Cleaning a Sword

[Lady Moreta]

I have a question for any sword-collecting Playgrounders out there.

I have a sword, proper steel, made by a blacksmith, that has some rust and corrosion on it. I want to clean it off, but I'm not sure the best way of doing so. Can I just use a standard steel-cleaner product from a hardware store? (of which my local has a variety) or do I need something more specialised?

And before anyone thinks to offer particular brands, please note that I am in Australia, so realise that I may not be able to access whatever brand you suggest.

Cheers

[Gnomvid]

Any de-rusting agent will do Coke is rather good and very cheap, and you want to oil or wax it it after to prevent further rusting.

[super dark33]

I heared engine oil and other oils work well.

[Timeras]

Sandpaper works fine to remove rust. Oil helps to prevent new corrosion (I use Ballistol or WD-40, should be available in Australia, but I'm not sure).

[warty goblin]

Is the rust just on the surface, or is it visibly pitted into the blade? If the former, you can just wipe it off, then oil regularly to prevent recurrence.

If it's the later, I suggest WD-40 and some fine steel wool. Scrub until you've lifted the rust, then oil up nicely. The pits left by the rust will unfortunately be visible, but the only alternative is to grind them out. This is time consuming, and may weaken the blade, screw up the edge geometry, or impact the balance.

[Crow]

If it is light surface corrosion (no pits), just use a green scrub pad, like from your kitchen, and scrub lengthwise along the blade, because even the scrub pad will leave scratches.

Using a lighter, and putting a little heat on tough spots will help lift the rust. I would not use steel wool, because the spots you scrub tend to be quite visible afterwards.

When you're done, get a plain white cloth and spray it with a non-drying lubricant (I don't like wd40, so I use LPS). Then wipe down the blade with your oiled up rag to leave a thin, even coat.

[SiuiS]

If it is light surface corrosion (no pits), just use a green scrub pad, like from your kitchen, and scrub lengthwise along the blade, because even the scrub pad will leave scratches.

Using a lighter, and putting a little heat on tough spots will help lift the rust. I would not use steel wool, because the spots you scrub tend to be quite visible afterwards.

When you're done, get a plain white cloth and spray it with a non-drying lubricant (I don't like wd40, so I use LPS). Then wipe down the blade with your oiled up rag to leave a thin, even coat.

Oh? Why don't you like WD40? I've never heard any complaint than "I don't have any more WD40".

[Crow]

Oh? Why don't you like WD40? I've never heard any complaint than "I don't have any more WD40".

The LPS just seems to protect longer. WD40 will still be fine.

[OverdrivePrime]

I love what an awesome resource the GiantITP community is. I had the same question, and this advice is perfect. Thanks from all of us quiet information-seekers who were afraid to ask!

[TheThan]

Scrub off the rust with something light like those green scrub pads.
Then polish it with a metal polish that should remove any scratches and make the blade look pretty.
Then apply a light coating of gun oil, that will help protect the blade (I use Rem oil).

That’s how I take care of the carbon steel blades on my knives. Make sure you keep your sword in a dry place, preferably in a scabbard. That way there will be less chance of rusting.

[Remmirath]

For the worst rust spots, I use steel wool and then follow it up with sandpaper. I leave the steel wool out of it unless the rust is quite bad, and ideally it doesn't get to that point, but there have been times where I've found a spot that needed the wool treatment (mostly if I've been unable to clean my swords for an unusually long period of time).

Typically I use two different weights of sandpaper, finishing up with the finer one. Gun oil, WD40, and most common alternatives to those will all work fine for keeping swords oiled; and as others have said, make sure to oil the sword regularly, as that will help prevent this from happening again. How frequently you should oil it, and how frequently you need to check on it to make sure that you're not acquiring rust again, depends a lot on the climate. I usually check all my swords every two months to be safe, but they typically don't need more than a very cursory cleaning twice a year.

If it's a sword you use as well as display, check it after use, and make sure you get it oiled up again before you store it.

[BizzaroStormy]

Whenever i get rust spots on my armor or weapons i usually just hit it with CLR then coat in clove oil. Except for my iaito, everything gets heavily used so i dont really both with sandpaper and polishing. (except for my buckler, sunlight has proven to be my greatest ally)

[super dark33]

Would you look at that.

[Karoht]

I'm rather fond of mineral oil and a soft cloth. Be gentle but persistant. I use the same thing on my kitchen knives.
On the note of kitchen knives, my advice is clean and dry first, sharpen second, mineral oil third, wipe dry and put away last.

The only complaint I have about WD40 (true of mineral oil as well if you don't wipe the surface clean enough afterwards) is that it attracts dust. I once used WD40 on my armor and didn't dry it properly afterwards, then stored it under my stairs. 2 months later, every dust bunny and stray bit of pet fur had attached itself.