maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:24 pm
by supershaji
I finally got myself a (not-so-)little present, the Cold Steel Espada XL, and then managed to put a lot of finger print marks on its mirror finished blade.
I wanted to know which is the best way to maintain such knifes, what kind of cloth to clean it with, and which kind of oil is best to protect it with, all while keeping the mirror buff shiny and especially scratch-less?
espada xl_20130913_152.jpg
All your expert advice will be greatly appreciated.
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:54 pm
by essdee1972
Oh My Gawd!! Shaji, that ain't a knife, that's a bloomin' KNOIFE!!
I assume this is more as a collectible than a hard-use tool? In that case, you wouldn't get too many scratches on it, anyway. For fingermarks, wipe with a clean, dry lint-free cloth - the ones which come free with spectacles or sunglasses, or a piece out of any old cotton item (preferably plain cotton, not hosiery). Make sure the cloth is clean (without any dust particles which might scratch the blade when rubbing) and dry.
If this is SS, you will anyway not have much rust problem. Plus you are in Hyderabad, which is much drier than the perepetual wetness we have to put up with in Mumbai. You can dab the surface with any oil for protection, wipe it clean when showing it to people, apply again before storage. Also keep the hinges and the lock lubricated. I use coconut oil (Parachute plain - the one without all the added nutrients) for the blade (thanks to Moin for the tip) and Singer (or whatever is available) sewing machine oil for the hinges & locks. I had a pretty rust-prone machete, which is now quite good looking ever since I keep it constantly oiled.
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:27 pm
by brihacharan
essdee1972 wrote:
Oh My Gawd!! Shaji, that ain't a knife, that's a bloomin' KNOIFE!!
If this is SS, you will anyway not have much rust problem. Plus you are in Hyderabad, which is much drier than the perepetual wetness we have to put up with in Mumbai. You can dab the surface with any oil for protection, wipe it clean when showing it to people, apply again before storage. Also keep the hinges and the lock lubricated. I use coconut oil (Parachute plain - the one without all the added nutrients) for the blade (thanks to Moin for the tip) and Singer (or whatever is available) sewing machine oil for the hinges & locks. I had a pretty rust-prone machete, which is now quite good looking ever since I keep it constantly oiled.
I use coconut oil (Parachute plain - the one without all the added nutrients) for the blade (thanks to Moin for the tip) and Singer (or whatever is available) sewing machine oil for the hinges & locks.
> Has worked well on my blades too
Briha
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:14 am
by supershaji
thanks Esdee for your tips. it certainly "ain't a knife... its a KNOIFE" indeed.
its probably going to lead me into collecting art from knifes, this one. was love at first sight, and I had to get it, you know that feeling.
so im going to oil this gorgeous lass with coconut oil to preserve its beauty... who knows, I might use it too one day.
I wear glasses, so the cleaning cloth is available.
Soft t shirt or cotton vest cloth for the oiling.
btw, does the parachute oil make it feel sticky?
also, thinking of making a leather velvet lined box/case for it, since it came in nothing more than plastic bubble wrap clothes inside a cardboard box. sheesh!
@ Janaab Briha, thank you for your reconfirmation.
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:44 am
by Moin.
Woww. That's a huge and an expensive blade. Supershaji, Aus8 is a Japo Stainless Steel, will not rust. You need not coat it in oil. Assuming this is a collection piece so just don't touch the blade Touch, magar pyar se...
By the way the Espada is patterned on the traditional Spanish Navaja Folders
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 11:22 am
by supershaji
keeda ho to Moin miya ke jaisa ho, nai to ho-ich nai
Moin Pasha,
Matters of the heart... Sigh!
Maybe I just may use if for a "good deed" someday, considering it IS a priced possession, and after all, what is the value of a tool if it can't be used?
Its an extremely lightweight knife, atleast lighter than what I had expected it to be.
I must re-watch the expendables again for this, I must have missed that part, or may have dozed off watching the drag-flick :p
You'd be doing me a huge favour telling me (if u know) at what time into the movie we see the item number?
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:55 pm
by Moin.
supershaji wrote: keeda ho to Moin miya ke jaisa ho, nai to ho-ich nai
Moin Pasha,
Matters of the heart... Sigh!
Maybe I just may use if for a "good deed" someday, considering it IS a priced possession, and after all, what is the value of a tool if it can't be used?
Its an extremely lightweight knife, atleast lighter than what I had expected it to be.
I must re-watch the expendables again for this, I must have missed that part, or may have dozed off watching the drag-flick :p
You'd be doing me a huge favour telling me (if u know) at what time into the movie we see the item number?
Arre Hazrath Kai koo poori pikhture dekhna hai aapko. Youtube kaike vaaste rehta.
[youtube][/youtube]
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 4:12 pm
by supershaji
Sahi bole Ustad, abbi kaam pe lagaatou nikkamme ku!
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:40 pm
by astronomy.domaine
Shahji, really neat blade.. congrats!
For a mirror finish, you can use the green polishing compound (looks like a bar of soap ). its used specifically for SS and gives a high gloss mirror finish. You can use it with a cotton/felt buffing wheel or even manually...
cheers
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
For a mirror finish, you can use the green polishing compound (looks like a bar of soap ). its used specifically for SS and gives a high gloss mirror finish. You can use it with a cotton/felt buffing wheel or even manually...
cheers
Thanks brother, but I take it that you have misunderstood my query: I merely wanted to know the best method to remove finger print marks, etc. from a mirror polished blade, without scratching it.
Nonetheless, I would love to try my hand at smithing someday.
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
For a mirror finish, you can use the green polishing compound (looks like a bar of soap ). its used specifically for SS and gives a high gloss mirror finish. You can use it with a cotton/felt buffing wheel or even manually...
cheers
Thanks brother, but I take it that you have misunderstood my query: I merely wanted to know the best method to remove finger print marks, etc. from a mirror polished blade, without scratching it.
Nonetheless, I would love to try my hand at smithing someday.
Re: maintaining a mirror finish blade? advice needed pls.
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:33 am
by astronomy.domaine
Thanks brother, but I take it that you have misunderstood my query: I merely wanted to know the best method to remove finger print marks, etc. from a mirror polished blade, without scratching it.
apologies shahji...realised after posting that your motive was just blade mantainence...
none the less... after some use and a few "good deeds", you might consider repolishing the Blade...!
Woww. That's a huge and an expensive blade. Supershaji, Aus8 is a Japo Stainless Steel, will not rust. You need not coat it in oil. Assuming this is a collection piece so just don't touch the blade 
Touch, magar pyar se... 
