It's always better to do a proper job if you can remove the blade to restore the scales..but you need to be careful unpinning...if you don't know what you're doing you'll wreck the scales. You can always try gently sanding them or even using a polish to clean them up..I use Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish. For sanding it's a judgement call..you just have to remember that too much pressure is going to damage something..it's hard to describe really.