Thread: How do I clean these scales?

I'm not sure how to clean these scales up since I don't know what they were supposed to look like originally. I cleaned the dirt off and they are a yellowish color. Were they supposed to be like that or more of a cream color? I didnt want to start sanding without some input first, thanks.

Toothbrush and some simple green,Do not sand them.

Thanks Bill!

The ones I have are yellow like that as well, so I would assume that is the original color. Like Pixelfixed said, a light scrubbing with a soft bristle brush works great.

Agreed! Sometimes toothpaste can help to clean the tang and the inside of the scales. A good one will also polish the scales and tang. I like to use a one inch wide cheap paintbrush with the bristles cut to about ¾" long. It gets to the grunge inside the scales. Pipe cleaners are a winner also.
Some of that style scale were tinted with an amber stain. So go slowly. There may be gold under them there hills.
~Richard

I'll try toothpaste as well! Scales are already off though so I could really clean up the blade

They are supposed to be yellow. I usually clean them up with a toothbrush and colgate toothpaste. I don't know why colgate cleans stuff up so well, but I'm not sure I want to brush my teeth with it.

Simple green back in the 60s we used to use as a surgical scrub, was called green soap.you can use it today to brush your teeth.

Simple green is great. I use it all day everyday diluted 1:5 with water with a toothbrush. Once I put a set of yellow cel scales in it and forgot them. For a few days.
They were green as I remembered them! Pretty crumbly too! Good stuff with moderation!

thanks for the good thread, i have a few similar scales and i wasn't sure what they colour they were ment to be. now i know i won't be trying to polish them back to white!