Repairing etch mistake.

L

Lu1967

Joined
Oct 20, 2014
Messages
358
Hey guys, by mistake I left some auto wax on a knife that
has a temper line. The wax has now etched into the steel.I'm
thinking a light vinegar etch/steel wool, but I'm afraid I'll mess up the
hamon.I've tried rubbing compound with no luck.I'll post a couple
of pics (hopefully) of the knife in question. Thank you for any and all replies.
DSC02582_zps4546d2fa.jpg.html
 
Is this a knife that you made yourself? Is it a hamon, or quench line? If it's a hamon, is it white or black? If it's black, you could try just going over the whole blade a bit with flitz polish, rubbing the polish off very hard at the end with paper towel. If it's a white hamon, using flitz would maybe darken it- in that case, I'd obtain some silicon carbide rock polish at 1500 grit or so, and rub the blade with a paste of that in oil. Then wash the blade with soap and water, and re-oil. I wouldn't recommend steel wool, but if you feel like you have to try it, go with #000 or finer...
If the damage is very deep, your only option would probably be to re-sand the blade entirely (or spot-sand if very careful) starting with maybe 600 grit, to whatever the final finish was. Then re-etch entirely. Re-etching a knife with furniture installed kinda sucks. Spot re-etching is a non-starter.
Post pics. Also, if you did not make it, contact the maker for advice- they will know the finishing techniques and products originally used.
 
I would be surprised, too. Hamon blades can have touchy finishes, and sometimes contact with a surface or substance can leave a spot or stain that has not truly affected the steel. I am surmising that this is what has happened, in which case I have found Flitz to be expedient. Flitz is best IMO, but things like Simichrome may work if that's all that can be found.
 
Thanks Salem, and yes the hamon is white.It's a forged 1095 Mace Vitale Blade
and the wax got in there pretty bad.I,ll try the Flitz polish first,then the steel
wool. My pic is thru photo bucket ( only way I know how) must not have worked.
I hope this doesn't turn into a "I can't believe I just did that moment" but oh well.
Thanks again and happy holidays.
 
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