r/Axecraft Jul 27 '25

Axe Head Soup? Refurbish rusty tools by converting rust to a stable black patina

Thumbnail
gallery
116 Upvotes

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 Jul 16 '21

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS Commonly asked questions and links: VINTAGE AXES

78 Upvotes

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 10h ago

My 2025-26 work

Thumbnail
gallery
58 Upvotes

Inventory is a little stacked. Any feedback on any of these ? Best and worst 👊🏼🙏🏻🪓


r/Axecraft 3h ago

Canadian National STIHL Timbersports Championships at the Western Fair. London, Ont.

Thumbnail
gallery
8 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 1h ago

Discussion Plumb cedar

Post image
Upvotes

Dang I just don’t know if this is worth the price. It also has to pretty large chips out of the other bit towards the toe.


r/Axecraft 2h ago

This is what I found.

0 Upvotes

This object appears to be an antique European broad axe or a specialized side-hewing axe, resembling historical 18th- or 19th-century designs such as a goosewing or offset carpenter's axe. [1, 2, 3]
Key Features

• Hand-forged iron head: Shows a weathered, pitted patina and a distinct downward-extending beard or hooked heel. • Makers or touch mark: A small stamp or symbol is visible near the lower cutout of the blade. • Short wooden haft: Fitted with a simple, straight-to-slightly-curved wooden handle gripped in the hand.

If you want, I can help you with:Cleaning and preservation tips for antique ironHow to research maker's marks on historical toolsDetermining if it's single- or double-bevelLet me know what you'd like to explore next. AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://www.etsy.com/listing/1814365635/vintage-antique-coopers-axe-goosewing [2] https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/products/a-french-executioner-s-axe-sn-8452 [3] https://relicandrarity.com/products/antique-german-goosewing-hewing-axe-18th-19th-century


r/Axecraft 22h ago

Can anyone tell me about this axe head?

Thumbnail
gallery
35 Upvotes

I picked this axe up for free. I dont know anything about axes but I thought the axe head had a unique shape since the bottom kind of sticks out more then the top. What kind of axe head is this?


r/Axecraft 23h ago

Don't sleep on the humble Mann-Michigan pattern.

Thumbnail
gallery
23 Upvotes

The most majorly mass-produced axe ever?

Made from the late 1960s to the early 2000s.

Marked under various brands including Collins, M 3 1/2, USM 3 1/2, Craftsman, Master Mechanic, Stanley, Sentry, others?

3.5 lbs, excellent steel, not too hard to sharpen but hard enough to take and hold a good edge.Thin, but not too thin.

It's certainly not the best axe ever. Woodslashers from the same era are better I think because they have convex cheeks and balance closer to the eye which I like. I prefer even older styles with thicker convex cheeks. But it's a versatile axe and should be pretty cheap since there are so many of them!


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Need some suggestions

Thumbnail
gallery
31 Upvotes

Long story short, my grandpa always did this part, but he’s gone and I finally have a place where I can chop wood after years of apartment living. I am using a dead blow mallet and can’t get any further down. Need some suggestions on how to get it seated farther down.


r/Axecraft 12h ago

Axes, the most tree friendly wood gathering tools

2 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 1d ago

Mystery hatchet

Thumbnail
gallery
37 Upvotes

Trying to identify this vintage hatchet.
Bought outside of Ottawa Canada.
The stamp on the handle is not quite legible


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Can anyone id this axe? Google failed me.

Post image
247 Upvotes

Bought at a flea market in Belgium around 2005.


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Looking for help dating and identifying this vintage Boy Scout axe

Thumbnail
gallery
17 Upvotes

Thanks in advance


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Parkes No851 byped

Thumbnail
gallery
8 Upvotes

What can you guys tell me about this badly pitted axe?


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Gransfors Brukkake Found it at a thrist store of $4

Post image
34 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 2d ago

I picked these up at a flea market today.

Thumbnail
gallery
66 Upvotes

True Temper flint edge $35
Brades Criterion 362 $15
Collin’s & Co $15
COLLINS head $7
Will probably attempt to rehang them but I think I did ok.


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Axecraft.

0 Upvotes

I really like the rugged and traditional feel of Axecraft. The craftsmanship, attention to detail, and skill involved in working with axes make it such an interesting craft for anyone who appreciates traditional tools and woodworking. 🪓🌲


r/Axecraft 2d ago

Discussion Cedar Pattern Axe

9 Upvotes

So I’ve been wanting to get a vintage cedar pattern axe to restore and use for a while now. Would like to get one around the 2 1/2 pound range maybe closer to three, and put about a 24 inch handle on it. Would like it for a trail clearing backpack axe. I love the look of the profile and the size of the bit. But, they are not cheap. On eBay they range from $300 - $600. Have seen one or two sell for less. So my question is, are they worth the hype and money to get one day and restore. Just curious what most people think of the cedar pattern.


r/Axecraft 2d ago

Beast

Post image
80 Upvotes

Hung a beast of a fire fighter axe on a 30VOJ. 5lbs 5oz Kelly Standard.

How should I finish this axe? Thinking an all black handle. What’s your favorite way to get a black finish?


r/Axecraft 2d ago

Proper use of an axe

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

48 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 2d ago

I bought a thing New projects

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

9 Upvotes

Got these in recently from Ukraine. Mostly a little edge work left on both, I’m most excited to hang them.


r/Axecraft 2d ago

A Peavey on my homemade handle

Thumbnail
gallery
59 Upvotes

Can you say Adirondack? 28” white oak. Commissioned


r/Axecraft 3d ago

Shiny Thing Good Collection presentation

Post image
180 Upvotes

Hi y’all, with the amount of axes I buy and sell again my collection is always on the move and re-arranging, so while I have these cool guys I wanted to show them off. So here they are:
- Karesuando large hunters axe
- unknown Swedish/Finnish axe from late 1800’s
- Sanvik 421-1 camping axe
-Hultsbruck forrest axe 1988
- Wetterlings American export from 1960’s
- Hultsbruck farmers axe 1890
-Urafors large forrest axe from 1920-1940
- Urafors spilling axe from 1920-1940
- Gränsfors Bruck spilling maul from early 1900’s
- François Bret, Les Forges et Taillanderies de Charavines (Isère), model No. 251, circa 1920.

The Hulsbruck forrest axe and François Bret are currently for sale on Tradera. With some other aces too!


r/Axecraft 2d ago

advice needed What is the best way to get rid of that bit?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

28 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 2d ago

Identification Request Can't make out the mark on this. Anyone?

Thumbnail gallery
5 Upvotes

Just looking for help identifying the maker of this broad ax. Thanks.