Best way to paint an Axe?

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Permalink Reply by Reigec on October 18, 2009 at 1:47pm

last time we sharpened ours we used rust-oleum, it worked pretty good, but i guess it depends on the type of metal

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on October 18, 2009 at 1:54pm

is the look what your after, or the rust issue? If it's a rust issue, sand down the rust until you catch the newer metal look and oil them. Painting them for show is a whole differant animal and your on your own there

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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on October 18, 2009 at 2:16pm

Finally a topic i feel pretty qualified to speak on!

The first step is to prep the metal. As 913 said, sanding the rust out is important. You can't just wire-brush it because according to an old bo'sun mate I knew in the Navy, that just "polishes" the rust. So sand the rusted areas down to bare metal. Paint salesmen will tell you that you need to prime it first, but for a working tool, I'd skip the primer.

Then tape off the section you want painted, lay it on a piece of cardboard in the driveway and open up the rattle-cans!

Good luck and send pics!

Reg

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on October 18, 2009 at 10:59pm

Here's a question: do you paint the entire ax head or do you leave an area from the edge back unpainted, and if so, why?
also, I feel that axes should be RED.

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Permalink Reply by Captain703 on October 19, 2009 at 12:50am

Why paint the working end of the ax?

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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd Chief Sharp on October 19, 2009 at 12:57am

My point exactly! If you want it to be for show by all means. But if its a working tool then better to sand it down to bare metal, sharpen and oil it. Otherwise, use Rust inhibiting paint.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Llobell on October 19, 2009 at 2:58pm

These axes are all working tools.

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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on October 19, 2009 at 10:23am

Hey Jack,

We leave about a 4" section from the blade back, unpainted. The paint will cause the blade to bind(proper term is to "gaul"), in a cut.

Reg

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on October 19, 2009 at 11:50am

Reg, that was my understanding as well. There seemed to be a question about that here as some axes were painted that included the edge. We do agree however that the axe should be RED in color?

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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on October 19, 2009 at 9:10pm

Absolutely!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Bill on October 19, 2009 at 3:02pm

You should paint the head of the axe but remember to keep about 1 to 1 1/2 unpainted. This is so you can see if there is any cracks or chips on the edge which can lead to failure of the axe and possible injure you.

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Permalink Reply by J Brooks on October 19, 2009 at 8:55am

How did you sharpen them? A grinding wheel will screw up the tempering of the head and actually make the brittle. Make sure that they were sharpened correctly. We generally tape off the cutting end and only paint up to about one inch from there. We use Rust Oleum, works great.

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