Now that Piney12 is back in the cult, I submit my humble application. Cleaning tips?

[Woodrow F Call]

I submit my application for joining the Cult of the Peanut with this Queen Rawhide Series I got a little while back. It came with a little corrosion on it. I would like some advice on removal. Since the blades are stainless and the rest of the knife is practically new looking, I'd like to restore it completely. I'm not sure how the corrosion got on the brass, bolsters or shield, but I could use some help. Ideas?

 

[jackknife]

Gently, ever so gently, a tiny bit of Flitz or other mild non abrasive metal polish on a bit of old t-shirt cotton. Rub easy, and it will be good as new.

Gently boy, gently.

Carl, Grand High Muckba who cleans peanuts.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Gently, ever so gently, a tiny bit of Flitz or other mild non abrasive metal polish on a bit of old t-shirt cotton. Rub easy, and it will be good as new.

Gently boy, gently.

Carl, Grand High Muckba who cleans peanuts.

Non abrasive silver polish ok?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Gently, ever so gently, a tiny bit of Flitz or other mild non abrasive metal polish on a bit of old t-shirt cotton. Rub easy, and it will be good as new.

Gently boy, gently.

Carl, Grand High Muckba who cleans peanuts.

^^That'll take care of it. Flitz, Simichrome work well. Both actually are abrasive, albeit very fine for true 'polishing' (Flitz = 3 micron AlOx, Simichrome = 9 micron AlOx; both per the manufacturers of each). I use Simichrome for all of these sorts of tasks, and more (brass, nickel, steel; makes a great stropping paste as well).


David

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Non abrasive silver polish ok?

Maybe, if it's designed to remove tarnish (oxide) on silver. Some silver 'polishes' I think are more 'cleaner' than polish, working to clean the surface of dirt/grime/fingerprints without removing patina (oxide). Those might not work as well on corrosion. What brand are you considering?


David

 

[richstag]

Oh dear goodness it's just a little brass. Instead of wasting your money on flitz try a bottle of Collinites No. 850. Flitzs is great and all but overpriced IMO after years of using it.

It's just brass.

Kevin

 

[Grateful]

Brasso would do it I think. Nice looking little knife.
Jim

 

[richstag]

Oh I forgot to say very nice looking knife

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Brasso would do it I think. Nice looking little knife.
Jim

I was thinking Brasso might be to aggressive. I don't want to hurt the wood.

 

[mr_badexample]

Ketchup cleans brass. Hmmm, ketchup on peanuts?

http://www.ehow.com/how_4434573_clean-brass-gold-catsupketchup.html#page=4

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I was thinking Brasso might be to aggressive. I don't want to hurt the wood.

Brasso uses silica as the abrasive, which is actually less aggressive than the AlOx in Flitz/Simichrome, in terms of particle hardness. Either way, none of them will do any damage to the wood scales. Being abrasive, any of them will remove a very shallow layer of material (microns or thousandths in thickness) in the process of removing tarnish/oxide and further polishing the material. It's only damaging on plated items, on which the plating is extremely thin and could be scrubbed off. On solid metals, or stabilized woods, which I think is what you have, the material removed is insignificantly thin and the result will be a higher polish (as intended). Don't worry about the handles, they'll be fine.

Sometimes, bare unstabilized woods can be discolored by the blackish swarf removed in polishing (it gets into the grain/pores of the wood). In this case, the stabilized wood on yours should protect against that. The resin used for stabilizing should go deep into and through the full thickness of the wood, essentially sealing it. Very easy to clean and maintain, this way.


David

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Excellent. I have a sucess path. Thanks. I look forward to getting this little fella all spic and span..... then I'll need to get me a CV peanut.

 

[Stich2442]

I use a Sunshine polishing cloth, a friend who is a silversmith and gemologist recommend it.
I have had great success with very little effort.
Here are some before & after pictures

Here is what the cloth has in it from its MSDS sheet

Pete

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Nice. I might look for that next time. I have brasso and silver polish at the house. I might get a little time tonight before I go to bed.