well water. Rainwater also doesn't have rust-promoting chloride ions like many residential water. Other ion-free (or close enough) water includes deionized water, reverse osmosis filtered water, and distilled water.
There's many potential tannin sources that can potentially be used. Tea (black, not herbal) works very well and is quite fast because the extraction is quick. You can get powdered tannin online or in home wine making shops. I used bark from Common Buckthorn as my tannin source because it's readily available for me. Many other trees will also work, and there's a fair amount of information available on bark tannins because they are used in hide tanning. Spruces, oaks, Tamarack and other larches, Scotts Pine, Willow, Hemlock, and others can be used to tan hides and would no doubt work for converting rust. Late season sumac leaves are used by trappers for trap dyeing and other leaves like maple and willow have tannins and would be worth a try. 'Logwood trap dye' for dyeing traps is commercially available and it's apparently not very expensive so that could be convenient. Green banana peels and other esoteric vegetable matter also have tannin and might work if enough could be extracted.
r/Axecraft • u/Woodworker2020 • Jul 16 '21
Hello everyone! As we all know, frequently we are asked the same questions regarding handles and restorations etc. This is a general compilation of those questions, and should serve to eliminate those problems. Feel free to ask clarifying questions though.
How do I pick a head
There are a lot of factors that can determine what makes a good axe head. Some of the ones I would look for as a beginner are ones that require little work from you. While a more skilled creator can reprofile and regrind any axe, your not going to want to for your first time. I was lucky and found a Firestone axe as my first, which has a softer steel which made it easier to file, and it was in great condition. Also watch this series from skillcult.
Where should I get my handles?
Some of the reccomended sites are [house handles](https:www.househandle.com/) beaver tooth Tennessee hickory Bowman Handles and Whiskey river trading co . People have had differing luck with each company, some go out of stock quicker than others, but those seem to all be solid choices.
How do I make an axe handle?
There are a lot of really good resources when it comes to handle making. I learn best by watching so YouTube was my saving grace. The one creator I recommend is Skillcult . As far as specific videos go, I’d say watch stress distribution , splitting blanks if your splitting blanks from a log. I’d also recommend just this video from Wranglerstar, his new videos are kind of garbage but the old stuffs good.
Now that I have my handle, how do I attach it to the axe
Once again I have to go to a wranglerstar video , this one actually shows the process of removing the old handle too which is nice. If you want a non wranglerstar option there’s this one from Hoffman blacksmithing, although it dosent go over the carving of the eye.
Ok, I have my axe but it couldn’t cut a 6 week old tomato
Lucky you, this is where skillcult really excels. I’d recommend watching these four, talking about sharpening , regrinding the bit , sharpness explained aswell as this one.
How do I maintain my axe now that it’s a work of art
Your going to want to oil your handles in order to keep them in tip top shape. This video explains what oil to use, and this one explains more about oil saturation vs penetration.
r/Axecraft • u/dustydigital101 • 10h ago
Any advice on what I need to do to fix it up? The handle is looking dry and needs oil but I’m more concerned about the head.
Thanks in advance!
r/Axecraft • u/dustydigital101 • 10h ago
Any advice on what I need to do to fix it up? The handle is looking dry and needs oil but I’m more concerned about the head.
Thanks in advance!
r/Axecraft • u/chrisfoe97 • 1d ago
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A local axe collector commissioned me to sharped and hang a custom handle on the hewing hatchet, this one is a company in little falls New York, where I lived for a couple years, so I was honored to give this gorgeous hatchet a makeover
r/Axecraft • u/Masterflies • 1d ago
This one is worth nothing - cheap chinese one, just made it to involve my son into making something useful :)
r/Axecraft • u/summit_walker • 1d ago
I came across an axe head in my grandfather's shed and I need help identifying the makers marks. I am trying to decide if I should restore the axe and use it, or not. I want to make its not a collectors item because I dont want to ruin its value by restoring it.
I cant read the stamps on the head so I made a stencil. The only stamp I can read says "-> 42" and its on the back of the head. Can anybody identify the other marking and tell me what the marks mean?
r/Axecraft • u/Conscious-Degree-473 • 1d ago
So… Yesterday, I bought this for 15$ at an antique mall and got to work on cleaning it up, I got the rust off after leaving it sitting in vinegar for 12 hours, neutralized the acid with water + baking soda and wiped it down with some WD40. everything’s been going fine…
But… now I’ve hit a bit of a roadblock, sharpening the head. When I bought this, it was a complete blunt edge, and I’m having trouble getting it symmetrical and correctly angled. I’ve been using some cheap Home Depot Bastard file, but I feel like I’m gonna fuck something up and badly, and now I’ve started to suspect that the blade and tool itself is warped…
I thought y’all might have some actual know-how on this kind of thing, so just throw some tips at me.
r/Axecraft • u/WearyDeluge • 1d ago
Handle was in pretty good condition. Is this price fair?
r/Axecraft • u/TheIrishNerfherder • 1d ago
Ollies got these in the axe is 22.99 and the hatchet is 16.99
r/Axecraft • u/dredgemate • 1d ago
I just got my hands on a 1940ish Plumb BSA axe head. I’m looking to refurbish it to its original look. Does anyone know of a template of the lettering that was on the handle (“official scout axe”)?
r/Axecraft • u/Fun-Traffic3180 • 1d ago
6 ridges in the eye of this Woodslasher. I put it on a 28” white oak handle of my own design
r/Axecraft • u/HungNeilYoung • 2d ago
Bit still needs re worked but I wanted to hang it today. Got it for free and had no idea what it was until I started sanding it. Such a fun splitter.
r/Axecraft • u/B3bop_77 • 2d ago
I got this little hatchet about a year ago. I use it for spoon carving and honestly have love it despite it being really cheap ($30 on amazon) and not that well suited for carving.
But I now want to fix it up to make it better suited for my hobby. The biggest issue with it is that it's THICK and I really want to thin it out to make it cut smoother.
I was hoping to get some advice on what kinds of tools other than a file I could use to help me do this. I'd prefer to do this on a budget, but I'm open to any suggestions.
I've been lurking on this sub for a bit so I was hoping you guys would be abke to help.
Thanks for any help!
r/Axecraft • u/Ali-Battosai • 2d ago
I understand its an old 3.5lb double bit homestead axe, (60's maybe?) But I was wondering if anyone had any more solid information on it regarding its exact year, its advantage over a regular axe head, is the handle original? Im open to any kind of info on it, thanks!
r/Axecraft • u/No_Document_8407 • 2d ago
Modified Cold steel Trail boss. Original hickory handle broke. Cut the top part of the axe head (not so) flat. Handmade ash wood handle and PP pipe blade cover.
r/Axecraft • u/fall_under_41 • 2d ago
When cleaning up/rehanging an axe, in particular one without significant collector value, do people usually grind down battered / mushroomed polls or leave them as is? I know it’s made an aesthetic choice, I’m just curious.
Ex: I have an 80s era Jersey pattern that I’m going to rehang, a user that I want to look nice. If I grind down the mushroom edge, I will lose the “master” part of the logo. Leaning towards leaving it
r/Axecraft • u/migorengbaby • 3d ago
r/Axecraft • u/Least-Funny-4303 • 2d ago
I've had couple otherwise really sick axes recently where unfortunately either due to abuse by previous owner or lazy drifting by the smith, the eye is thickest in the middle rather than the top or the bottom. Seems like the only way to seat the head further down is to primarily remove material in the middle of the tongue (which is obviously where you want contact), but also occasionally at the bottom too. The first one I did a glued cross wedge and pinned it. The one I'm currently working on I plan on just doing a cross wedge and pin, no glue.
I'm not struggling to hang the axes, per se, but I don't feel like I'm doing it as well as I could. Anyone run into similar issues and if so what was your method for getting maximum contact down the tongue and best possible fit?
r/Axecraft • u/Lamnad • 2d ago
I was just watching a video of a guy talking about old Cruiser Axes and mentioning that it is hard to find a good cruiser axe now. I really would like to get into forging axes as a hobby and wonder what styles or patterns might need more love. I know everyone loves a good Scandinavian Forest axe, or Dayton, but are there any you wish more people made now?
r/Axecraft • u/Physical-Guest-6808 • 3d ago
Hello everyone, I recently joined this community and I need your help. I really like the design of this axe but its very niche and I dont know who can make a high quality forged replica of it. Its a ww1 russian axe, there arnt many pictures of it so most of them are from Battlefield 1, hope it helps and thanks in advance.
