Check you Drawers - Outgassing

[screened porch]

Given that it's a matter of if, not when, with celluloid covers why do you bother with them?

Or a matter of when, not if?
Some I've had since before I heard of celluloid. Some I can't tell if it's cell or something else and it seems worth the risk. I have several with the covers popped off awaiting refitting. I do still have too many awaiting quarantine.

 

[screened porch]

It kind of reminds me of posts and discussions years back about Horn handles and the fear of invasion by horn boring beetles..

Swish them in kerosene, some would say.

 

[kamagong]

Or a matter of when, not if?
Some I've had since before I heard of celluloid. Some I can't tell if it's cell or something else and it seems worth the risk. I have several with the covers popped off awaiting refitting. I do still have too many awaiting quarantine.

Hahaha...I guess I need to proofread better.

 

[btb01]

I don't have any celluloid knives, but I did recently purchase a fountain pen made of celluloid. I left it downstairs on the desk last night, but this morning I caught it trying to sneak into my knife drawers! No doubt it was planning to gas on some of my good knives. I'm gonna have to keep an eye on that pen…

 

[North Shore]

Do you know if this knife has gassed out? Remington calls is Pyremite covers, which is a celluloid moniker from what I have read.

 

[jimmyd1982]

I had to check my drawers multiple times last night to make sure gassing was my only problem..... shouldn't of had that second bowl of chili...

 

[glennbad]

Do you know if this knife has gassed out? Remington calls is Pyremite covers, which is a celluloid moniker from what I have read.

It very well could be. It could also have been stored near another knife that was outgassing. What do the pins on that pile side look like? I guess if I had to guess, I would say that knife is gassing from under the pile side cover.

 

[North Shore]

It very well could be. It could also have been stored near another knife that was outgassing. What do the pins on that pile side look like? I guess if I had to guess, I would say that knife is gassing from under the pile side cover.

I see what you mean Glennbad, the pins are corroded and the bolster too. I just got it at an antique mall for 15 bucks cuz it was an early Remington, in nice shape otherwise. What are my options? I hear you're the man when it comes to rescaling. Can I rub some flitz on the corroded spots and call it a day?

 

[glennbad]

The corroded pins are a giveaway that it has been exposed to gassing. However, still not clear whether the issue is that knife in particular. Any cracking of that cover that looks like it is cracking from the inside out?

I'd hate to tell you to remove the covers (cause that is what I would recommend, if you want to limit further damage) if it was another knife that caused that gassing damage, but if it is the covers doing that, then you need to remove those covers as soon as possible. When celluloid covers are outgassing, the only thing you can do to stop the damage is to remove them from the knife.

That is the cruel mistress that celluloid is...

 

[LastRodeo]

Throw some vintage Westinghouse micarta on it and call it a day.