Blade cleaning

S

snowplow

Joined
May 16, 2014
Messages
20
Hey dudes, I just got a BK-9 and am absolutely in LOVE! I just stripped the blade and added a micarta handle before I went and cleared a trail. It was mostly salmon berry and black berry. The blade is now really stained up. I am planning a vinegar patina and wanted to clean all that stuff off it before but it is very stubborn. Do any of you have any tips for this?
 
I have put patina on a few of my blades and noticed that if I use fine steel wool that it removes the stains but not the patina.
 
Pics!
A trail-building berry patina sounds way cooler than some garage vinegar patina (like mine.)
I say leave it and use it some more.

When I really want to get mine clean: dish soap, followed by acetone, followed by denatueed alcohol and steel wool generally do the trick. If I'm planning to ever usie it on food, I'll follow that up with more dish soap and dry it really well.
Looking to polish it back up, I start with the 220 sandpaper, work to 2000, and finish with compound like Flitz or Mothers. But if you're going to force a patina, that's entirely unnecessary.
 
Sorry I think I may have not been clear.

The stains dont really bother me. But the knife does not have a patina on it yet. I would like to remove the stains for now, just so I can apply an even patina to start with. Then after that it is what it is.
 
I was surprised, lacquer thinner didn't even touch it. I gave it a quick rub with 00 steel wool (just real quick) to see if it was on the surface or actually stained and it didn't seem to do much. I have always found lacquer thinner to remove about anything.
 
I'm guessing you still have the grind lines. because the bk's seem to be very porous when first stripped. I think your going to have to grind the main bevel. Start with a 220~ grit to remove the stain. Then move to finer 500+ grits to smooth the surface. If you want to for patina prep. Or if you have a dremmel with a stainless steel brush you might be better served. No grinding should have to be done at all.
 
Scotchbrite and dish soap (or Simple Green) should do the trick.
That's my standard method of Becker cleaning.
 
Clee-ning? What is this word? As long as there is no rust or nastiness, I just let my Beckers build character. But I do soap 'em up before any food stuff.
 
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