Thread: Dovo with cell-rot

This might be an exercise in futility but I'm gonna do my best to bring this back to life. It deserves a try.
The vendors' pics were accurate:



Never having attempted this before, I decided to "soak" the blade in CLR for 1 hour at room temperature.


After this, a quick scrub with a green scotch-brite and detergent in warm water.
I then sprayed the blade with WD-40 and went to work with my dremel clone and a wire wheel.
This is the result so far:



There is a rising sun etching on the blade face and it looks like I'm going to lose most of it,
but the tang stamps are still good. I can only show a vendor pic as my camera can't pick it up.


I ran my thumbnail along the edge and gee whiz it is ragged to say the least !!
That's all for today but I will continue to attempt to give this little blade the attention it deserves.

My computer messed up as I was uploading the pics but they're all there !!

Cool! Thanks for sharing your project, and for the pictures.

I think this is what it looked like originally, except the tail is shorter....

Very nice so far, I have used CLR, The Works, white Vinegar, and cider vinegar. Followed by orange cleaners to gentle any acidic remains..
The bevel may need to be inspected a few times as you hone it. The Cell rot often follows the grain lines and through the steel to the other side. I have saved and lost some over the years. Often I may lose a mm of width before the bevel is clean to the edge.
If the rot is less than half way through at the top of the bevel, it is useable ansd will last for a long time, if not perfect. and honing with some baking soda in the water is a good idea..some natural stones are slightly acidic.
~Richard

Richard and Onimaru55,

Maybe it's just my technique but I find my Naniwas (400,1000) very slow going when it comes to bevel setting.
Can you recommend another, "faster" stone ?

I don't have the Naniwa 200 because I thought this would be "too low" and "too coarse" despite never
having used one.

Maybe it's time to buy a Norton ?

Originally Posted by bongo

I ran my thumbnail along the edge and gee whiz it is ragged to say the least !!

That's why you try a bevel set prior to restoring.
Hope the rust hasn't eaten too deep.