Patina/rust remover

[FeelTheBurr]

Hi,

I have a product question. I have a patina on a couple of knives and would like to remove them. One has a well developed patina. What is the best way, or product(s) to remove it that won't damage the steel?

Thanks.

[cliff]

I confess, I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard, here, that diamond emulsion on a felt block will work best. I've used baking soda, which works but will change the finish. Likewise, using the mud from your stones on a cork or felt block will work. Or you could use something like Flitz.

[gladius]

Start with baking soda or Bar Keeper's Friend. I've also had good success with the following products: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/rustremovers.html

[Miles]

+1 on what cliff said about mud from your stones and then Flitz. I use the flattening plate to work up some clean mud. Flitz is for super stubborn stains, brownish patina and rust spots. Uchigumori powder is cool too. Sorta darkens and increases the contrast.

I learned the hard way to be gentle (& soft rag)- I’ve added small scratches by scrubbing to hard.

These days I give in to the patina unless it’s too ugly. I’ll do the mud or uchigumori powder. Some knives are just too reactive.

[Jeff B]

I confess, I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard, here, that diamond emulsion on a felt block will work best. I've used baking soda, which works but will change the finish. Likewise, using the mud from your stones on a cork or felt block will work. Or you could use something like Flitz.

Flitz works well for the most part but doesn't always get all of the etching caused by the patina. I've used Diamond emulsions(1-3u) on a felt block with better results.

[taz575]

I use non woven abrasive pads to clean patina off and prep blades for acid etching. I go from the maroon to dark grey to white pads and it gives a nice satin finish to the blade, but it will often hit the edge a bit, too. I put the knife flat on the pad with the edge facing me and push it straight away, spine leading. The rubberish rust erasers can leave other scratches on the blade.

[Jeff B]

...The rubberish rust erasers can leave other scratches on the blade.

Agreed. you will almost always destroy a finish with rust erasers unless you really know what your doing. They are really only meant for very rusted knives.

[XexoX]

What about Bar Keepers Friend powder? I asked, cause I seem to remember reading about it here, but not sure for what.

[gladius]

What about Bar Keepers Friend powder? I asked, cause I seem to remember reading about it here, but not sure for what.

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ref. https://www.chefknivestogoforums.com/vi ... 35#p130835

That is usually all I use. If I want to polish the blade up a little I use the Sandflex course, medium and fine followed with a polish if needed. Like using progressively finer grits of sandpaper.

[billk1002]

I have only been using/collecting Japanese carbon knives for 3 years, I use a rust eraser to clean them up now and then If the patina goes past discolored to brown.
I have found that the rust eraser will remove all of the patina down to the bare metal with very little effort.

[jmcnelly85]

If a baking soda slurry rubbed with a cork doesn’t work, I’ll use bkf, if that doesn’t work I’ll go through a wet dry sandpaper progression going from 200-2000. More often than not the baking soda is enough.

[FeelTheBurr]

Hollo,

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried baking powder and it worked well on most of it. The result seems fairly rust free except the core steel is no longer shiny. I think that is mostly from minor etching due to the patina.

First, I will try liquid beekeepers friend, and apply it with light pressure. Then stone slury in decreasing grits.

Thanks again.

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Bumping this one since we are getting new customers that are asking.

[Robstreperous]

I've been using Barkeeper's Friend liquid. Hasn't let me down yet.

[ex1580]

I use the sandflex rust eraser blocks for little stuff. I got some of those nonwoven abrasive pads last year and they are good for the bigger jobs. Once you get the rust off there are lots of ways to polish metal.