Thread: green gunk around original pins

hello all,

i've got some green gunk around the original pins on a set of horn scales. what is it/how can i get rid of it?

If the pins are brass, it's mostly likely oxidation. Some fine grit sandpaper and brass polish should probably take care of it.

Originally Posted by 5370H55V

If the pins are brass, it's mostly likely oxidation. Some fine grit sandpaper and brass polish should probably take care of it.

i won't damage the scales?

If the oxidation has stained the scales, you can't unstain them with anything I know of. You'll have to sand. Just treat it as you would a blade, start around 400 grit and keep going up in grit until you have a nice polish.

^ thanks, dan!

the gunk looks to be on the "washer" (if my terminology is correct) that sits between the head of the pin and the scale itself.

I had an old razor with green all over the pins. To get it off, all I had to do was rub the pins with my bare hands and they cleaned up alright. The amount of work you'll have to do will depend on how severe the corrosion is.

Before you reach for anything more chemically aggressive or grit-wise abrasive, just try scrubbing at the green on those pins with a wee bit of ordinary toothpaste on an ordinary toothbrush. You might be pleasantly surprised.