Suggestions for cleaning inside pits and stamps?

[RobertH]

Hello guys,

Can the experts please advise me on how best to clean out pits that I've decided to leave (in areas that don't affect the work of the blade), or in particular stamps on the tang?

I've got a few blades, some I've sanded up and then polished with Mother's, others that I just polished with Mother's. When you polish with Mother's it makes that black gunky stuff which I've tried my damnedest to buff off with clean cloths over and over again rubbing for hours, but I can't get down inside the stamps or in some of the pits, so those areas are left black.

I've tried toothpicks to poke in the cloth, but they just snap and don't do much. I've tried an old toothbrush also without much success.

Thanks for any tips.

[deighaingeal]

When I'm restoring knives I use a dental pick, from my dentist, that I modified with a very small plug of wood coated with polish.

[ScottGoodman]

The tumbler method always works for me.

Toothpicks are the other option that I would recommend...the Party type that are colored are usually the hardest from what I have found. I get ticked when I use a toothpicks that are of a bad batch and they snap when you are using them. I'd use the toothpick without a cloth (the wood won't hurt the steel i promise), just a smear of your favorite polish in the stamps and work at it. May be best if you start with 1/2 of a toothpick anyway. Best of luck!

[RobertH]

I may invest in a tumbler if I continue with the hobby, seems like from reading the forums many people have success with them.

Thanks for your tips guys, I'll try the toothpicks first as I don't have very good access to a dental pick. If that fails I guess I'll try going to a hobby store to see what I can find.

[ScottGoodman]

Something came to me, but I haven't tried it. May or may not work. If you have access to an art or hobbie store, you may be able to find a tight rolled paper used to blend drawings, kind of like a lolli pop stick. You could just buy some lolli pops...

You may need to sharpen the paper stick though, but use it just like you would the toothpick & enjoy the lolli pop while at work