Cleaning and looking after my machette

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

Thanks for that. I take it the top tub (in the first link) is the wax required?

Hey Zammo,

Prolly one and the same.

If you wanna try some I'll post you some in a Kinda egg thingy - pm me if you wanna give it a go.

Phil.

 

[sploing]

Back to the original thread, silvo metal polish will shift just about anything. I've even used it on performance gearbox components without any trouble. it'll even shift the carbon off the inside of a cylinder head.

 

[xairbourne]

I use washing powder to clean my stuff (Billy cans, knives, etc) it brings it all up nice a shiny (get a bit of enzyme action on it) then 3 in 1 for protective coating

 

[Nightwalker]

So what temperature do you put it on for? And do you put it through the dryer too?

 

[xairbourne]

Ive got a posh hand wash option...called the wife

 

[nickg]

Hey nickg,

Thought I was the only one who used Ren Wax

I have also been told that it can be used on old photographs - is that right?

Phil.

I heard that too but Ive no first hand experience. The head of conservation at the Wallace collection told me that you can pretty mutch slap it on anythig organic so if the photos are on paper then it should be fine. There are a few issues with early petro-chemical products like bakelite etc in long term contact situations so that may include the emulsions and glazes on postwar prints. In the regimental museum at Chatham we only store photos in glassine envelopes in a humid controlled environment.

 

[demographic]

Clean a machete?

Nope, sorry you have lost me there

Sharpen? aye.
Remove rust? yep.

Remove slightly dirty stains? Nope lost again

 

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

well i have recently bought a machette. Its carbon steel.
http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-15774.html

After hacking and sawing into some trees it has lleft stains on it. LIke when you get a branch and wipe it on the floor. That cream colour. I have trying soapy water, but it wont budge. Any ideas how to clean it and also how to general care for it. thanks John

Paul Tawrell says using wood ash from a dead fire, it polishes the stain off without scratching the soft steel. I've tried it, it works, but only after alot of rubbing! I prefer the finest grit of emery cloth that I can get, soaked in water or oil and then rubbed briskly.

I only do this when the stain is too much, or some rust has accumulated. But other than that I let my knife stain, it looked better

 

[maddave]

Clean a machete?

Nope, sorry you have lost me there

Sharpen? aye.
Remove rust? yep.

Remove slightly dirty stains? Nope lost again

I like your thinking :You_Rock_

 

[anthonyyy]

should I feel ashamed to like nice shiney blades? [/QUOTE

Yes

 

[oetzi]

Yeah, its the blade and its uses that matter. But should I feel ashamed to like nice shiney blades? lol

As long as you use them, no
But it would be a shame to put a good tool behind glas forever.

 

[spamel]

All tools should be maintained to an extent. Polishing them constantly would be going over the top a bit, but certainly removing rust and keeping it sharp should be a priority. Rust is basically metal cancer, the longer you leave it the worse it will get and it will eventually kill your tool, whatever it may be.

In Africa, I've seen locals sharpen their machetes on a smooth rock, and the Democratic Republic of Congo can be quite humid at times, but their machetes weren't rusty. Just look after it as you see fit, if you think you need to sharpen it, then do it, no one but you can decide how well to look after your machete.

 

[Simon E]

There is a metal cleaner called Metal Glo, it will take off patina in seconds and return carbon and tool steel blades to super shiny. It also leaves a sort of greasy residue that acts as a rust inhibitor. It costs about $1.30 a tube at dealer prices so it shouldnt be much, even in the UK.

 

[Pignut]

If you sharpen your machete with a whet stone, use the thin slurry that is formed as a polish, and rub it over the mark with your finger or cloth, it will shine in no time!

I do this as routine maintainance on most of my knives!