How To Finish An Axe Handle and Get Professional Results! Most Dramatic Axe Video of The Year!

[@MountainMenAxes]

Going back and re-watching old Killinger videos. Best axe content on KZbin.

[@KillingerUSA]

More coming!

[@KillingerUSA]

Also, appreciate it!

[@oldmanfred8676]

My Grandpa used to use a piece of broken glass to scrape finish his axe handles. Similar results. “Put you purses down boys”! Fun! Truth! Saw a movie where two guys were going to ride a four wheeler. The one said, where’s our helmets? The driver said, I keep ‘em with the Tampons! Laughed hard! You got some of that finish on your work bench!!!

[@KillingerUSA]

I have also herd of the glass. That hilarious! Haha!

[@theweekendhomestead]

..... And the award for the best reality based drama series on KZbin goes to......

[@KillingerUSA]

Haha!!!!

[@Tumbleweedin]

I use straight edge razor blades. Got a box full in a craft supply lot I purchased at a local auction. I do the steel wool treatment after each of the three coats of boiled hemp oil I prefer to use over the boiled linseed oil method. And...I always rub in a final coat of bees wax on my keepers. A little automatic transmission fluid helps the heads from rusting. You can rub some bees wax into them as well. Keep up the good works. 👈🖖😉👍

[@KillingerUSA]

All great methods!

[@danschramm1397]

That axe is bad ass man, what a wall hanger !!! Absolutely beautiful !!!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks!

[@johngrossbohlin7582]

This video was in my recommended videos. Amusingly, I just came out of my shop to take a break... I am making an ash handle for a 3.5 lb. Michigan axe head. I roughed out the blank with saws and shaped it with spoke shaves. Then I used a card scrapper to smooth the facets left by the spoke shaves and smooth the tear out. I was in the midst of fitting the head when I decided it was time for a break... Once the head is fit and wedged I'll move on to the finishing... Note that I put boiled linseed oil (BLO) on the handle and in the wedge slot before the head is wedged. For finishing, first I sand in and wipe off a couple coats of BLO over the course of a few hours. Then I follow the old process of applying a coat per day for a week, once a week for a month and once a month for a year. The BLO soaks in well and, I believe, strengthens and moisture proofs the handle. No blisters with handles treated this way... My tool handles all receive at least an annual coat of BLO to refresh the finish. I'm not shy about putting BLO on the tool heads also to help protect them from corrosion while in storage... Shovels, picks, mattocks, sledge hammers, axes, mauls, hoes, digging forks, wheelbarrow handles... they all get the same treatment.

[@KillingerUSA]

That's awesome! Glad you stopped by and thanks for sharing with us! Good ol BLO!

[@PrimalEdge]

absolutely love the intro.

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks!

[@jeffreyrubish347]

I can't get over how pristine that BBB head is!

[@KillingerUSA]

Me either. I was just thinking about where I got this axe and I think it was in one of my flea market finds videos? If I remember correctly, the head was painted red with thick paint and you could barley make out the stamp. I'll have to go back and watch a few.

[@Debtfreehomesteaders]

Beautiful work Mr. K -Will

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you

[@ricksspringfield45]

Nice work! A dried coat of LO will keep the head from rusting until used.

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks!

[@clintpinkston613]

Got my killinger cruiser handle last night! Awesome handle and it came quick! I have a cool little plumb cruiser head to hang it on! Thanks a lot Killinger!

[@KillingerUSA]

Awesome!

[@IndianaDoug]

Still the best in the biz. THE MAN👍🏻

[@KillingerUSA]

I got another video coming on the hand Made. I need to finish it up and edit it. Thanks buddy!

[@jamesspires8096]

Awesome finish for the awesome double bit

[@KillingerUSA]

It turned out good I think

[@lawnmanmartinfan7909]

Loved this the steel wool technique never seen that 1 I will have to try it.

[@KillingerUSA]

Works good

[@JourneyNorthAK]

I gave ya some shit on Facebook about the fancy video... but damn it turned out well... worth it to document that beauty.... 👍👍

[@KillingerUSA]

I dont mind. I want people to think. " what the he..?" Haha!

[@vinny2976]

Wow, Excellent video! Thanks so much for sharing this handed down technique! I feel l definitely gained something extra this evening by watching your video. I have to say the music selection near the end of your video surprised me in it's subtle power. I don't typically expect to be moved when watching an informational video such as yours. It may sound crazy, but looking at images of a beautifully finished double-bit axe, which are my favorite to swing due to their balance, while listening to your soundtrack took it to another level. I totally agree, "Most Dramatic Axe Video of the Year"! Thanks again! - Vinny

[@KillingerUSA]

Haha! This comment made my day! Thank you!

[@vinny2976]

@@KillingerUSA Hey, your're welcome 'K'! I'm looking at smoothing the handle on my 30+ y/o Collins double-bit as the original clear finish still seems too grabby. Your video was the first I found to discuss a method other than just sanding the handle, so 'Thanks Again' for sharing that along with warning about volatility of used rags! And I really liked your closing soundtrack too! - Vinny

[@greekveteran2715]

The sharp spines of a closed Opinel works really good thinning out an axe handle, Then I use low grit sandpaper, to make the surface perfect, however, if you do it carefully, you can finish without using the sandpaper. or you can finish with the steel wool. and Raw Linseed oil. I'd suggest avoiding Boiled Linseed oil and use only coatings of Raw Linseed oil. It might take more time to dry, however it will get deeper to cover all the wood inside. It generally provides a tougher handle. You can seal after a week with any way you like, or leave it as it is, just with the coatings of Linseed oil. That's the method that can provide the best handle in terms of function and performance. For the looks, you have a ton of different options, to make a handle look better!

[@KillingerUSA]

Good tips

[@markadlawanjrp]

amazing....It felt like a Michael Bay film. Oh and the axe is aweosme

[@KillingerUSA]

Second time I have herd that, I need to google michael bay. Thank you!

[@jeffgrier8488]

That axe is gorgeous! I like your handle treatment, it really looks good, I never thought about the steel wool or the "Snake Juice".

[@KillingerUSA]

I'm here to help!

[@307j.o.a.t9]

Turned out beautiful!! Thanks for the lesson!!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks!

[@rodmctaggart]

Hey Chris, Got my belt and handle yesterday nice work.I like to let to the piece of wood decide if it gets burned or not.That red elm look nice with a light burn. enjoy the video Thanks

[@KillingerUSA]

Good way to approach it. It's kinda how I go about it as well. Glad you like your belt and handle. Appreciate it!

[@aldredske6197]

Hi Chris!!😀😀 Nice job buddy!!👍👍 You are right when you said it is too nice of a head to swing every day. I'm sure it wasn't that nice when it was new. Take care my friend!!😀😀❤

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks Al!

[@jermball12345]

Great intro, that looks so fing good

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you

[@ronaldtowns7291]

Ya like a burned handle but I may do one like that just to be different. It’s looking great. You are a master at it. Keep up the good work.

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks Ronald

[@contemporaryprimitiveman3469]

Beautiful! I like to use Fidde's hard wax oil ($$$ but I had some left over from a floor project milled from 100 year old oak barn beams) and a final burnish with old burlap. Glad to see you took it to the 0000 steel wool. I have used the edge of an old planer blade as a heavy scraper or even a hack saw blade for a lighter flexible one for curves after you dress a clean edge on a fine bench grinder.

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks Jeff!

[@brianmcguire5005]

I have been using a scraper for years now!! Once you get good and sharpening/burnishing then your sand paper bill will drop drastically! If you think about how old “carpentry” is as a profession sand paper is still a relatively new product. Thanks for the video!!

[@KillingerUSA]

Very true. I'd much rather use this than sand paper

[@carlruediger6205]

Fantastic

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks!

[@mrj7872]

Absolutely beautiful how do you keep the black patina and get rid of all the excess surface rust that’s the problem I’m having

[@KillingerUSA]

I removed all the rust and paint then blued it. Looks good as original

[@jonathandixon8456]

Nice looking chopper Sir !!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks

[@hyattbudreaux8667]

That’s beautiful man !!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you!

[@daleswier8429]

Well, now that the video is over, I think I need to change my shirt. Twenty minutes of looking at that beauty of an axe has caused me to slobber-drool all over myself. Just in case you’re running out of display space, I’ll send you my shipping address. (Lol!) Seriously tho, mighty fine work on that restoration, Chris. I hope you’ll be doing a sheath for it too.

[@KillingerUSA]

Thanks Dale!

[@dougfleming2099]

Hey k, just subscribed. I like your handles the best. Will definitely use that tactic. Thanks. Do you have any French 32’s laying around

[@KillingerUSA]

Hey thanks! No french curves at the moment. Get on my newsletter at killingeroffical.com

[@4trout12429]

I have a BBB double blade ax head with the same logo on it. However it is faint and the head is pitted. I will try the 4/5 steel wool and the blue ing. The worst part is the poul is dented in at the top so just a personal collectors item. I am in Cleveland Ohio area.

[@KillingerUSA]

Awesome! Hody neighbor

[@gvidokepitis1068]

Hello! It was very interesting to watch. I do the same as You did, the only difference is I use edible cold pressed unrefined linseed oil. I don't know what pine tar You use, but I use dark. But in any case the end result was stunningly good,- great work and great video! It was a pleasure to watch!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you

[@brucearney9536]

My wife said , thats a very classy video .

[@KillingerUSA]

Haha! Nice!

[@justinweaver8787]

I always used sand paper scrapeing looks like faster and better results.

[@KillingerUSA]

It is faster

[@jeremywever6947]

Awesome tips! I saw one time on PBS a show like this old house different types and ways of finshing wood. They used an old crome bicycle handle bars and rubbed it on the wood. It produces the same effect of the steel wool without wearing out. Just wondering if you have tried Burnishing wood with a crome rod?

[@KillingerUSA]

No but I could see that working

[@caseG80]

Is 4 ought steel wool 0000. The way I see it sold they have a bunch of grades 0,00,000,0000,00000 course to fine. Steel wool has been my go to lately works good on tons of things. Cheers beautiful axe.

[@KillingerUSA]

Yes. They have a 5 ought? Gonna need some of that!

[@michaelwhiteoldtimer7648]

RALLY NICE AX LOVE THAT FINISH

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you

[@RICHARDMOORE1959]

Excellent....

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank You

[@nickhemby1072]

Gorgeous!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you!

[@Tclasa]

Beautiful axe head! How did you patina that?

[@KillingerUSA]

I think it was Brownell cold blue? Thanks!

[@Hallnout]

First!! Hey chris!

[@KillingerUSA]

Hey buddy!

[@kelseyboy]

awesome awesome awesome..... Would you sell this axe?

[@KillingerUSA]

Sure, why not.

[@boblee1189]

I'm having a hard time about those thin handle holding up I would like to see one put to the test with some hardwood not being negative

[@KillingerUSA]

Ask and you shall receive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYDIYqKXrsSIodk

[@joefunk2137]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! TRUECRAFTSMEN!!

[@KillingerUSA]

Thank you!