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Everyone says to use boiled linseed oil on old tool handles, but it warped my chisel handle in 3 days
I picked up a set of vintage chisels at an estate sale outside Portland last month and decided to treat the cracked handles with boiled linseed oil like everyone recommends online. Within 3 days the handle swelled up and actually split down the grain, making it useless. Turns out that old dry wood can soak up too much oil too fast and expand unevenly. Has anyone else had better luck with Danish oil or just straight tung oil for this sort of thing?
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alice_harris351mo ago
That old dry wood soaking up too fast is the key. Nobody talks about pre-wetting the wood first. I've restored a bunch of old hammers and I always wipe the handle down with a damp rag before oiling. The water fills the surface cells and slows the oil penetration. Stops that sudden swelling you had. Try tung oil next time, it dries slower and gives you more control.
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lewis.drew1mo ago
Hogwash, water and oil don't mix and you're just asking for rot down the line.
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