I have an old machine like that,( the sharpener) it doesn.t work anymore, it was my grandpaps. Can I get good results manually? If I try that and dip in water when it gets warm, do I go in 1 direction only, with the stone? I have info on how to get new blades written somewhere too, but if I fail at sharpening myself there must be someone local I can give a few bucks to, that will do it. I still can't fathom that machine going through branches very good, maybe mine had dull blades from the start, it sounded like an unbalanced washing machine or worse with a 1/4 inch branch and buzzed when it clogged almost immediately with that small branch.I'll get it sharpened and hope that does the trick.

Hey Garandman, I actually have a garand that I really like to take out once in awhile. I thought about putting a glass sight on it (would require drilling into the receiver though). I refinished the stock long ago with varnish. I like the look but in some ways I wish I had kept the original finish on it. Is there any particular Tung Oil you would recommend to refinish the handles with, I have the same problem. For anyone using linseed oil or other natural oils be careful how you store them as they can spontaneously combust. Â Carefully store oil, gasoline, or paint-soaked rags. Store them in a tightly sealed container in a cool, well-ventilated place away from other combustibles. Or, lay the rags out individually on a flat surface and leave them to dry completely before reusing. Rags containing linseed, stain, paint and vegetable oil are subject to spontaneous combustion. Other natural oils such as mineral oil, cottonseed oil, cod and other fish oil present similar problems. Rags used with these products should be stored by submersing them in a water filled metal container with a fitted lid.

Clean well, sand smooth, saturate in BLO - boiled linseed oil the first time and then once or twice a year otherwise, I wipe with an old piece of cloth that I keep soaking in the shed with BLO. My father, his father and probably his father before him used this method. Dad's still using the construction grade single wheel wheelbarrow with original handles that was my Christmas Present in 19 and 76 :) It was a great present!

I got tired of replacing free replacement splitting maul handles at Sears (from over-swings etc). I saw an article that suggested tacking 3-4" of angle to the head to protect the handle. I went a step further and tacked on 3-4" of pipe filled with 100% silicone and that wooden handle has lasted 20 + years. I replaced my axe handle with a fiberglass one that has lasted forever. Last, I flared and welded black pipe to my med & small sledges. Added foam pipe insulation on the smaller sledge's handle. Added good think automotive hose to the med sledge's handle. Getting the thick hose on was a task and adding a bolt & nut toward the butt secured it. The Big Trick Is Slowing & A Hydraulic Log Splitter. LOL. loger