The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: fightingquaker13 on September 16, 2009, 06:45:51 AM
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Haz, and Haz jr inspired me. While I have no great desire to go out and bayonet a hog, prefering a 230 grain .270 soft point for that particular chore, I did think about my bayonet. I'm not sure what it is, probably British circa WWI, but its 18" with a sword handle and looks exactly like the one one Haz jr. used on his pig. Anyhoo, after inheirting it from my granddad I took it to a grinder to sharpen it and usded it like a machete (only much stiffer) to control my bannana trees. However, it has gotten rusty. I don't know how or why as it was always put away clean and oiled in the garage. I guess its just the humidity. How do I de-rust the steel and blued blade, and brass (coated I guess since its rusty) handle? Its a nice piece and a good tool, so I don't want to trash it, but I can't spend money on it either. This is strictly a low budget DIY project. Ideas?
FQ13
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FQ,
Depends on how rusty. I have cleaned up blades with just a rough cloth, oil and elbow grease. If it is tougher you could use a 'nut buster' spray of some sort and some steel wool.
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Take some 0000 steel wool and soak it with silicone spray then GENTLY go over the rusted areas with it. This should remove the oxidation without ruining the finish.
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Scotch Brite pads work as well, You can either use the green dish washing pads or go to the hard ware store and get the color coded pads. Red or Grey should be about right, white is more for polishing and brown is probably to coarse.
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if it's rusted that bad, you need to take it down to bare metal and start over. Go to Auto Zone or Lowes and get a can of Naval Jelly.
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=13&subid=47&plid=169
Then clean it up with the steel wool, polish it, and keep it oiled.
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All good suggestions FQ, I have used Collinite's Metal Polish, found at Boater's World, on marine stainless steel, doing brite work on aluminum towers on yachts, etc,... when hard water and neglect has left rust on the hardware.
It evaporates the rust, the OOO, or OOOO, and elbow grease will get it off the blade.
Didn;t know about the silicone spray though,...Hmmmm...
Definitely keep oiled...
Give us a before and after pic...