Restoring tool handles , hammer handle etc help needed.

[billybudge]

Hi,
I am a mechanic by trade, and I am out of the game for a while,trying something different, so this has given me a chance to sort out all my gear, hand tools , roll cabs, etc,
I have cleaned and polished everything to as new standard,(that took a while), waiting for the day that I may go back into mechanics full time, in stead of as a hobby,
anywey, I have replaced all my file handles and hammer handles with nice brand new hickory wood ones, ( 8 hammers and 25 files)
But I would like to know , what would be best to stain. wax them with, if I leave them how they are, they will be black and oily in no time,
come on guys help me out, I really am stuck on this one,

 

[gj67stang]

I've got a couple hammer handles I sprayed with clear polyurethane. It's held up decent and has prevented the handles from getting grimy.

 

[ZRX61]

I've used spar varnish on them before

 

[Romey]

I heat my handles slightly and rub boiled linseed oil in most of anything with wood handles. Onces its applied I reheat. One can do multiple applications and essentially stabilize the wood from the inside.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I have replaced all my file handles and hammer handles with nice brand new hickory wood ones, ( 8 hammers and 25 files)
But I would like to know , what would be best to stain. wax them with, if I leave them how they are, they will be black and oily in no time,
come on guys help me out, I really am stuck on this one,

I always used nothing but raw linseed oil on wooden tool handles to keep them from drying out. From the smallest ballpein all the way up to the 16 pound sledgehammer. Shovel handles, pick handles, hoe handles, knife handles etc. etc. etc. I also use it for the wooden stocks on the 03A3's M1's, M1A's, etc.

I never really worried about tool handles getting dark or stained from use and the last thing I want is a slippery hammer handle, or a loose head.

Come to think of it, some of my older ballpein and copper hammers have a textured paint on the handle in the area where you would normally grip it. They look like that half of the handle was dipped after the head was installed. I don't remember who made them, but they have a nice textured feel.

If you to play around with linseed oil, be very careful with the rags when you're finished. If you look up spontaneous combustion, there's a picture of linseed oil.

WoD

 

[Hammer1963]

I dip my hammer handles in automotive urethane clear. One coat is usually enough for most applications. To many coats and the handle gets a tad bit too slick

 

[Hank McMauser]

I use BLO on my hammer handles, after installing a handle & getting it the way I want I soak it in a large coffee can with the head down in about an inch of thinned down Boiled Linseed Oil. This causes the wood fibers to absorb the oil & swell making the heads tight. I'm in the high desert with summertime humidity in the single digits,so wood handles get really loose if nothing is done to them.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

thinned down Boiled Linseed Oil.

Interesting. It makes sense that the thinned oil will penetrate deeper and or faster. What are you using to cut it with? Turpentine, mineral spirits?

thanks,
WoD

 

[Hank McMauser]

Honestly, I think one time I just poured a little gasoline in it lol ,but paint thinner/mineral spirits should work just fine. it does help it soak in more betterest

 

[billybudge]

Hi.thank you all for replying your imput was great,
I went to the store today and bought a selection of wood treatments to try and experiment with, and to be honest I found that the best for me was pure linseed oil, I gave all my wood handle tools a few coats of this stuff, and they look and feel fantastic,
It is the first time I have used linseed oil, I always thought the handle wood remain slippery, how silly am I,
great stuff,
nice advice ,everybody,
cheers
oh yes, dispose of the old rags with care,

 

[bgott]

If you are using them, they'll get a good soaking in old grease and motor oil. I take wooden handled hammers to the bench girnder and grind radial grooves around the handle. As hard as I try, they don't come out perfect looking, but they damn sure won't slip out of your hand. A friend of mine sands the varnish off of the handles and then lightly burns them with a torch. Then he lightly sands them again, wipes them down with motor oil and lets it soak in. They come out pretty nice.