HELP! How do I get rid of this?

L

Lefty923

Joined
May 10, 2011
Messages
132
So I decided to lightly buff off the patina on my #72 main blade and I saw this line. How do I get rid of it? It looks like a scratch but it's not. I was cutting some food the other night maybe I didn't wipe it down well enough.

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Is it a chemical mark from what you were cutting? Hard to tell from the pics.

Just relax and use the knife. Over time you won't even notice it.

If that's not an acceptable answer then polish if off with Flitz or a super fine metal polish. I'm sure others can chime in on that process. I don't fret over stuff like this so can't give you an exact answer on REMOVING it. (I would just leave it and consider it a character mark myself).
 
Could it have something to do with the tempering of the edge? Not sure if the entire blade is tempered equally from edge to spine or just primarily in the area near the egde? Just theorizing here, don't know.
 
arizonaranchman said:
Could it have something to do with the tempering of the edge? Not sure if the entire blade is tempered equally from edge to spine or just primarily in the area near the egde? Just theorizing here, don't know.
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The entire blade is hardened - I'm assuming, otherwise each blade would have to be individually quenched. Which wouldn't be practical for production models at GEC's price point. I would guess that it's where you forgot to wipe off your blade, the perimeter of whatever was on your blade will oxidize the quickest, leaving a small line etched into the steel...:)
 
9blades said:
The entire blade is hardened - I'm assuming, otherwise each blade would have to be individually quenched. Which wouldn't be practical for production models at GEC's price point. I would guess that it's where you forgot to wipe off your blade, the perimeter of whatever was on your blade will oxidize the quickest, leaving a small line etched into the steel...:)
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That makes sense. I noticed a similar thing in applying a vinegar/hot water patina to a 1095 blade. The oxidation happens at a quicker pace in the region where the steel is exposed to the acids/corrosives and the oxygen (air) at the same time; in other words, at the edge where they meet. For my blade, being dipped into the hot water/vinegar solution, this happened at the surface of the liquid, where the acid-wetted blade was exposed to the air.

I wouldn't worry about it, but if you still want to clean it up, you may need to do some sanding of the blade. If the etch is very deep at all, polishing paste won't be able to remove it by itself.


David
 
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You should be good. I notice that a lot of time when I clean off my knives. The patina was strong in this one. :)

I say use away and learn to love patina!
 
Well I gave it a good buff and ended up giving the blades a Scotch Brite finish. It's been turned from a show piece into a definite work horse. It just got aged a little before its time, a lot like me.

Funny thing this knife obsession, I try to keep them as clean and pristine as long as possible, but after the first few scratches...my OCD seems to subside.
 
Lefty923 said:
...Funny thing this knife obsession, I try to keep them as clean and pristine as long as possible, but after the first few scratches...my OCD seems to subside.
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As it should be, with 1095 and other high carbon steel once that beautiful polish is marred, it's time to put it to work.

I dread that first scratch, that first stain but then I'd be relieved and go and get on with the enjoyment of actually using the knife. :)
 
Lefty923 said:
Well I gave it a good buff and ended up giving the blades a Scotch Brite finish. It's been turned from a show piece into a definite work horse. It just got aged a little before its time, a lot like me.

Funny thing this knife obsession, I try to keep them as clean and pristine as long as possible, but after the first few scratches...my OCD seems to subside.
Click to expand...

I hear ya.I think its more a case of my brain gets the patina.
 
Lefty923 said:
...
Funny thing this knife obsession, I try to keep them as clean and pristine as long as possible, but after the first few scratches...my OCD seems to subside.
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That's pretty much the same with me. It's almost a relief when you finally get it dinged up enough that you can just enjoy the heck out of the knife without babying it. Just like the designer intended.
 
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