>>429788>>431856>pic relatedI melted 40% linseed and 60% beeswax for the last handle I made a few months ago, and as far as I know (sold the axe to a guy for a few bucks and some pirated music) it's held alright. Sorry for getting technical, but what I've found is the denser/heavier the hydrocarbon mixture (more beeswax), the harder it is to get into the wood, but the longer it lasts. the opposite is the same for the lighter ones; a softer mix (more linseed oil) is easier to apply, but won't last as long.
>>434505>>434828>>4349201. It's harder to cut yourself with a dull axe than with a sharp one, but it'll mash where it hits instead of making a clean cut, and dull axes slip/bounce easier and take more effort to use. A sharp axe gets shit done faster, more precisely, and with less effort, and you're more likely to slip up and get a boo-boo if you're tired.
2. I don't usually wear gloves if I'm using an axe because I like feeling the handle and it takes less effort for me to grip the handle barehanded than gloved. However, if you want to wear gloves, go right ahead, especially if you still need to build up calluses and your hands are on the verge of blistering.
And yes, it's more dangerous to swing an axe without gloves or goggles, but I understand the risks and this is America.
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