Advice on a pair of project knives

[Mark in PA]

Hello Everyone,

I purchased a pair of knives as a project to try and restore. I hope I wasn't foolish spending money on knives on such condition. I don't think I will be able to make them look like factory new. My intent is just to make them look decent. I would appreciate any kind of advice on how to proceed and where to start. I would imagine that I am going to need to start by sanding to get rid of the scratches and pitting.

[Colonel26]

I think it’s a great user as it is. I can tell you from experience, once you go sanding out pits you’re likely to just make it worse. The more you sand the bigger they get until you sand past them, and by that time the metal starts getting thin. Just my 2¢.

[Mark in PA]

Thanks Colonel,

User knives are what I have in mind. Point well taken about the pits. Maybe just sand out the scratches?

[herbva]

I would go over it with 0000 steel wool and WD40. That will remove surface rust, dirt, gunk and any other foreign substances that don't belong, and leave the patina. Then see how you like it. I am usually happy with that treatment for all my EDC's. Nice knife!

[Mark in PA]

I'll have to get some WD40. I see that recommended often. Anybody familiar with Kroil? I would think that might do just as well as the WD40.

By the way, there are two different knives pictured. One is a Schrade Uncle Henry 171 and the other is a Schrade 498 from their 49er series.

[herbva]

I'll have to get some WD40. I see that recommended often. Anybody familiar with Kroil? I would think that might do just as well as the WD40.

By the way, there are two different knives pictured. One is a Schrade Uncle Henry 171 and the other is a Schrade 498 from their 49er series.

I use Kroil when I have to deal with a frozen nut or bolt. It works like a charm if you let it sit long enough. It probably would work with 0000 steel wool for cleaning, but I'm not sure I could stand the smell of it for as long as it takes to do a good cleaning. By the way, the other ingredient I forgot to mention with the cleaning process I suggested is elbow grease, lots of elbow grease!

[Kolvir]

WD-40 is much cheaper than Kroil and I think the 'water displacement' properties make it good for the suggested use as opposed to penetrating oil.

It works great at removing rust from power tool tables like on a table or scroll saw. If the rust is really bad(on the power tools, not knives!), I like to take a green scotch bright pad and put it in a 1/4 sheet sander and hit the table with it after spaying WD-40 all over it. I brought back a rusty 1949 jig saw that way once. I don't think penetrating oil would do that.

[Colonel26]

I think kroil or WD-40 either would work. I’ve used both to remove plastic wad fouling from shotgun barrels that appeared clean. You’d be amazed what kroil and a bronze brush chucked in a drill will clean out of a “clean” shotgun barrel.

[Mark in PA]

I think kroil or WD-40 either would work. I’ve used both to remove plastic wad fouling from shotgun barrels that appeared clean. You’d be amazed what kroil and a bronze brush chucked in a drill will clean out of a “clean” shotgun barrel.

That's why I already have the Kroil on hand.

[Kolvir]

Well, I haven't tried to use Kroil for much besides penetrating and I only had the end of a can, so it is probably more versatile then I realized. I do know it is top notch stuff.

[Meridian_Mike]

I like WD-40 for cleaning but not for lubing or breaking up rust. It cleans rubber and plastic really nice.
I use PB Blaster for knives that are all locked up and rusted together. It loosens the rust.
AND... I like to use "Ed's Red" for soaking a knife.
.
BUT... if you want to really get rid of rust, you should try "Evapo-Rust"..... That stuff is WONDERFUL!!!
The rust will be GONE but the pits will still be there.
.
I have used it on solid rusted truck parts and they come out looking like new unpainted steel.
Rusted bolts come out AMAZING.
That stuff is the BOMB.

Those were rusted bolts and all I did was RINSE with water after pulling them out of Evapo-Rust. They sat for about 24 hours in the solution.

[Kolvir]

I love evapo-rust. I get a lot of old tools at auctions and use that stuff all of the time. Want to buy it by the 55 gallon drum. :)