Why Soak Axe Handles?
Over the last couple of years, the trend of soaking axe handles in boiled linseed oil has grown to mythic proportions. The main reason is due largely to its supposed ability to swell wood. Either meant to tighten loose axe heads or used as a final finish for newly hung axes.
The problem is boiled linseed oil doesn’t appear to actually swell wood fibers. I’ve always had my doubts. But I wanted to do an experiment just to confirm one way or the other.
Wood VS BLO
This experiment is similar to Nic Westermann’s. Only here I will be testing multiple types of wood and then measuring the results with a caliper. The accuracy is within .01mm.
The types of wood I will be using are Ash, Elm and Hickory. Both sapwood and heartwood. All the axes will have their palm swells soaked in boiled linseed oil, at room temperature for eight days. I’ve marked reference points for accurate before and after measurements. Measurements will be taken tangentially. Since the majority of expansion happens in that direction.
It’s a simple experiment but should show what I I’m after.
Suggested Product: Plaza Double Boiled Linseed Oil
Results
Debunking The Myth
In the end, this showed even less expansion than I expected. Only two of the handles expanded by .01mm. Easily an error in measurement. The other six showed no change at all. None.
From this, I would safely assume that even a larger test group, with more species of wood, would show the same results.
Hopefully, this is enough evidence to end the silly, self-perpetuating trend of soaking newly hung axes, for weeks on end, in elaborate dunk tanks for no reason. As well as ending the myth that soaking a loose axe head will help tighten it.
I have two Wetterlings that had very slight head movement, I soaked them for 2 days in boiled linseed oil. They are now tight with no movement. Boiled linseed oil worked for me. I wonder is it depends on humidity.
I have two Wetterlings that had very slight head movement, I soaked them for 2 days in boiled linseed oil. They are now tight with no movement. Boiled linseed oil worked for me. I wonder is it depends on humidity.
I think if the wood has been compressed / squashed the linseed will cause it to swell back to it original shape. Similar to removing dents from wood with water and a hot iron.
Try using completely dried pieces of wood that weren’t allready treated with linseed oil, like a quality axe handle would have been. You may be supprised.
What about sanding the area to be soaked to remove any finish (Either Lacquer or BLO. Therefore introducing some fresh wood fiber to soak up the BLO.
Thank you!! I really think that this soak technique works only to some degree if the wood is bone dry. Otherwise it is just a waste of time used by anal people who never even use their axes let alone live near trees!