Victorinox (SuperTimer) with RUST! Need advice

basilio · **on:** June 06, 2012, 04:16:43 PM

Hello Victorinox experts!
Since I am more "Wenger oriented", I think it is better to ask you, Victorinox lovers, for an advice.
I recently bought for a very low price (about 22 euros) the following knife.

I don't know honestly were the previous owner put the knife, as I have never seen so much rust on a SAK!.
Good thing is that the rust is only on the top and bottom of the knife, not inside (or on the sides of) the tools.
Is there a way to clean the knife and remove the rust?
And, more important, do you think it is worth it?
As I said, I spent very little to buy it, so I am not going to invest a lot of money to clean it (if it is possible).
Also, the SOS kit seems quite complete, but is missing the Maglite, the distress whistle and the comb.
Any suggestion?

nuphoria · **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2012, 04:20:56 PM

Poor little thing

I'd try some fine wire wool and WD40 - lots of elbow grease. That should take a lot of it away.

Personally I would try and fix it up as I hate to let things go.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2012, 04:56:04 PM

That's probably a result of long time storage in that leather pouch...moisture absorbed from the air combined with residual acids from the tanning process.

Syph007 · **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2012, 05:09:00 PM

Wow, never seen a sak that bad before. Personaly I would take it apart lovingly clean each part and reassemble. You need pin stock though for that.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2012, 06:15:45 PM

Supertimers are fairly rare. (Basically a SwissChamp with Timekeeper scales). The clock scales are harder to come by. If it were me, I'd see how hard it is to remove the rust off AWAY from the clock scale. If it can be done gently, that's what I'd do. If not, I'd CAREFULLY pop off the scales and then go at it. Then run it through a dishwasher cycle, let it dry completely, lube and re-apply the scales.

Beautiful tool, btw.

Oh, and if the thought of substituting in another SwissChamp crosses your mind, the outer scale by the clock is completely different than a standard 91mm Vic SAK liner, so be forewarned that modification will be necessary.

user24 · **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2012, 06:31:32 PM

really nice knife and a bargain! Regarding the SOS kit, I would recommend a Fenix E01 in place of the maglite, if you're going to replace it.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2012, 07:31:02 PM

Quote from: user24 on June 06, 2012, 06:31:32 PM

really nice knife and a bargain! Regarding the SOS kit, I would recommend a Fenix E01 in place of the maglite, if you're going to replace it.

Let us see the pics when your done please mate

And plus 1 on the E01.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2012, 07:33:16 PM

One other thing:

That clock has roman numerals, which seems to be an older version of the SuperTimer. Newer ones seem to all have Arabic numerals.

basilio · **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2012, 08:45:15 AM

Thank you all for the very useful informations and advices.
Unfortunately I don't have the knowledge to pop off the scales or to take the knife apart.
So I will try only to clean the knife

Quote from: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on June 06, 2012, 04:56:04 PM

That's probably a result of long time storage in that leather pouch...moisture absorbed from the air combined with residual acids from the tanning process.

I think you are right, as this explains the actual condition of the knife, with the rust only outside the top and bottom of the SAK, but not inside the tools.
I think it was probably stored for many years in a very humid place.

user24 · **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2012, 10:33:00 AM

Quote from: basilio on June 07, 2012, 08:45:15 AM

I don't have the knowledge to pop off the scales

Removing and re-adding the scales is really easy, here's an article on it: http://www.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=96&Itemid=35

Chako · **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2012, 12:58:42 PM

If the rust hasn't penetrated to the interior and is only located where it is in your images, it should be fairly easy to clean.

GigaHz · **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2012, 03:44:47 AM

Have you tried metal polish? It the metal pitted or is it just surface rust?

basilio · **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2012, 02:04:54 PM

Quote from: GigaHz on June 09, 2012, 03:44:47 AM

Have you tried metal polish? It the metal pitted or is it just surface rust?

I think is was both.
Most of the surface rust went away, but there are still "dark spots" which, I believe, will be impossible to remove.
These are the best results I could achieve (given my very limited ability to do such things)

sawman · **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2012, 02:16:49 PM

Looks good as new! Splendid work!

basilio · **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2012, 02:24:00 PM

Quote from: sawman on June 13, 2012, 02:16:49 PM

Looks good as new! Splendid work!

Thanks, but the above picture does not give justice to the actual condition of the knife.
Here is a close up picture with the "dark spots" I was talking about

sawman · **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2012, 02:34:23 PM

While there may still be some minor pitting, you've made great strides in removing a bulk of the rust. Even given the closeup, it looks like a healthy SAK now to me.

MultiMat · **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2012, 02:46:53 PM

Yep she looks good to me mate

.

Now you can throw out your watch & when someone asks you what time it is, you can flash them your brilliant old SAK

. It is a beauty mate

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2012, 01:25:30 PM

That looks great!

Someone did a corrosion study on the Victorinox blades and they are VERY resistant. I wouldn't worry too much about a little pitting. It gives your SuperTimer unique character without affecting performance.

(Plus, it looks like the blades on really OLD Vic knives.

)