I Screwed Up My Case Trapperlock, HELP!!!

I.N.F.K

I.N.F.K

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
1,896
I was opening a packag of vaccumed seald meat while out on the back porch grilling. Instead of going to the kitchen and getting a knife, I decided on using my trapperlock in which I got for my b-day 3 months ago. It would've been fine if I didn't sat it down with blood on it and forget about it until a half hour later. I really want to restore it without sand paper. Any suggestions?


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Rubbing with polishing paste (Simichrome or Flitz) will take the rust off, assuming that's the issue. If the blade just has some 'patina' (grey/black oxide), that won't hurt it. But the red rust will, if left on the blade. Not to worry, the polishing paste will clean it up (may be some pitting in the steel, if the rust went very deep).

Many here would say that's an honorable and noble way to 'break in' your new CV blade. Just a little cleaning and TLC will take care of it, so don't sweat it too much. :)


David
 
In the short term, if you don't currently have any polishing paste, some WD-40 scrubbed with a paper towel or rag, or some very fine steel wool (#0000) will scrub off the red rust. The WD-40 will also leave a little oil on the blade, which will keep further rusting in check until you can polish it up.


David
 
I.N.F.K said:
I do have a polishing wheel, will that work?
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Maybe, depending on if you have some sort of buffing/polishing compound to use with it (or if the wheel already has some of that on it). If the wheel is bare with no compound, it likely won't work by itself.

If you don't currently have any polishing/buffing compound or WD-40, just cleaning the blade (hot water + dish soap works) and making sure it's dry will help keep further rusting in check until you can get some.


David
 
I did not notice any rust on the blade. All I could see was a patina: that is essential part of what carbon steel blade is about. I would let it be: in time it will cover the blade and even out - so no worry. Keeping cleaning and polishing carbon steel blade is waste of time and will eventually effect the blade itself. If you want a knife with shiny blade: you either buy a knife with stainless steel blade, or keep it pristine and avoid even touching the blade with your fingers!
If there is insignificant amount of rust: just use regurar pencil eraser: that should work.
 
Most of that does look like patina (black oxide; doesn't hurt the steel). You might take a look with a magnifier under bright light, just to make sure there isn't any red rust hiding amongst the grey (I've occasionally found this on some of mine). If you still want to clean all that off, the polishing paste would be most effective, without scratching the steel. Case's CV blades come with a factory-tumbled polish anyway, so the polishing paste and a little rubbing/buffing should have it looking as before. At any rate, what I said before still applies. I don't think you have too much to worry about, in terms of actual damage. Just wipe down & clean the blade as it needs it, and that'll take care of 99% of anything it needs down the road.


David
 
looks good to me:D
in all seriousness it looks to be a patina forming which will hppen to carbon/CV steel, the flitz mentioned earlier might help, 0000 steel wool and mineral oil or wd40 has worked for me to even out a patina if it was really gnarly looking... through use all my cv knives have gone medium to dark grey... i wouldnt let it bother ya too much
regards
gene
 
Don't get my wrong I like blades with a nice patina to them. Even more so with the natural patina, which is what I was planning on doing with this one. But this just looks forced to me and I wanted a natural patina on this one. But my forgetfulness caused this mishap.
 
I.N.F.K said:
Don't get my wrong I like blades with a nice patina to them. Even more so with the natural patina, which is what I was planning on doing with this one. But this just looks forced to me and I wanted a natural patina on this one. But my forgetfulness caused this mishap.
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The patina will change & shift patterns and maybe even color with future use, so you don't necessarily have to clean this off and start over (if you don't want to). Using the knife is what a 'natural' patina is all about, and in opening the package of meat with your new knife, I think you've actually already started on that. I'd say you're off to a good start. :) :thumbup:


David
 
I'd leave it alone really. Gee, a blood patina. That's pretty cool in a hunting fishing kind of way. Leave it, cut some more meat and fish with it and let it go black with age.
 
To me it just looks like a good start!

I do it to my knives on purpose!

If I have a knife that I want to take patina off, I use my leather strop with green chromium oxide metal polish/stropping compound. Does the trick lickity split without removing more than I want.
 
This is exactly what I was going to add. I use dremel's rouge on an old belt to sharpen my Fiddleback knife and it rips the patina off with a quickness, and the bare leather restores a beautiful shine.

Bigfattyt said:
To me it just looks like a good start!

I do it to my knives on purpose!

If I have a knife that I want to take patina off, I use my leather strop with green chromium oxide metal polish/stropping compound. Does the trick lickity split without removing more than I want.
Click to expand...
 
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