As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases
Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"
"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
-----
Clean black gunk from pitting on bowie knife
June 2, 2008
My name name is Denny and am currenty collecting knives to give to my grand son for his 18 birthday. I just found an old Bowie knife and want to clean it up for his collection.
The knife has some rust and pitting on it. The problem is that I know I can't get the pitting out but is there some way I can get the black gunk out of the pitting with out grinding it?
Thank You,
Denny
Dennis Marino
hobbyst - Seneca Falls, New York, USA
July 29, 2008
Sandblast or a wire wheel will do the trick nicely.
I would also suggest disassembling the handle down to the tang to prevent any damage to the hilt and handle. This will also give you a chance to put any protection on the tang of the blade.
If you do decide to go with sandblasting start with coarse and step down in grit just like with sandpaper. If you go with the wire wheel, you should be able to go to a coarse rouge right after the brush to give it a decent polish.
After you are happy with the state of the knife give it a good coat of oil, or go with bee's wax if it is a show piece rather than functional. If the handle is wood I would also suggest bees wax
⇦ on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil link]
rather than a commercial synthetic wax.
Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Melbourne, Florida
Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.
If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:
Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software
About/Contact - Privacy Policy - ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA - about "affil links"