Tidy up the HI Khukuri

J

johntrout

Joined
May 21, 2004
Messages
232
Anyone have any advice on how to clean the laha off the blade by the bolster and in the fuller around the same area? Also any other tips on how to get the knife presentation ready and looking its best?
 
my vote is for the dremmel... you could try one of the grinding or sanding attachments... just be cautious and go slow...
 
Some 0000 steel wool and / or dental picks might work. Or a wooden stylus (sp?) so you won't put metal on metal.

Just an idea......
 
wow its that hard?? is there a chemical that will do it? Im terrified of scratching up the finish..
 
johntrout said:
wow its that hard?? is there a chemical that will do it? Im terrified of scratching up the finish..
Click to expand...


No offense, but you sure it's laha and not polishing rouge......I made the same mistake when I got one of my first ones....not that I'm any expert now :D If it's rouge, it will come off with a buffer wheel, soft cloth, toothpick etc
 
#1 leave it alone to avoid scratches

If it will come off with plastic or wood scraping implement,
as noted, it's not laha (or real epoxy),
just dirt or rouge.

#2 there is no #2

#3 try scratching at the -top- of the material with a pin or needle.
That will tell you the hardness/toughness.
 
johntrout said:
wow its that hard?? is there a chemical that will do it? Im terrified of scratching up the finish..
Click to expand...
John there may or may not be a 'finish' under the laha. I'm just pretty dayumed sure the khuk blades and handles are polished as a last step.
I've cleaned a few and ran into trouble because the khuk looked better before the laha was removed as there was no polished finish underneath.
If you don't have a way to polish a rough finish it is indeed better to just leave it alone!
I ain't cleaning no more unless it's an absolute mess and most aren't.
 
I have a waster knife that I use for cleaning pitch spills. Heat knife tip with torch, and I can pretty much mush around the excess pitch either back in or off. The heat from the tip is enough to soften the pitch and ease removal, but localized enough not to create bigger messes. There is a little usually left, but thin enough to easily remove with a few strikes with #0000 steel wool. Anyways, alot of it is just an eye for things, so I dunno if this would really be an easier way for you, it is for me, but then Ive been playing with this stuff for a while. Though Yvsa's advice is best. Just because you get the stuff off, doesnt mean there will be a finish underneath.
 
I would not recommend a dremel or other motor tool. I usually use the chakma/karda that came with the khuk to do the job. they are close in hardness to the khuk blade, and the laha is brittle like cold violin rosin. Also, the chakma has realitvely rounded edges and wide flat sections, which allow you to avoid scratcing the finish of the khuk while cleaning.

Keith
 
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