White Film on Black Delrin

CaseyChaos

CaseyChaos

Joined
Jul 27, 2010
Messages
350
I have a line on a pretty nice 317 NIB. The only issue is a white film on the black delrin. It seems to come off with a scrape of a fingernail, but some of it is in the sawcut grooves. Will this come off this knife and stay off? If so, what's the best way to do it? The lady tells me she tried goo-gone but it seemed to come back.

Thanks in advance for the help.
 
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I've seen this before and know what you speak of. 300 Bucks has discussed this before perhaps he'll show up here. DM
 
CaseyChaos said:
I have a line on a pretty nice 317 NIB. The only issue is a white film on the black valox. It seems to come off with a scrape of a fingernail, but some of it is in the sawcut grooves. Will this come off this knife and stay off? If so, what's the best way to do it? The lady tells me she tried goo-gone but it seemed to come back.

Thanks in advance for the help.
Click to expand...

Casey, unless I am mistaken (quite possible), the handle material is delrin rather than valox. Try this old thread for a discussion of the problem.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...und-on-old-300-series-Delrin?highlight=Delrin
 
Tin Sue,
I was thinking it was delrin, but the newer versions being called valox threw me. I know very little about such things.

Thanks for the link. If it will come off, I'll likely pick up this knife.
 
That old Delrin secondary link is dead here is a Wiki link as a starting point for research.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyoxymethylene

That old link was a Dupont site, I will see if I can find the new one and post it here..

All the old long pulls (made be Camillus) will be Delrin and left unhandled (skin oiled) and especially in a tightly close spot will "frost" over with a film caused by aging Polyoxymethylene...... All 317s will do this. I am pulling this out of my hat without looking this up but Buck changed to Valox sometime in the late 90's.

I have gotten lazy and unless I am taking a picture of a 'frosty' 300, I seldom worry about cleaning them off....

300Bucks

Here is example of what Casey is seeing for you non-chasers of links. This is about as bad as it gets.
Scum.jpg
 
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I have many 300 series knives and have found that a coating or three with Armourall protectant will remove the white residue and keep it off for quite a long time. I do occasionally have to re-treat the handle. What is strange to me is the fact that the overwhelming majority of my 300 series knives do not need the protection, just a few of them and they are scattered across the model line plus the residue will show up on knives from different time frames. I have bought some at very low prices because of the "sun-bleached" look and took them home, cleaned them up and they look like new. I usually spray them and let them set overnight. Often they need this just once but some knives need up to three or four treatments.
 
I have removed the film on Delrin with Soft Scrub and a tooth brush (old one). You will have to rinse the knife real good after and dry it with compressed air.
 
I agree with Larry's assessment. It's only on some. I guess we will just say : "It must have been a bad batch that shipment" and just go on. Good tip Larry.... I was using mineral oil....

300Bucks
 
I notice that if a knife has sat in a display case it has a tendency to do this. Maybe it has something to do with the breaking down of the Delrin from exposure to the sun.
 
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