Cleaning mud-stained FRN?

R

renter6

Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
3
I recently picked up a Gerber bolt action folder on eBay, and its pretty beat up. I figured hey, I can clean that up and use it. The lock up on these has such a good reputation, I wanted to try one out.

There is mud or something deep in the checkers of the textured FRN handle (or what I take to be FRN), and for the life of me, I can't clean it out.

I've tried soapy hot water and a toothbrush. I tried scratching at it with a toothpick after soaking it in soapy water. It seems like a stain and I can't seem to lift it.

Any tips? Substances I could try? I've thought of bleach or something like gasoline, but I do want to use this with food and don't want it to get smelly. Is there a reigning wisdom on what is safe to clean FRN?
 
Try mineral oil. I use it on a lot of things and it works nine out of ten times.
 
Thanks for these tips! I tried mineral oil and that loosened the stuff, definitely.

I soaked and scrubbed with mineral oil for a while using a brass brush, and then started scraping out the mud with a dental pick. It seemed to want something abrasive. I went over to brass brush with hot water and some wood ash, with all of that I was able to clean out most of the dried on mud.

I wasn't sure the stuff was ever going to come out, but I'm most of the way there! Thanks again for the advice.
 
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