Rusty Antique Knife Restoration - Handtools Only

There are some antique things worthy to be restored. Mainly because some of them, like my double knife, are not longer in production. So I encourage You to do the similar restorations, to save old knives, tools etc. It's really easy and possible totally using only Your hands. No power tools are needed. Really. Just time and hand tools.

So in this tutorial I'll show:

- how to remove rust (home way-using vinegar)
- how to polish the blade, metal etc
- how to renovate the wood on handles

Step 1: Dismounting

First step is to dismount the whole thing. If something is too rusty - use lubricant like well known WD-40. After applying it the screws should work easily.

Dismounting is important. Don't do the restoration without this step because it won't be restoration but just cleanning. You need to remove rust, polish everything and maybe something more.. who know ? it is visible only when Your thing is in the parts.

Step 2: Removing Rust - Home Method

There are a lot of products for rust removal, but I recommend to use.. vinegar. It's cheap and goes with the reaction with rust in such way, that removes it almost completely.

Find the can, pour the vinegar and put the metal things. In several minutes You will see the bubbles which will grow in time. They are removing the rust.

Step 3: Sanding and Polishing

After removing the rust the metal parts look.. awful! It's time to make them shiny again. To do that, take the sandpapers and start sanding. It's long lasting work, but very, really very satysfying.

Use sandpapers from 60 grit through 200 and 400 up to 2500 if You want cool shining metal surfaces (or You can end with 800 grit as well).

During sanding You will remove all rust leftovers, black colour, stains, scratches etc.

The last thing to do is to polish the metal parts with the polishing paste (I recommend the paste for polishing the car bodies)

Step 4: Deep Rust Holes

Deep rust holes can be removed by sanding with 60grit sandpaper or You can preserve them. In such case You still need to clean them and polish them. For cleanning the steel wool is the best and for polishing the toothbrush with polishing paste

Step 5: Sharpening

I'm restoring the knife, so I need to make it sharp. I'm using the japanese wet stones, because they are easy to use and very good in sharpening but.. very expensive, so You can as well use the kitchen knife sharpener.

Step 6: Wood Handles

In most cases wood handles are pretty easy to replace, but sometimes they are in such good condition that all You need to do is to sand them (grit 100 up to 400) and then paint and put protection layer.

For the colour I recommend wood stain but those based on oil - easy in applying

For protection layer - I recommend to use an oil

Sometimes handles are just glued to the metal. In my case they were not glued, but hold by small metal part at the edge. It just needs to be hit with the hammer to prevent it from falling off.

Step 7: That's All

And that's all. It was really easy, but believe me it is very satisfying to see something rusty, damaged to shine once again. I strongly encourage You to try something like my renovation.