Kutmaster Electrician help

[Meridian_Mike]

This old kutmaster Electricians knife needs an all around good cleaning but I wanted to see if anyone can advise me on how to clean up the scales. They look like plastic(?) or the like and have a finish to simulate wood. The color is really washed out on both sides. Is there a way to make the color of the plastic come back out without sanding away the "grain" texture?

Thanks for having a look.

(I know it's just an old TL-29 work knife but I sure would like to clean it up.)

Mike

[philco]

Mike I'm not certain that the handles on your knife are delrin, but I've had a couple of delrin handled knives where the handles have oxidized (?) and taken on a chalky look. I had good success using an oiled cloth and wiping them down rather vigerously. It removed the chalky layer on the surface and made the handle look like new. Even after I used a clean dry cloth to wipe off the oil the handles kept their "improved" look.

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks Phil.
I am going to give the oily rag a try this morning to see if that will help.

Mike

[jerryd6818]

I discovered Phil's method quite by accident and it works great. BTW, those handles are the wood grain Delrin you see on so many electrician's knives.

[muskrat man]

yep oil and a good scrubbing should help immensely

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for the advice everyone!
I wiped (and scrubbed) and worked in some RIG I already had on a rag and out came the original color.
Sure looks better now. Now today I can get to work on the blades.

[jerryd6818]

Mike -- Do you mind if I steal your pictures and stitch them together for any future show and tell comparison for this situation?

[Meridian_Mike]

Sure... you are very welcome to them Jerry.
I hope they can help more newbees.

[jerryd6818]

This is what I did. I'll keep it for future need. I think it's a pretty dramatic comparison. There's nothing like a side by side picture to get the point across.

[Meridian_Mike]

Very good Jerry.
Like I said, I sure hope this information will help someone else get their knife back into a "happy state" for themselves.
The reason I ask this question in the first place is that I tried PB Blaster on a small folder I found at the antique store (It was VERY rusted and pitiful looking) and PB nearly destroyed the scales. PB is great for rusted metal but the scale material is a different story!!
I hope that info helps someone else keep from making that same mistake.

Mike