Old SAK is worn out after dishwasher

[sebastiaankop]

Hi all,

I inerited an old SAK from dad.

It was dirty so I put it in the dishwasher.

Before the sides of the SAK where smooth and shiny.

After the dishwasher it was not smooth and dull.

What has happened?

Can I get it back to smooth and shiny.

I have attached a picture found on the Internet of the SAK just like my dads. This is not the actual SAK. This one is smooth and shiny.

Thanks,

Sebastiaan.

[m47mu74nt]

Dishwasher is evil, never use that on any folding knife 
-now you'll know for 'next time'-

I don't have a single idea to help you,
but take a pic of the knife   

[hiraethus]

Welcome to MTo.

The salt in the dishwasher has corroded the aluminium handles.  You could try some brass or silver polish to restore the finish but it'll be difficult to get it into the pattern on the handles and inside the knife.

[dks]

The dishwasher salt/detergent affects the aluminium in the SAK.

The scales (and in some models the liners) are form Aluminium and are protected by a hardened, special, aluminium oxide layer, which was removed through years of use and the dishwasher.

The coating is very hard to restore, but you may be able to polish the scales again.

[sebastiaankop]

Darn.

A painfull lesson.

I loved that knife because it is 50 years old. It was my fathers first knife.

Ill post a pic of the actual knife.

Thanks for the support guys.

It means a lot to me.

Sebastiaan.

[Corwyn]

 

What they said... for the future. A sak can be cleaned in warm water with dish detergent and rubbed with a little brush.

You could send the knife to Victorinox and mark it as sentimental value (if you don't, they'll just replace it) and they might try to replace the scales... or send it to a modder...

[glenfiddich1983]

It may have been the salt, but most likely it's because of the dishwasher detergent. That stuff is extremely agressive.

Do not send it to Victorinox or a modder to replace the scales. It is a piece of family history for you and has sentimental value, and with new scales the knife just isn't the same anymore and you will regret it. Consider it a lesson learned, and see it as a new scar from a new generation to an old and used knife.

[m47mu74nt]

Welcome to MTo.

The salt in the dishwasher has corroded the aluminium handles.  You could try some brass or silver polish to restore the finish but it'll be difficult to get it into the pattern on the handles and inside the knife.

Not a bad idea, thought you might, not brush the red anodized cross or you will wear it out

[JamesJ]

Carrying the knife in pockets over the years will start to smooth it out again...not to the exact same look it had when new, but at least the raised bumps will kind of smooth out. Seems like it's just cosmetic, so I wouldn't mess with it too much but instead start using it or carrying it around (as much as you feel comfortable doing since it's an heirloom)

I would NOT use any type of metal wire brush on it. A soft rag with quality polishing compound (actually a very fine abrasive) might get it pretty shiny again though, but also might not provide favorable results and would potentially remove the red of the logo.

With a limitless budget you could have the scales re-anodized at an anodizing shop and then have the knife reassembled by a competant modder. That would costs much more that it's worth and would change the "soul" or "story" of the knife.

Really tho it seems like it will still work fine and over the years wear back into a smoother feel.

[Poncho65]

Welcome to

Hope you can get some polish back on that knife buddy and get it sorted out

[sebastiaankop]

Hi all,

Thanks for all your tips.

I'll go with Glen (uut Gruningen).

It is a family piece of history.

I will defenitely not send it to victorinox or a modder.

That will mess up the sentimental value.

I will polish the handles with brass- or copper polish and a tooth brush.

I will not touch the logo.

Thanks again for all your heartfelt advice.

Much aprieciated.

Thanks,

From the Netherlands,

Sebastiaan.

[m47mu74nt]

Show content

Hi all,

Thanks for all your tips.

I'll go with Glen (uut Gruningen).

It is a family piece of history.

I will defenitely not send it to victorinox or a modder.

That will mess up the sentimental value.

I will polish the handles with brass- or copper polish and a tooth brush.

I will not touch the logo.

Thanks again for all your heartfelt advice.

Much aprieciated.

Thanks,

From the Netherlands,

Sebastiaan.

You're welcome!
Don't forget to take pictures of the result (and possibly process), so your mistake can help other unfortunate members that may have a similar issue in the future 

[glenfiddich1983]

Hi all,

Thanks for all your tips.

I'll go with Glen (uut Gruningen).

It is a family piece of history.

I will defenitely not send it to victorinox or a modder.

That will mess up the sentimental value.

I will polish the handles with brass- or copper polish and a tooth brush.

I will not touch the logo.

Thanks again for all your heartfelt advice.

Much aprieciated.

Thanks,

From the Netherlands,

Sebastiaan.

 

[offtopic]
By the way, where in the Netherlands are you from? 
[/offtopic]

[sebastiaankop]

Grave

[cali-SAK-attack]

You think that's bad............. Mine use to do acid
 kids ... this is yer ALOX SAK, this is yer ALOX SAK on drugs!   


WELCOME to  , HOPE you get it all slickered back up !

[sebastiaankop]

Damn...

[firiki]

Grave

Welcome to the forums, mate. Too bad about your heirloom SAK. I say lesson learned and you need a Pioneer

[glenfiddich1983]

Grave

Welcome to the forums, mate. Too bad about your heirloom SAK. I say lesson learned and you need a Pioneer

I concur! 

[sebastiaankop]

Thank you for the welcome.

Yes. Lesson learned.

But thanks to the guys in this forum I have learned some new tricks to bring back that old knife.

Sebastiaan.

[m47mu74nt]

Grave

Show content

Welcome to the forums, mate. Too bad about your heirloom SAK. I say lesson learned

and you need a Pioneer

A Red OC Pionneer, or nothing. (or maybe a PX?)

[firiki]

Grave

Show content

Welcome to the forums, mate. Too bad about your heirloom SAK. I say lesson learned

and you need a Pioneer

A Red OC Pionneer, or nothing. (or maybe a PX?)

I haven't handled a OC Pioneer but I'd hazard a guess that newer springs and tools are even better than older ones No brass liners tho'..

I like plain silver colour better as it seems to stay on better compared to other colours

PX... I think it may be too thick for me (that's what she said )

Good ol' 2-layer Pioneer (or Rancher) is my preferred alox candy!

De gustibus et coloribus... 

[m47mu74nt]

Grave

Show content

Welcome to the forums, mate. Too bad about your heirloom SAK. I say lesson learned

and you need a Pioneer

A Red OC Pionneer, or nothing. (or maybe a PX?)

I haven't handled a OC Pioneer but I'd hazard a guess that newer springs and tools are even better than older ones No brass liners tho'..

I like plain silver colour better as it seems to stay on better compared to other colours

PX... I think it may be too thick for me (that's what she said )

Good ol' 2-layer Pioneer (or Rancher) is my preferred alox candy!

De gustibus et coloribus... 

OK OK, so plain Silver OC  (I don't think the spring is better on the new ones -at least it shouldn't break in normal use on neither Alox-)

[TonySal]

Dishwasher is evil, never use that on any folding knife 
-now you'll know for 'next time'-

I don't have a single idea to help you,
but take a pic of the knife   

    +1

[Gath]

You think that's bad............. Mine use to do acid
 kids ... this is yer ALOX SAK, this is yer ALOX SAK on drugs!   


WELCOME to  , HOPE you get it all slickered back up !

Well that's one way to imitate copper patina.