Thread: Does this Puma have scale rot?

It had bad pitting on the other side.

Originally Posted by Truckman

Time for some schooling:

1. What exactly is cell/scale rot? I assume it's a breakdown of the material?

2. What causes it?

3. Does it only affect celluloid scales, or can others be affected?

4. Staining on the blade where it's covered by the scales seems to be one sign, Glen mentioned looking, smelling, testing - what exactly are you looking for here? What would be an example of a positive test?

5. The best course of action then would be to ditch the scales and rescale the blade?

Thanks everyone!

Celluloid is nitrocellulose! Nitrocellulose (also: cellulose nitrate, flash paper) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. When used as a propellant or low-order explosive, it is also known as guncotton.

Over a period of time this nitrocelulose breaks down and minute amounts of nitric acid in a gasious form are extruded from the celluloid and eat at the metal. It only occurs in celluloid.

John