Dried out G-10

LorenzoL

LorenzoL

Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
1,810
I have a couple of older knives with G-10 scales that look whitish, as if they were dry. Any idea as to what causes this and what is the best "cure"?
 
Yep, a little oil will bring back the depth of the color and get rid of the whiteness.
 
Black leather dye (not shoe polish) works well on faded G-10. I have tried this and been happy with the results. I believe I discovered this trick on the Spyderco forum.

Tom
 
Yeah, mineral oil works as Phillip suggested. Just don't go crazy with it.

"It rubs the lotion on it's......" nvrmnd. :D

mike
 
Top layer has oxidized. You can try to polish it off with 0000 steel wool. Aside from oil, you can use car wax to protect it as long as it doesn't make the surface too slippery to grasp.
 
OK, I had some paraffin oil and applied it with a cloth only on the dry patches and it looks good. Now I want to see what happens when that oil eventually evaporates and whether the G-10 is still dry underneath.
Thanks to everybody here for their input.
 
LorenzoL said:
I have a couple of older knives with G-10 scales that look whitish, as if they were dry. Any idea as to what causes this and what is the best "cure"?
Click to expand...

CWL said:
Top layer has oxidized. You can try to polish it off with 0000 steel wool. Aside from oil, you can use car wax to protect it as long as it doesn't make the surface too slippery to grasp.
Click to expand...

Epoxy does not oxidize. It does however, break down under UV light such as that found in direct sunlight or some high intensity commercial lights. The degradation is only at the surface and is cosmetic only. There is no loss of strength.

As CWL says, use oil or car wax. Mineral oil (as is sold as a laxative in drug stores) does not evaporate and is a higher grade of oil than 3-in-one or WD40.
 
Alot of the time that white buildup on your G-10 scales is actually salt from sweat whether it's from being in your pocket or from your hand. Salt isn't the easiest to get out if it's imbedded so oils may not work if that is the case. You need something that has grit to it. A good pumice soap or even better KABOOM soft scrub in the purple bottle. It has cleaned all my G-10 of everything that has stained it.
 
It is probably oxidation, much like a car's paint finish would whiten if not properly waxed.

In addition to an oil-based substance, you can also use a product like Armor-All or other plastic conditioner. It will take away the white and possible be less slippery if the knife happens to get wet.
 
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Epoxy does not oxidize. That means it does not react with atmospheric oxygen.
 
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