When I buy old axes and clean them up by soaking the in vinegar to remove the rust, it seems like it immediately starts to oxidize after it's dry. Is this normal?
Pic related is what it starts to look like.
i do the same thing, After uing vinegar quickly rinse with water, hand dry then let it sit in the sun and air for a haf hour, then either spraypaint it, or coat it with wax, vaselene or anythig else, ( read around to see what works )
Nice axe. Vinegar actually puts it's own sort of oxidation/patina on, so that's the light colored stuff you're seeing. That darker part is the heat treat line
Vinager removes rust but puts on a lead like finish.
Take some fine sandpaper to it then polish it, if you really care about its aesthetic.
its a patina and will actually work to prevent future rusting. should not be the sole defense though. carbon steel is going to patina regardless, but a patina from the environment delves into rust
>>769663
Personally I tend to leave the scale in place, it's just an endgame version of patina and an axe head with decades of scale on it will be more resistant to rusting away then an axe head with light patina.
Follow the advice of the previous posts. I advise using a spray lacquer to seal it, if a normal steel finish is what you want.
>>769663
A light uniform layer of rust is actually going to help with preventing future corrosion.
Rust bluing is a technique for finishing high end firearms where you deliberately produce rust on the firearm, it produces a very attractive finish.
>>771069
>A light uniform layer of rust is actually going to help with preventing future corrosion.
Doesn't any rust start to pit and damage the blade?
>>771736
I've never performed the procedure myself but I believe the gun is only put through an accelerated rusting process after the rust blue solution has been applied, and then the actual rust is removed by immersing it in boiling water and all the surfaces are polished. It's one of the most durable blue finishes you can put on a gun.
Basically don't leave the the rust on there as it is.
