Slightly off topic, but do you have any recommendations for fixing a loose hammer head? I've soaked it in water twice, stays tight for a few days but loosens up again. Medium sized ball peen that I use daily at work locksmithing - stamping keys, driving out pins, etc
Yes actually I do, and you don't want to use water or antifreeze or anything like that because they evaporate leaving the wood looser than it was before.
Your hammer handle is thirsty and it needs to drink some boiled linseed oil.
Whether or not this tightens the head depends on how much it drinks up and how loose it is, but the wood needs nourishment. The BLO will soak in and stay there.
Now is your hammer wedged with a wood wedge and a steel wedge ?
What I would recommend is drilling out the wood wedge, pulling the steel wedge if there, then re wedging the whole thing.
Once the wedges are removed pour some BLO into the handles open kerf inside the eye and let the wood drink it all up, then tap the bottom of the bandle with a mallet to get the head driven down a bit farther.
Last just put some BLO on a new wooden wedge before driving it home and reinsert the steel wedge if need be.
If there's no wood wedge you'll have to finagle the steel.wedge out, remove the handle, and cut a new kerf 3/4 the depth of the tool eye.
Then you'll do the oil and wedge..ect.
I hope this helps.