Thread: Rust removal options

Yup, that’s cell rot. Test the edge and get those scales off. You have aggressive rust /rot on the edge and a bit of it will have to be removed to get to good steel that will hold a shaving edge.

As said a single edge razor blade or Exacto knife with the chisel type blade works well to cut the rust off.

Fine steel wool, 3 or 4000 and or some 600 grit wet & dry in small pieces backed by a coffee stir stick or pencil with an eraser work well for spot cleaning. But gold wash is thin and often, saving it is not worth the effort and results not as good as removing enough steel to get a flat surface.

Cell rot rust is deceptively destructive, how deep it goes you won’t know until you remove the surface rust to see the depth of pitting.
The bolsters and inlay can be saved and re-applied to new scales. There are tutorial here on removing and re-applying them, be careful they are very thin.

Better photos will help with further advice.