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Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips

gb Offline Fast Bill

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Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
on: April 05, 2026, 09:10:22 PM
Scratched and marked SAK scales get regularly mentioned here in different threads but I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned in a dedicated thread. After reading a helpful post by LoopCutter in the SwissChamp Sunday thread:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,65916.msg2568360.html#msg2568360

I thought it might be worth starting a specific thread with hints and tips for scale renovation so that members can post their own experiences and preferred methods. Obviously any advice has to come with a health warning so be cautious and do try out any method in a safe way to satisfy yourself it will work for you.

To start this discussion off I have used Solvol Autosol and Meguiars Scratch X 2.0 to polish out scratches and imperfections in the scales to two SAKs I have. One is a Silvertech Spartan the scales of which came inadvertently into contact with some insect repellant which left small chemical droplet marks. The other is a Waiter I picked up secondhand with pretty scuffed scales. Both are part of my EDC rotation and they're not shelf queens.

I tried Autosol after seeing it mentioned here after getting some, but lesser, success with Scratch X on the Spartan scales. I would now tend to carefully use Autosol first on a cotton bud selectively and finish with a polish up with Scratch X. Both did not seem to cause contra-indications with the scales. Obviously remove T&T first.

BUT ... this is just my personal experience and others might recoil in horror. This thread will hopefully get an informed debate going. Over to you ... if we get some solid learning here it might be worth asking the Mods to make it a sticky.

Per Titanium Ad Tearoom.
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pr Offline Juan el Boricua

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #1 on: April 06, 2026, 05:45:10 AM
For deep or heavily scratched cellidor or abs/translucent scales (if the scales are cracked or splintered, I join with CA glue and later build up area first). I sand with wet/dry sandpapers with a dishwashing/water solution as lube; I go from 600/800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grits, and finish off polishing with Meguiar's plastX or Blue Magic cream. Same process and grading for blades except I don't use the Meguiar's, only the Blue Magic.


us Offline AzteCypher

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #2 on: April 06, 2026, 06:08:30 AM
In addition to the above mentioned by Juan, I use Novus scratch remove for the finer scratches.  I then use a jewelry polishing cream as my last step.  Accomplishes the same thing that Blue Magic does.  It was all I had on hand at the time and since it worked for me, I kept using it.
May the best of your past, be the worst of your future.



gb Offline Fast Bill

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #3 on: April 06, 2026, 07:17:36 PM
I wonder if anyone has experience of toothpaste as a polish?
Per Titanium Ad Tearoom.
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us Offline IMR4198

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #4 on: April 06, 2026, 07:43:23 PM
   Flitz, Simichrome, toothpaste.  I have tried it all.  I use 600 grit carbide (black) paper if there are too many scratches and have been using Midway brass polish as a finisher.  It doesn't get things mirror bright, but mirror doesn't last long on a carry knife anyway.  Might depend on which toothpaste you try to use, but whatever it was I had didn't do so well.  Any water-based polishing compound is probably safe.  Be careful and test anything that has a volatile base. 
    Same treatment for ABS or Cellidor.  600 grit then a finish with some sort of polish will remove printed on advertising as well.  Not effective on the multi-color logos that have some sort of hard varnish on top of them.  Those will polish up well with some sort of polishing compound but won't remove those types of logos.
     I have had fair luck repairing cracked scales by epoxy on the back sides, then sanding the crack on the front followed by polishing.  I am not really looking for mirror finish or perfection though.  I just leave deep cuts and don't worry with them. 
Best wishes.  G
 :(

 
« Last Edit: April 06, 2026, 09:01:53 PM by IMR4198 »


gb Offline Fast Bill

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #5 on: April 06, 2026, 08:42:44 PM
 :cheers:
Per Titanium Ad Tearoom.
Apex predator of fruit cake


us Offline IMR4198

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #6 on: April 06, 2026, 08:59:05 PM
   Flitz, Simichrome, toothpaste.  I have tried it all.  I use 600 grit carbide (black) paper if there are too many scratches and have been using Midway brass polish as a finisher.  It doesn't get things mirror bright, but mirror doesn't last long on a carry knife anyway.  Might depend on which toothpaste you try to use, but whatever it was I had didn't do so well.  Any water-based polishing compound is probably safe.  Be careful and test anything that has a volatile base. 
    Same treatment for ABS or Cellidor.  600 grit then a finish with some sort of polish will remove printed on advertising as well.  Not effective on the multi-color logos that have some sort of hard varnish on top of them.  Those will polish up well with some sort of polishing compound but won't remove those types of logos.
     I have had fair luck repairing cracked scales by epoxy on the back sides, then sanding the crack on the front followed by polishing.  I am not really looking for mirror finish or perfection though.  I just leave deep cuts and don't worry with them. 
Best wishes.  G
 :(

 


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #7 on: April 06, 2026, 09:04:13 PM
I wonder if anyone has experience otoothpast as a polish?

Not as a polish!

But as a scratch reducer. Very fine abrasive.  I have also used on LM HANDLES with laser etch logos after using 600 grit Emory cloth to reduce to a shadow.

A friend showed very good results removing scratches on kitchen pans and pots with toothpaste applied to a buffing wheel.  (He is FLEA market seller of his garage sale finds!). Also, he never mentioned a favorite, saw CREST and COLGATE tubes on the bench.

 
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

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   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline powernoodle

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #8 on: April 07, 2026, 04:45:06 PM
I am partial to Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish, but there are plenty of them that will do the trick.   :tu:


us Offline PitCarver

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #9 on: April 07, 2026, 06:38:42 PM
I'm cheap, so after using some extra fine sandpaper, or pads, I use toothpaste.

This DT, that I got off of the eBay some years ago, was pretty rough looking.  Polishing pads and toothpaste brought it up to user standards.

It's not perfect but it's way better than it was.  This is also before I learned how easy it was to swap out bad scales.
Addicted to sharp pointy things.


gb Offline Fast Bill

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #10 on: April 07, 2026, 10:18:07 PM
 :like:
Per Titanium Ad Tearoom.
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us Offline powernoodle

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #11 on: April 07, 2026, 10:57:46 PM
 :iagree:   :cheers:


us Offline AzteCypher

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Re: Scale renovation and polishing - hints and tips
Reply #12 on: April 08, 2026, 05:15:06 AM
Looks good to me PC!   :tu:

 :like:
May the best of your past, be the worst of your future.



 

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