Thread: Cleaning the pivot

Hi guys,

Yesterday i recieved a beautiful Henckels 401 Platinum i won off the bay.

The blade is in near pristine condition, but there is some rust on the tang in the pivot.

Is there any way i can clean it up without removing the scales? It has nickel silver pins and all i have is brass washers and pinstock so i would like to avoid repinning.

Thanks!

Jon

This has worked for me in the past,mix some rottenstone and oil into a slurry type paste.
Drizzle some into the pivot area,apply some pressure with two fingers,than work the blade back and fourth.
Clean with hot soapy water, blow out with air.

Where could i get some rottenstone locally?

Powderd R.S is not easy to find anymore,howards makes a product called restor a shine for furniture which is R.S and oil mixed.
The idea is to get a fine abrasive in the pivot area,a clenser such as barkeepers friend also works but be carefull as it may effect the scale material. also works to use dental floss in the area with the slurry.
Of course,unpinning is the benchmark tho.

Probably have to end up repinning eventually, but i am going to hone it up and shave with first. It is just screaming to be used!

Rottenstone is usually sold at woodworking stores, since it's often used to rub out the final polish on a lacquer finish.
Try Woodcraft or Highland Hardware. They also have great service on the web.

I'm wondering how valve grinding paste would work - the finest possible grade, of course.
I use stainless steel TIG filler rod for pinning and it seems to work just fine and is readily available at welding supply shops.
I hope this helps

If its not too, too bad I have used rouge and one of those floss picks the tooth pick with the short piece of dental floss at one end. It might work for you.