A knife restoration question

[FullerH]

The following is posted at the request of a friend:

Hugh:

Could you please post the following on the knfe pages that you contribute to? I've gotten a good response from Jock Dempsey at Anvilfire, but for a situation as prone to problems as this, I'm happy to have second and third opinions, especially your own. Please feel free to edit, or call me if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Pax Vobiscum

Rust Removal:

Before I mess things up... My friend has a small pen knife from his Grandfather, who raced cars around the turn of the LAST century. (Odd to think that I could also have friends whose grandfathers race cars at the end of THIS century.) Anyway, the knife is a trade knife with ivory-micarta scales and everything in mint condition ("Robert Bosch Magneto Company Inc. New York" proudly imprinted on one side with "The Origional Bosch, Robert Bosch A;G." on the other.) However, it has several patches of scaley rust on both blades. The biggest patch is about 5mm by 3mm, and various bits and flecks here and there. The rest of each blade, and the corkscrew, are at a mirror polish. I do not know if they are plated or not, so that is another consideration.

So, he wants to know, how do I remove the rust patches without destroying the finish or destroying the value? I come from the "crude but effective" school of blacksmithing and thus I'm open to any suggestions.

Dear Hugh:

A little p.s. for my previous post:

Jim's knife is marked on one side of the ricasso of the primary blade with:

SOLINGER METALLWAREN FABRIK

and on the other side:

MADE IN GERMANY


If anyone can help with this, my friend, his boss, and I would be most appreciative

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller

 

[Walt Welch]

Hugh; perhaps you can find your answer here:
http://www.loganact.com/mwn/howto/rust/rust.html

Several methods of rust removal, with the pros and cons of each are discussed here, including the electrolytic method.

Hope this helps, Walt

 

[Cougar Allen]

The only way I remove rust from anything worth taking some trouble over is to scrape it with the edge of a copper coin such as a pre-1982 US cent. It can take a while to do a sword that way, but it won't take long with a little penknife and this one is obviously worth doing right. Scraping with a penny doesn't scratch or polish or alter the finish in any way; it won't remove patina; it only removes active red rust. It's the only way to go with a valuable antique whether it's sentimental value or monetary.

If it's just an old rusty knife of no value beyond usability then clean it up any way you want, Flitz, Scotchbrite, sandpaper, whatever -- but don't butcher an antique like that; take the time to do it right. Don't look at it as work, look at it as quality time to spend with your treasure.



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-Cougar Allen :{)
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This post is not merely the author's opinions; it is the trrrrrruth. This post is intended to cause dissension and unrest and upset people, and ultimately drive them mad. Please do not misinterpret my intentions in posting this.