How do you clean these yellow scales????

[TripleF]

Got any Bar Keeper's Friend?

[Meridian_Mike]

Got any Bar Keeper's Friend?

I think I might have some. My wife usually keeps some under the sink.
I'll give that a try.

[americanedgetech]

Those "Bags" were actually made from thread bare carpets. They were still tough enough to take traveling (such as it was).

Carpet baggers were generally associated with the lower classes... in the early 1900's. By then the fashion/fad had changed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet_bag

[XX Case XX]

Those "Bags" were actually made from thread bare carpets. They were still tough enough to take traveling (such as it was).

Carpet baggers were generally associated with the lower classes... in the early 1900's. By then the fashion/fad had changed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet_bag

You know what's funny Ken? I clicked on that link and at the top it says: "For Political Term, see "Carpetbagger"...

_____________
Mike

[americanedgetech]

That goes right back to the "Snake Oil Salesman".

[rea1eye]

I am thinking this stain goes pretty deep. You may need to eventually need to
use sand paper if the other surface abrasives do not work.

Let us know what it takes and how it turns out. Others will probably run across the
same problem eventually,

Bob

[Meridian_Mike]

10-4... I will update everyone after I get a good shot at those scales with all these ideas this weekend.

Mike

[Meridian_Mike]

Well, yesterday I got a chance to get in my shop and work on this nasty scale again. I thought about all that was said and I decided to get some more Gojo and put it on a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper. The sandpaper seemed to hold the Gojo better than a rag. I worked on this side for about 30 to 45 minutes and I suppose the results are acceptable. I am sure the stain is in really deep in some areas and will never come out. You can still see some stain at the bolsters and around the shield.
Here she is.....

During clean-up....

After a while of scrubbing.....

My knife next to my Bro-in-laws Case after I cleaned up both.....

Thanks for your help everyone!!
Mike

[muskrat man]

That's a sight better than what it was before

[Meridian_Mike]

That's a sight better than what it was before

Yep, I just couldn't stand knowing that one scale was clean and the other was a mess. I HAD to do something....LOL.
Anyway, that stain was deeply embedded but now I know what needs to be done to help the situation.
Mike

[orvet]

Great work! I am very pleased to know that there is way to clean up those stained yellow handles. I really detest those old soft plastic yellow handles that stain so bad, they are my least favorite knife handles!
I am glad to know that something can be done for them!

[Meridian_Mike]

Great work! I am very pleased to know that there is way to clean up those stained yellow handles. I really detest those old soft plastic yellow handles that stain so bad, they are my least favorite knife handles!
I am glad to know that something can be done for them!

Yep, I don't know exactly how this scale material "wicks" but I noticed on this one that there was a deep scratch and the "oil and dirty hand gunk" had spread outward into the scale. There may have been a bunch of tiny scratches but the stain did not look like it was down inside scratches. It really looked like the material itself was stained. Almost like wood will stain.
I guess what I basically did was sand down into the material SLOWLY with the Gojo and sandpaper until the stained material was removed.
Some one above suggested a chemical solution BUT I don't like messing with ANY plastic by using chemicals. I am not a chemist and I don't know which chemicals are safe and which ones will disintegrate a scale.....LOL.
Any way... I hope some folks will learn from my efforts!
Mike

[btrwtr]

0000 Steel wool. It will remove the scratches that give the dirt and grime a place to hide. Used gently by hand you might get some good results. I've done this many times on dirty celluloid handles. You can finish polishing on denim or other coarse fabric.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Hey I know this is an old thread, so you have probably moved on by now. But I have a suggestion that works wonders on this type of handle material. It’s so unconventional some might think I am nuts, but it works. I have a ton of Griot’s Garage products in my garage. I have their 4 inch detailing machine and all the pads they sell plus all the polishing compounds that they have as well. Numbers 1 through 4. This set up is designed for clear coat on cars. Their 4 inch detailer is guaranteed not to burn through paint, so you will not overwork the surface w/ this. I start out w/ the 1 which is for fine scratches and work up to the more aggressive stuff if the number 1 doesn’t work. Amazing results. I will include a picture of my set up and some before and after pics. It even works on bolsters. Although the bolsters tend to make the pads dirty quicker, but they polish up nicely too. This isn’t my best example on this Carl Schlieper, I had already worked it a bit on the before photo and decided to work it some more. I keep forgetting to take pics of the before. I have a lot of knives to get ready for sale.

[just bob]

I think I already posted this somewhere else, but an ebay seller buys rough looking knives with yellow handles that have potential and cleans them up. I emailed him and asked him his secret. He said the final step was dental polish with a Dremel. Seemed to work great for him. I've never tried it.

[Meridian_Mike]

Hey... both great ideas.. THANKS!!

Mike