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cleaning up a rusty heirloom
#6551120
11/20/16 04:06 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 513
Txhuntr2
OP
Tracker
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 513 |
My great grandfather owned a general store and did some butchering. I have inherited a few cool old butchering knives that I still use. Recently I found his old meat clever at my family's house in the garage. It's been in that garage for decades and is now pretty rusty. I want to clean it up so I can use it when needed.
1. What's the best way to remove the rust and preserve the blade?
2. The handle is wood and is held on by what looks like 3 rivets or pins through the blade handle. It looks like the metal between the wood is rusted too. What's the best way to remove the wood handles to clean up the metal below.
3. Is reinstalling the wood handles a difficult job best reserved for someone with knife making skill or is that something I can do?
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: Txhuntr2]
#6553988
11/22/16 12:04 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,255
Dave Davidson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,255 |
I have one of those. It's massive. I've done some restoration and use Loctite Rust Dissolver as a first step. Don't sweat the pitting. That happens on old steel. Use a drill press to remove the old rivets or pins. On the handle, I've sometimes just had to make new ones. It all depends on how bad the wood is.
When you use a non stainless blade it should be washed, dried and set aside to air.
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: Txhuntr2]
#6556059
11/23/16 08:45 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
poisonivie
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825 |
I've had some luck with vinegar as rust remover. It does take a while.
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: Txhuntr2]
#6594411
12/19/16 11:37 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,091
okiehuntr
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,091 |
do not use vinegar it willl soften the metal if you use any chemical go to oreilly auto and buy evapo-rust, works great okie
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: okiehuntr]
#6595134
12/20/16 03:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273
blackcoal
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273 |
do not use vinegar it willl soften the metal if you use any chemical go to oreilly auto and buy evapo-rust, works great okie Soften the metal ???
The Greatest Enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.--Stephen Hawking
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: okiehuntr]
#6595893
12/21/16 01:23 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 17,117
MikeC
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 17,117 |
do not use vinegar it willl soften the metal if you use any chemical go to oreilly auto and buy evapo-rust, works great okie Never heard of that. I've soaked farriers rasp in white vinegar and certainly didn't soften them any.
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: Txhuntr2]
#6596013
12/21/16 02:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919 |
jmho i wouldn't take the handle scales off at all unless they're in poor shape. mix up half and half turpentine and linseed oil and figure a way (like hang it from a length of wire) to suspend the cleaver to where you can immerse the length of the handle in a clean soup can of linseed/turpentine. it'll soak into the wood and preserve it and stop the rust underneath the scales. just use an sos pad to clean off the blade in the sink like you would any other rusty knife blade. any other carbon knives you have you should give the wood handles a coat of johnson's paste wax regularly. good luck EDIT- (up here ^ ^ ^ i should have written to put wax on any wood handled knife regardless of blade material )
Last edited by maximum; 12/21/16 06:40 PM.
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: MikeC]
#6602266
12/25/16 08:14 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,091
okiehuntr
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,091 |
do not use vinegar it willl soften the metal if you use any chemical go to oreilly auto and buy evapo-rust, works great okie Never heard of that. I've soaked farriers rasp in white vinegar and certainly didn't soften them any. If left in long enough, cheap steel or cast iron.. a rasp is usually pretty good steel. okie
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Re: cleaning up a rusty heirloom
[Re: Dave Davidson]
#6628902
01/12/17 04:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 130
HankePanky
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 130 |
Use a drill press to remove the old rivets or pins. On the handle, I've sometimes just had to make new ones. It all depends on how bad the wood is. I agree with this, only if the tang is rusted behind the scales. As far as rust removal, I've found that WD-40, various grades of steel wool, and good-old-fashioned elbow grease gets the job done. I've used this method to great success more than a few times on my great grandfather's butcher knives.
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