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Verdigris on a GEC 62 Pocket Carver
- Thread starter rje58
- Start date
rje58
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Some might, in some cases. Not in this case.
I have already tried simply wiping it off, and even using an old toothbrush - with nothing on it. No joy yet. Considering some other options. The loaded strop and the old sock are not near the top of my list.
I have already tried simply wiping it off, and even using an old toothbrush - with nothing on it. No joy yet. Considering some other options. The loaded strop and the old sock are not near the top of my list.
HEMI 49
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Invest in a dehumidifier rod for your safe.....
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I suspect the problem the OP has is that the Micarta of the 'infected' knife is light colour and matte finish, this makes green staining more likely than on darker colours or highly polished Micarta ?
But, it's going to spread if you don't try and clean it off....never found humidity to be a factor with my knives, it's really dry in the winter under 30% and still I've had brass bleed going on. Lot of people advocate soaking or slobbing over with mineral-oil, I would not, it does very weird things to Stag (light colour bone) and brass...just ask knife restorer
Bill DeShivs
about this common error. The thing is, this knife is unused but no longer 'mint' so you might as well use it, and use certainly keeps a knife clean and alert- no question. Perhaps this is the answer? But I would try metal polish on the pivots, pins and scales and see if it improves.
Thanks, Will
But, it's going to spread if you don't try and clean it off....never found humidity to be a factor with my knives, it's really dry in the winter under 30% and still I've had brass bleed going on. Lot of people advocate soaking or slobbing over with mineral-oil, I would not, it does very weird things to Stag (light colour bone) and brass...just ask knife restorer
Bill DeShivs
about this common error. The thing is, this knife is unused but no longer 'mint' so you might as well use it, and use certainly keeps a knife clean and alert- no question. Perhaps this is the answer? But I would try metal polish on the pivots, pins and scales and see if it improves. Thanks, Will
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Leave it in your pocket, except during use…
Bill DeShivs
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Leave the vinegar in the salad dressing. I don't know why it has become popular to use it on knives- other than to "patinate" carbon steel blades. Vinegar is a mild acid and it will discolor carbon steel.
A good ultrasonic cleaner might remove the bulk of the stain.
Try this: make a thick paste of detergent (I use Dawn), baking soda, and a little water. Scrub it into the affected areas with your thumbs. Rinse often and reapply as necessary. If it works (or not) thoroughly dry the knife and flush it with WD 40 to remove any moisture. Dry.
If that didn't work, you will have to refinish the handles by sanding the stains out and polishing them. Canvas Micarta is problematic in that it is more porous than other phenolics, and it will stain. If it were one of my jobs, I would sand, clean (as above), dry, then apply a clear polyurethane to the fresh Micarta surface. I would then sand the polyurethane off until it just fills any surface voids and then I would polish it.
A good ultrasonic cleaner might remove the bulk of the stain.
Try this: make a thick paste of detergent (I use Dawn), baking soda, and a little water. Scrub it into the affected areas with your thumbs. Rinse often and reapply as necessary. If it works (or not) thoroughly dry the knife and flush it with WD 40 to remove any moisture. Dry.
If that didn't work, you will have to refinish the handles by sanding the stains out and polishing them. Canvas Micarta is problematic in that it is more porous than other phenolics, and it will stain. If it were one of my jobs, I would sand, clean (as above), dry, then apply a clear polyurethane to the fresh Micarta surface. I would then sand the polyurethane off until it just fills any surface voids and then I would polish it.
Chui
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- err, who said anything about using it on the blades. White vinegar is a mild acid that is known to assist neutralising verdigris……..used carefully of course.
rje58
is likely in a spin about what to do.I shall butt out - hope you get it all sorted to your liking
rje58
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- Dec 21, 2013
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- 2,825
I truly appreciate all the helpful replies.
I ended up using only an old, clean toothbrush - with nothing on it - and brushing as much as I could off. That seemed to get well more than half of it. I am hesitate to have to rinse it off / out with water after using an additive, so I'm thinking either 1. just use it and monitor the situation - or- 2. sell it "as is" - which at this point is pretty good, now - for about what I paid for it several years ago. Of course, if I sell it, if will be here on BF and I will post a link to the "infamous verdigris" thread. This one. To make sure no one purchases it unaware of its famous - infamous - history.
The first time I used a plain toothbrush, it made only a slight difference. But I went back two more times, on separate days, and it's definitely considerably better. I just don't want to put anything on it - especially not water, or that requires rinsing it in water!
I ended up using only an old, clean toothbrush - with nothing on it - and brushing as much as I could off. That seemed to get well more than half of it. I am hesitate to have to rinse it off / out with water after using an additive, so I'm thinking either 1. just use it and monitor the situation - or- 2. sell it "as is" - which at this point is pretty good, now - for about what I paid for it several years ago. Of course, if I sell it, if will be here on BF and I will post a link to the "infamous verdigris" thread. This one. To make sure no one purchases it unaware of its famous - infamous - history.
The first time I used a plain toothbrush, it made only a slight difference. But I went back two more times, on separate days, and it's definitely considerably better. I just don't want to put anything on it - especially not water, or that requires rinsing it in water!
Last edited:
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Adding a mild abrasive will increase the amount of gunk removed with the tooth brush. (That's the root reason we put tooth paste on our tooth brushes.) Baking soda can be used as a mild abrasive powder. So can Bon Ami cleanser.I truly appreciate all the helpful replies.
I ended up using only an old, clean toothbrush - with nothing on it - and brushing as much as I could off. That seemed to get well more than half of it. I am hesitate to have to rinse it off / out with water after using an additive, so I'm thinking either 1. just use it and monitor the situation - or- 2. sell it "as is" - which at this point is pretty good, now - for about what I paid for it several years ago. Of course, if I sell it, if will be here on BF and I will post a link to the "infamous verdigris" thread. This one. To make sure no one purchases it unaware of its famous - infamous - history.
The first time I used a plain toothbrush, it made only a slight difference. But I went back two more times, on separate days, and it's definitely considerably better. I just don't want to put anything on it - especially not water, or that requires rinsing it in water!
the green is due to reaction of the copper in the brass rivets with the environment. Unless the micarta is retaining moisture/contaminants which react with the brass, it isn't involved in the process.