Wood handle cleaning

[Grimalkin]

I was sharpening my tramontina (I was convexing the edge with sand paper). Not thinking, my hands were covered in shavings, I held the handle a few times to manuver the blade, now the handle has dark spots where the metal shavings have made it dirty. How do I clean this?

Should I be using soap and water and scrub it with a toothbrush or something?

Also, on a side note, I want to get rid of the sort of sharp butt end of the tang where it meets the handle and round it off, can I use a bastard file for this since I need to round off the tang? Normally I would use sandpaper for the wood, but I have metal to work with here.

Thanks in advance!

 

[RevDevil]

Moved to Maintenance, Tinkering, & Embellishment.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

With that sort of grime on wood, I've had good luck with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber towel. The dark, dirty stuff shouldn't be too deep into the grain, and the microfiber towel does a great job of lifting stuff like that out. The IPA will give the dirty stuff something moist to cling to, so the rag holds onto it, then evaporate very quickly; the wood will dry very fast. I use the 91% IPA, BTW (less water in the balance, and it dries more completely, and quicker)...

I think woodworkers also use acetone similarly, to clean wood after sanding and raise or open the grain for staining & finishing. Acetone is a bit tougher on the hands though; might use some rubber gloves with it...


David

 

[Grimalkin]

Thank you for the reply, I'll try that!