Loose Handles

[jayco]

It's been hot and dry here all summer. The handles on too many of my hammers,handled punches and chisels are getting slightly loose.

Is there some way of getting a little moisture to the wooden handles? Just some humidity to tighten them up?

I would prefer not to have to re-wedge all my handles, since I'm sure the problem will end as soon as it rains here.

Would an application of linseed oil do the trick?

[civilwarblacksmith]

I have heard that soaking the handle in linseed oil will hydrate the handles and make them swell. This isn't a permanent fix as with age they will shrink again and need to re-hydrated. Should last a good while though.

[easilyconfused]

You could also just give them a quick soak on the quench tub to get some water into them. Once again, short fix and I'd worry about rot if left in there too long.

[Finnr]

Linseed oil is a lot better idea than just water. When the wood swells with water the fibers get crushed. Drying out makes the crushed fibers a worse problem as the handle is even looser than before. Linseed oil will soak in and dry eventually so it stays there and dosen't evaporate out like the water.
Finnr

[mike-hr]

I use a 50-50 mix of linseed oil and turpentine on all my wood handles. Rakes, picks shovels, hammers. The turpentine thins the oil enough to let it soak in the wood easier. Treatment lasts about a year in the sun.

[tetnum]

i just soak the handles in straight antifreze they will rarely come lose again and its almoast impossable to remove a broken handle with out drilling it out

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by Finnr

Linseed oil is a lot better idea than just water. When the wood swells with water the fibers get crushed. Drying out makes the crushed fibers a worse problem as the handle is even looser than before. Linseed oil will soak in and dry eventually so it stays there and dosen't evaporate out like the water.
Finnr

trouble with linseed oil is, if left out in the air(like outside) the oil will oxidase and turn the handle black.after a while the top layer turns to powder. I've been playing around ith WD40 as Hofi suggest for his hammers it does not seem to change the color of the wood and soaks right in

[Finnr]

Well ya see. I'm already handling the handle with filthy dirty black hands so it makes little difference. The handle isn't for pretty it's to hold on to. I've used linseed oil for about 35 or so years on all kinds of tools and have yet to get a black handle from exposure to the air. But then maybe some folks do. WD40 seems to work but I guess I'm kinda old fashioned.
Finnr

[Lord Ruthven]

Hm, have you tried boiling hot linseed oil instead of thinned with turpentine one. It works just as well, and the effect is longer lasting.

[Jerry W.]

I have seen them soaked in anti-freeze and that seems to work very well.
Jerry