How to clean Spyderco 306 UF?

AmericanEDC

AmericanEDC

Gold Member
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Jun 5, 2013
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Here's a photo of my stone after using a scotch pad, a Magic Eraser and using Bon Ami

What's best to use that will it get back to white? Or do I even worry about getting it back to white? I realize what I'm seeing must be tiny particles of steel?

Thanks

7A9C6687-DDAE-4627-AA57-B1333F27AB57-463-000000BE1A57F6D1_zps4d79659d.jpg
 
Bar Keeper's Friend works like magic. I use it for my Spyderco UF Stone.

Just don't mix it with any other kind of detergent.
 
It's now in my cart as an "add on" for the next order......guess Bon Ami not cutting it. Thanks
 
I just use dishwasher detergent and a scotch pad. A little marking doesn't matter and doesn't affect the sharpening. It's a 3 micron stone, so it's very fine, and it doesn't have to be perfectly spotless white to work just fine. It does, however, load after every sharpening, so it is a good idea to clean it, but you don't have to go overboard trying to get it spotless again. Part of why it is so hard to get clean is all those lines you see in the surface, revealed by the swarf. Those are fabrication marks. The stone is not perfectly flat, and there are imperfections (ridges and sometimes even plateaus) from the manufacturing process. Doesn't affect performance.

In short, don't worry about it.
 
Thanks. I figured my magic erasers particles weren't fine enough to get into the nooks and crannies. LOL

but as you say I wanted to keep it from loading up too much.
 
AmericanEDC said:
Thanks. I figured my magic erasers particles weren't fine enough to get into the nooks and crannies. LOL

but as you say I wanted to keep it from loading up too much.
Click to expand...

You did cleaned it well, where it matter anyway. The top ridges of the surface are the actual sharpening surface, while areas still blacken are troughs (low spots) thus unreachable by the blade. BKF can dissolve some of the remaining embedded metal particles.

Here is mine flattened 306F after a quick BKF scrub. note: a streak on left and upper right are 2 low spots.
IMG_0749.JPG
 
As others have stated Bar Keepers Friend does a great job on ceramic stones.
I have a fine white ceramic that I got from Garrett Wade years ago that I just could not get clean till someone here suggested BKF.
Now aside from a couple chips it looks new.
 
I've now tried Ajax as well and it had no effect. I'm convinced the grit in the Magic Eraser is bigger than this stone so it's having no effect either. I use those all over the house with great results.

I wonder if Spyderco has a recommended cleaner? I'll order the BKF tomorrow.
 
Ajax and comet are bleach based cleaners. They will dissolve steel after a while, but you are waiting for it to rust first. BKF is oxalic acid. It works much better at dissolving and cleaning out steel particles.

I always clean with dish soap and a stiff nylon brush after every use. The BKF once in a while just to make sure or after heavy use. I've also had better luck using grout brushes than scouring pads.
 
I've got plenty of brushes. Will try those! Maybe I'll buy a stuff toothbrush tomorrow as well as I await the BKF
 
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