How To Keep Your Wooden Tool Handles From Splintering Using This Common Garage Staple

In order to lessen the chances of a wooden tool handle splintering, all one needs is a can of WD-40 (or a common WD-40 substitute). Because the lubricant consists of a penetrating oil mixture, applying it to a wooden surface essentially acts as a sealing mechanism. The WD-40 allows the wood to retain a level of moisture that prevents it from drying out through contact with dirt and other substances, which is what often leads to splintering. The application process is as follows:

1. Clean the tools with wooden handles in need of protection. If they are grimy, wash them and then dry them. 
2. If the handles are rough to the touch or heavily weathered, sand them down with a low to medium-grit sandpaper until they are smooth.
3. Once the tools are cleaned and ready, spray the entire surface area of their handles with WD-40.
4. Let the coated tools rest for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes while the WD-40 soaks in. After that, use a rag to wipe off any extra oil from the handles.
5. The wooden handles of the tools are now sealed in WD-40, preventing them from splintering as easily.

This handle coating process can subsequently be repeated on the same tools for added protection. However, even just doing it once per instrument should be enough to keep them in good shape for the foreseeable future.