Cleaning rust off blade

[Shadow Fencer]

I'm 12 days from returning to the fencing world after a 22 years of not fencing. I have a thin coating of rust on my blades. I've use a clean white cloth to wipe off the rust. Any recommendations as to a type of cleaning fluid I could use. I was thinking of spraying some WD-40 onto the cloth and wiping off the blades again. It'll be interesing to see if my electric foils work after all these years in the basement!

Thanks.

[FencerInUS]

I use steel wool or the green rough part of the dish ponge to clean off my dry foils. I dont know if you do something different for electric though. Personally I'd probably just go at it with a wad of steel wool, then I'd find out later on the strip, all wired up and ready for some carnage, that I put a short in it somewhere or some crap. But oh well

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F.I.US.
Parry, THEN riposte
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[saberkid]

i use a sand block its a block of rubbery sand paper thingy it works very well i think you can buy them at turnaments, but it works better tham steel wool or green cloth

[Shadow Fencer]

Thanks for these tips! I was really clueless about what to do with the rust as I've nerver had to worry about it! Then again, put your equipment away for 22 years in the basement and then that's what happens. Don't worry, I won't use a brillo pad- Hubby has some grade 00 steel wool I can use.

[tsalyards]

Try this:

1) Grab old blades firmly by the tips
2) Pitch them in the garbage
3) Buy new blades

Really old blades can be a bit of a safety hazzard, just pick up some new ones.

-Tad

[rusty epee]

Uh, both options are workable. Yes, you can clean your blades off with some 00 steel wool (or sandpaper), but I will tell you this: the first time you need to replace one, you're going to end up having to buy the whole thing anyway. Your grips (and pommels) won't fit the new baldes out -- different thread and tang size. Do yourself a favor and buy new at your first available opportunity.

And a word to the wise: if what you're using is italian steel, IMHO it should be trashed anyway. I experienced a definite tendency for that particular kind to break along the length of the blade, not across, and that is extremely dangerous. Pitch 'em if that's what you've got.



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Youth and enthusiam are no match for age and treachery....

[Shadow Fencer]

I took a closer look at both of my electric foils. One of them is practically new. I must have saved that one as my spare. The other has seen a lot of action. Both are from Castello and made in France. I will have both inpected at the club to make sure they are "OK" before I use them. Thank you for your suggestions.