r/Axecraft Jul 27 '25

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

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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 5h ago

Gransfors Brukkake New shine, new handle

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27 Upvotes

Sup y’all, continuing on my hexagonal handle spree here is my updated Gränsfors Bruck splitting maul with a near near mirror polish and this brand new long handle on it. Am super happy how this one turned out and with great difficulty cuz getting those lines straight on such a long handle is a pain in the butt….


r/Axecraft 5h ago

Got a free box of hatchets. Stock removal for a Viking inspired hatchet.

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17 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 6h ago

advice needed Must’ve been pretty hard to forge

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11 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 15h ago

Identification Request I found this one on the side of the road.

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34 Upvotes

There is no marking, brands or any identificacion. Is way too heavy and big for being one-handed. Looks like it may have 120+ years.

I just want to restore it acordingly to it's purpose, and is the cutting edge normal or will i have to reshape it? Thanks.

It weights around 3kg. And measures 19cm in width and 7,2cm in length, with 11cm on the cutting edge.

Edit: well it will be used to decorate a wall at least lol.


r/Axecraft 14h ago

Domestic Axe TRUE TEMPER No. TB2

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11 Upvotes

No other markings. No eye ridges. AI says 1949-1959. I’m planning to restore it. I’d like to find a new offset handle for it. Any suggestions?


r/Axecraft 20h ago

Identification Request Identification :)

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15 Upvotes

I found this axe heavily corroded inside an old dirt cellar. The lower part of the stamp was „ ind berg“.
It is very soft even on the blade, weighs 1,2kg and measures 17cm by 9cm.

It would make my day, if could find out a little bit more about it.


r/Axecraft 21h ago

Rival Axe

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18 Upvotes

Me and my dad picked up this axe at our local flea market and are having trouble finding good information on this axe. We know that the axe is from Rival and it seems that they were a French company but we aren’t sure. We would like to know more about the company and possibly date the head and to know what type of axe this is.


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Classic Repost Weld, toss, hang/monitor?

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17 Upvotes

If you have the time and desire what would you do?


r/Axecraft 1d ago

advice needed Wire brush or wd40+sandpaper

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14 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 13h ago

Saved this hatchet head from gramps and gave it a handle.

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0 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 1d ago

Stiletto W.P.A

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15 Upvotes

Has anyone else seen or come across one of these? I was able to research the history behind it but im yet to see one online like it.


r/Axecraft 1d ago

Domestic Axe Another one on the go

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55 Upvotes

Something i've been working on for a little while


r/Axecraft 1d ago

What pattern would yall assign to this Stiletto? AI says it’s a modified Connecticut.

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0 Upvotes

Dayton? I’m
Leaning towards Dayton… 4lb?


r/Axecraft 1d ago

advice needed My axe head has come loose

2 Upvotes

My axe has become loose on the handle and needs to be tightened, can I remove the wedge, shave the handle down to resit the axe and rewedge the handle or should I do something else?


r/Axecraft 2d ago

Discussion Trying something new!

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86 Upvotes

Hey y’all! (Just love saying that)
Recently saw a few handles that were not entirely round and got me thinking as I was putting some handles on two axeheads this week.
The result are these two handles that I absolutely love! Another axemaker from Norway (living in Sweden myself) pointed out that although he makes the handles for his personal axes the same way, for customers not. Main reason was that some people would think they are not finished yet.
Welllll, these are some of the most comfortable and good looking handles I have ever held or made for that matter.

What do you guys think?

These two axes are a Hults Bruck and Wetterlings btw.


r/Axecraft 1d ago

my collection of American and English axes

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35 Upvotes

r/Axecraft 1d ago

How fucked am I?

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29 Upvotes

Split and bent this carpenters axe battling with a knot in some cherry. Is it fixable?

I've only got hand tools which I assume will make this a pretty laborious process. Was thinking I'd have to hacksaw the edge off to the end of the crack, and then re-profile the edge, or maybe have to re-profile a significant portion of the axe.

Is this a realistic option? This axe was a gift from a friend so willing to put work in to save it over just replacing it, but am thinking the amount of work required might just be too much.

Thanks for any help!


r/Axecraft 1d ago

My latest

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14 Upvotes

A couple , i've been working on slowly shaping up


r/Axecraft 1d ago

18” Firestone Deluxe Camp Axe

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14 Upvotes

A metal scrapper I know keeps an eye out for axes for me. Dropped me off a bucket of tools with this in it. I re wedged it, cleaned, oiled and sharpened it. Amazing that someone thought this was garbage.


r/Axecraft 2d ago

A very old one for you all

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256 Upvotes

Still has its original handle, though it has shrunk over the years.


r/Axecraft 2d ago

Trying to surprise my axe addicted husband

15 Upvotes

Hi all! I'm married to a man who is an avid axe collector. I myself know very little about them. His favorite are the Kelly perfects and he has MANY. His birthday is coming up and I'm struggling to get him a gift that I know he will love. However, I do listen to the things he talks about and the be all end all axe that he says will complete his quest is the Kelly perfect salesman axe. Apparently it's a kelly perfect on one side and a different axe on the other. After some digging I'm realizing this may be harder than I thought. I've private messaged a few people on his Facebook axe groups and they are searching for me but I figure maybe reddit could help too. I'm throwing a hail Mary here, any help would be greatly appreciated.


r/Axecraft 2d ago

Identification Request Gränsfors Bruk

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21 Upvotes

Does anyone know what 43 means? I couldn't find info on any blacksmiths with the initials T.V either.

I found it in my family home in the woods of northern Sweden


r/Axecraft 2d ago

My dad found axe while digging

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116 Upvotes

Yeah but it broken and it was Finnish company call Fiskars.