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Best way to remove spotting from a 1095 GEC without messing up mirror finish?

Hashishiin

Hashishiin

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2021
Messages
4,144
I have noticed unsightly blemishes on the blades of M4 and K390 when using the light BKF spray. Do I just need to live with it or is there some way to gently remove these spots? Thank you!!
Am good with patina but this is unsightly
IMG_20231101_111554800_HDR.jpg
 
Assuming the light 'BKF Spray' is Bar Keepers Friend? If using it to remove rust, BKF might be a bit overkill on carbon steel blades like 1095 - the spotting on the blades is evidence of that. The oxalic acid in BKF is pretty aggressive on steel (iron & iron oxides) and even on stainless steel, if it's overused or left in contact too long. It'll etch or pit the steel if left in contact too long.

If it were me, I'd be considering more conservative means to remove rust. The polishing pastes suggested earlier, like Flitz or Simichrome, would be one option for cleaning up rust on highly polished carbon steel blades, while bypassing the use of the BKF on carbon steel blades altogether.

BKF has its good uses and works impressively for specific tasks. But it's best to weigh that against the potential risks as well, so it's not doing damage of another kind in the process of trying to clean something up.
 
Bar Keeper contains a bunch of oxalic acid. If you let it sit on brass, it'll start a patina.

It'll also remove rust because it dissolves iron. So I wouldn't use it on carbon steel. Well I would, but I wouldn't leave it sitting on the blade. A good scrub and a better rinse.
 
#0000 grade steel wool does a good job of buffing off the rust itself, but the spots will continue to be present on the blade until you actually remove all the steel above the divot caused in the surface by the corrosion.
 
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