Any easy way to remove celluloid scales?

[9ball]

I've got a pocket knife that is beginning to go into self destruct mode.

I need to remove the celluloid with out any damage to the metal.
Any suggestions here. Thanks

[wt3l]

Hello 9ball,
Sorry to hear about your celluloid starting to go south on ya. I have found 2 articles on the subject of celluloid knives. One I downloaded and printed out was 11 pages long. The other was 22 pages. LOTS of reading. But I think you might find something of help in these articles. I hope others here can help. I know there is lots of knowledge here at AAPK. Thank God for that!!!But if you have some time to spare and don't mind reading here are the two sites. Great to take to the dentists office while you're waiting. heheheh

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/celluloid_02.html


http://aic.stanford.edu/jaic/articles/j ... 2-003.html


again I hope this will be of use to you. These guys have tried everything. Example: He placed his celluloid knife in a jar with silica gel into his freezer. WHY?...Well, If a rise in temperature increases decomposition, then cold should slow it down. Likewise if light causes decomposition, then the darkness in the freezer should retard it. But, the author goes on...it slows it down but does NOT stop decomposition. Also celluloid has a tendency to crack at the rivet stress points in cold enviroments. I said all that to say this, which the article continues..." Working with celluloid requires some special considerations. Anything that can generate heat can create a flame point with this material. Buffing or cutting celluloid can generate heat, and the results can be ashes in your hands.Gases put off in this process should be considered toxic!!!" Again 9ball, I have used excertps here from the article published in Knife World February 2000 on an earlier article done in the OKCA Knewsletter. A great read. I can just see the look on my wife's face when she goes to the fridge for her favorite chocolate bar and sees a jar full of my celluloids looking at her she'll have me committed in a manner of minutes. hehehe. sorry gang to ramble.... took today off from work. later , kj

[9ball]

Ramble on. That's one thing I don't like about the web, can't talk.

Thanks for the info. I had read the first article. The Lady in the second article mentions nitric acid and I work with it sometimes. Just having a closed/sealed bottle in a room/barn will attack some metal alloys over time.
I have held on to a few celluloid knives, for historic or sentimental reasons only. I have one that is near or over 100 years old and just started. The one I'm working with is a Fight'n Rooster, I like the etch/stamp.

Putting pocket knives in the freezer that's Cool . The Boss is just now getting use to frozen spiders and other bug types, but that's another story.

Odd thing though; I've been around straight razors about as long as knives and do not see this as much with them.......yet.

Square Deal is going to be here this afternoon to help burn some brush and I have to be away this week-end, so I can think on it. If anybody else knows something I would appreciate it.

[smiling-knife]

Hi 9ball. How are you today? I am no chemist, but seems to me that the problem must be a reaction between the celluloid and something in the atmosphere. Hence, my hypothesis is that if stored it in a vacuum there would be nothing to react with the celluloid to cause the disintegration. Now for the application of this theory. You can buy those food storage kits that seal food in a vacuum...so why not a knife? I'll leave it to everyone else to point-out the flaws in my theory. Take care. s-k

Sorry this isn't about removing scales but perhaps saving them. Not exactly on topic

p.s. read one of those articles. Still not surprising that celluloid 'under glass' suffers the same fate. The atmosphere on one side of the glass is the same as that on the other.

[9ball]

Greetings Smiling-Knife ,
Out of the hospital, so I'm doing great Hope you are doing well.

I am open to any and all suggestions here. The FR is going fast.

I got other "Time Bombs" in the cigar box

[agteacher2]

Hi 9Ball,

I don't know of any way to save celluloid after it begins to self destruct.

Removing them should be simple enough. Very carefully slip a thin blade between the handle and the liner and gently pry them up at the pins. Most factory handles are not glued on so the pins are all that hold them on. The small pins on each end will probably pop out of the liners, as there is very little of the bradded pin holding on most I've delt with. As for the the back spring pin, you should be able to slip the handle off it also. Sometimes I have to take a dremel with an abrasive wheel and grind off the bradded head, but if I'm not saving the handle material I skip this step. Just go slow and mind the liners and you shouldn't have a problem.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

[nmikash]

In respose to S-K's vacuum seal theory: It would work IF the knife was sealed in fresh from the factory, or before the chemical degradation began. If there was an environmental catalyst that already initiated the breakdown process, vacuum sealing would not prevent further meltdown UNLESS oxygen was needed for the chemical reaction to take place. I have taken more chemistry courses than I would prefer, and these are just my thoughts on the matter. Anybody know a real chemist?

Good luck with that knife 9ball...
Nick

[JOE62]

I was wondering if some kind of clear coat would work.

[9ball]

Thanks For Your Comments & Info Folks,

Jeff,
Thanks! That was way simple enough.
I was not sure if the celluloid was bonded to the brass in any way. Where it was pulling away at the bolsters, I slid a small instrutment in there to get started. Everything came off in one piece and all pins were left in place.
Thanks again
9ball

[wt3l]

Hey There 9ball,
Way to go. Glad you were able to perform that surgery successfully on the celluloid. Now, I've been having this pain in my side....how are you on an appendix... later, kj

[agteacher2]

Hey 9-Ball,

Glad that worked for ya, I would be glad to put some repacements on there for you. That shield would be a challange though. Or I will be glad to give advice if you should need it for a do it your self job.

Jeff