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Cleaning after disassembly question
Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 12:17 am
by Froe
I’m cleaning replacing the scales on an Eye Brand trapper that has suffered from celluloid out gassing. Soaked it overnight in Evaporust and disassembled it and the parts appear to be in good shape other than some very light pitting. But after scrubbing with some 0000 steel wool I’m still not happy with the stained brass and blades. I’m guessing it’s the phosphate in the Evaporust. Before I resort to sandpaper I thought I’d ask if anyone has tried vinegar or perhaps denture to clean parts. It will be a user, so I’m good with a patina. I just don’t want to over do it with material removal.
Thanks
Froe
Re: Cleaning after disassembly question
Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:48 pm
by Bill DeShivs
Vinegar has very little value in repairing knives. It usually does much more harm than good.
You are going to need to mechanically remove the stains.
Re: Cleaning after disassembly question
Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 11:07 pm
by Froe
Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:48 pm
Vinegar has very little value in repairing knives. It usually does much more harm than good.
You are going to need to mechanically remove the stains.
Thanks Bill. I’ll use Brasso and 0000 steel wool on the liners and they should clean easy.
I may buff the blades though. I don’t want to sand them as they are close to 100% with just a little light pitting close to the spine.
Froe
Re: Cleaning after disassembly question
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2026 7:31 am
by orvet
When I disassemble a knife that has outgassed, i first remove all the celluloid handle material, then before disassembling I let it soak in a few minutes in water with a couple tablespoons of baking soda. The baking soda is an alkaline and it neutralizes the acid left on the knife from the outgassing process. I usually scrub it with baking soda and an old toothbrush to get the crud off of it.
I try to avoid steel wool because it can scratch the blades, the liners and the bolsters. I use 3M polishing paper which runs from 400 to 8000 grit. It is a much finer scratch pattern than that of sandpaper. If you work your way diligently from the corser paper through 8000 grit it won't take much to polish it.
The only way to get the pitting out is through abrasion, but a few pits on a user knife doesn't hurt anything!
Be sure to post some pictures after you're done, we'd love to see it!
Re: Cleaning after disassembly question
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2026 3:06 am
by Froe
orvet wrote: ↑Mon Feb 16, 2026 7:31 am
When I disassemble a knife that has outgassed, i first remove all the celluloid handle material, then before disassembling I let it soak in a few minutes in water with a couple tablespoons of baking soda. The baking soda is an alkaline and it neutralizes the acid left on the knife from the outgassing process. I usually scrub it with baking soda and an old toothbrush to get the crud off of it.
I try to avoid steel wool because it can scratch the blades, the liners and the bolsters. I use 3M polishing paper which runs from 400 to 8000 grit. It is a much finer scratch pattern than that of sandpaper. If you work your way diligently from the corser paper through 8000 grit it won't take much to polish it.
The only way to get the pitting out is through abrasion, but a few pits on a user knife doesn't hurt anything!
Be sure to post some pictures after you're done, we'd love to see it!
Thanks Dale!