help me clean my old gross looking knife please

Looks fine. It is not stainless steel, the natural patina will keep it from rusting, but you should lube the pivot area and maybe wipe some mineral oil on the blades.

Can't really see your picture too clearly, and it doesn't allow for zooming in on that crappy site, but unless there are also crusty goobers on the blades, it is normal, and they can be sharpened and used as is.
 
it used to not have all the patina on it. it was silvery knife colored. I guess I want to get it back to looking like that if it's possible...
 
As others said, blades look fine. However spend a minute or two scrub with steel wool 0000 (4 zeroes) will brighten them up. i.e. remove some patina but not much metal.
 
A few minutes on a strop will polish it right up.

I would just use it. Wash it well with soap and very hot water. Dry it off, and oil the joints and drop it in a pocket.

The blades are carbon steel. They will discolor over time.
 
This is what I do.
1- pour mineral oil all over the whole knife and let it soak in good. (couple of hours)
2- remove the rust with steel wool. I like to do it with oil still on the blade. Dont bother wiping it down.
3- wash it good with dawn dish soap. hose pipe or water pic works good to blow the dirt and build up out of the pivots.
4- Polish. There are many good polishes out there. I use the same green polish that I strop with and my dremmel, but It can be done by hand.( Be careful not to get it too hot and ruin the temper).
5- Wash it and dry it again. (I recently got a sonic cleaner from Harbor Frieght that works good to remove any build up in the hard to get to places).
6- Give it a light coat of oil and put it to use.

Hope this helps
 
If you want to remove the patina just get some Flitz polish, no metal needs to be removed, sanded or otherwise messed with.

Flitz will literally wipe the patina off.

I'm Just saying...

-Tulku
 
Agreed, flitz works good, I only sand to try to make some of the pitting caused by rust less noticeable.
 
I wouldn't use the scothbrite pads. The green scotchbrite pads usually have some silicon carbide abrasive in them. It will leave scratches. Found out when I scrubbed my car's windshield with one:mad:.

Ric
 
Tulku said:
If you want to remove the patina just get some Flitz polish, no metal needs to be removed, sanded or otherwise messed with.

Flitz will literally wipe the patina off.

I'm Just saying...

-Tulku
Click to expand...

You can't polish without removing metal. Flitz is abrasive-regardless of what they claim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top