Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > What is the proper way to dry wooden hafts? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Jonah Marlow




Location: united states
Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Likes: 42 pages

Posts: 26

PostPosted: Sun 06 May, 2012 2:04 am    Post subject: What is the proper way to dry wooden hafts?         Reply with quote

Hello everyone. My backyard has recently been overran by a horde of water-bottles. Wink I am going to reconquer it with my A&A Iberian mace, but I wish to know how to properly dry the wooden haft when finished Happy
Jonah Marlow
View user's profile Send private message
Julian Reynolds




Location: United Kingdom
Joined: 30 Mar 2008

Posts: 271

PostPosted: Sun 06 May, 2012 2:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If the haft is already well oiled (say, Danish oil) then this shouldn't be an issue; it will already be waterproof (or at least 'water resistant'!). Whatever you do, if it gets really wet, dry it slowly at room temperature (as with all wood) otherwise it may warp or split.

Julian
View user's profile Send private message
Ben Coomer




Location: Colorado
Joined: 06 Sep 2011
Likes: 1 page

Posts: 184

PostPosted: Sun 06 May, 2012 12:51 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Generally, drying wood correctly involves leaving them alone in a warm dry place for a while rotating occasionally. As usually the wood gets to an equilibrium with its environment, so in humid areas you'll need to get it in a drier place and in arid areas you need to be more careful in it over drying, but mostly drying wood is just a matter of patience and trying to prevent warping.
View user's profile Send private message
David Hohl




Location: Oregon
Joined: 07 Feb 2011

Posts: 58

PostPosted: Sun 06 May, 2012 6:22 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'd agree that if it's just been splashed, you should be able to just dry it by leaving it out where it can get a bit of airflow. I definitely recommend oil or wax, which will both make the wood stronger and keep moisture out. If it gets really soaked hang it up somewhere cool and dry (drying fast can cause both warping and cracks) for a few days.
View user's profile Send private message
Jean Thibodeau




Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Joined: 15 Mar 2004
Likes: 50 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 5
Posts: 8,310

PostPosted: Sun 06 May, 2012 7:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If finished with oil I would think that it would have to be immersed in water for quite a while before water got more than the surface wet.

Oil or wax before use, wipe and polish with a rag and water should just bead on the surface.

I finish my hafts or walking stick with linseed oil and over time build up a nice lustre on the surface of the wood. You can refresh the surface with a coat of boiled linseed oil, hand rub in for a few minutes and then remove the surface oils: The nice thing is that you can then handle the wood and it doesn't feel sticky or even very oily. One can do this regularly to maintain a good water resistant finish.

I would just dry the surface with a paper towel after it gets wet, let it dry completely to the touch and give it again a wipe on wipe off of oil.

You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
View user's profile Send private message
Ken Speed





Joined: 09 Oct 2006

Posts: 656

PostPosted: Sun 06 May, 2012 7:51 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well, in general Danish oil is usually really a slow varnish which is why it can build a finish. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with a Danish oil finish, I just want to make sure you know what you're using. I'd use a 50/50 mixture of boiled linseed oil and turpentine ( it smells better than paint thinner) and work it in with an oily rag every few days for several months. When you have a nice low gloss luster that you're happy with, put on a coat or two of paste wax. i use Butcher's wax. As long as you wipe the mace down after use and wax it occasionally you should be golden!
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > What is the proper way to dry wooden hafts?
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum