Degreasing New Blades

[Puppet Master]

Most new blades come with a layer of grease, which is good because it keeps them from rusting.
However, what's the best way to clean the grease out of Electric Foil grooves?

I've wired a couple where I don't think I got it all out, and now am hoping I don't have trouble with the wires popping out.

[FencerInUS]

Personally, I've never done it, but i'd be inclined to use a good 'ol engine degreaser from the local hardware or auto supply store.

------------------
F.I.US.
Parry, THEN riposte
--)--------

[tsalyards]

Soak the blade in acetone. It's wicked strong stuff. If you make an acetone bath and soak the blade in it for an hour, even old super glue will scrape away like jelly. Watch the fumes though...

-Tad

[neevel]

Wipe the whole blade clean with a paper towel. Then tear off a few little bits of towel, fold them over, wedge them into the groove with a small screwdriver and run the screwdriver and towel scrap down the blade to get the residue out (you'll need to do this 2-3 times). If it's really gunked up you can use a Dremel cut-off wheel to scour the groove clean. I've never found soaking in acetone to be nearly as effective in getting rid of the manufacturing residue down in the groove as it is at dissolving glue.

-Dave Neevel

[rjccj]

Easiest way I've found, is by spraying a paper towel with WD 40 and wiping the blade, then taking an exacto knife down the groove, scraping it clean.

[Lumberg]

Yeah, I know what you are talking about. After wiping most of the goop off with whatever, there is a thin layer of residual grease in the groove. You can use acetone. I used gun cleaning solution recently. I didn't want to go out and buy a gigantic can of acetone so I used gun cleaning solvent which I used for my pistol everytime the voices in my head told me to clean my gun. (just kidding) Anyway, I used the solvent, paper towels, and thin cardboard to clean out the groove until there was no more stuff wiping onto the paper towel. It worked for me.

[damianip]

Couple of recommendations:

I'd avoid acetone. Flammable, toxic and what are you going to do with the waste? If you have access to a hood and proper disposal(industrial lab, academia) then a soak in an organic solvent is OK. Otherwise, the mechanical removal method is better.

I use an old toothbrush and an aqueous degreaser to scrub the majority of the grease off and then use the paper towel/screwdriver technique. Wires stay down and come out when they eventually get replaced (I use automotive badge glue, not the Superglues)

Paolo

[flik]

acetone isn't too dangerous. it's toxicity isn't high (hell, i know people who've washed their hands in the stuff) i work with it in lab on a near daily basis. it can be reused and a little spillage will evaporate before you can grab a towel to wipe it up. one of my acetone baths recently tipped over - all of it was gone in minutes. you do want to watch the vapors, but i guess a contact high never hurt anyone. fletch tite is much worse (but or so good)

[neevel]

At least in my area, municipal public works centers have facilities to dispose of potentially hazardous waste (solvents, used motor oil, etc.) that residents bring in. Gas stations (at least the ones that still service cars rather than just being convenience stores) may also be able to dispose of waste. Acetone's not much more dangerous than many other items you commonly find in people's basements or cleaning cabinets-- turpentine, ammonia, chlorine bleach, oven cleaners, furniture finish strippers, ethelyne glycol antifreeze, propane bottles, all manner of automotive products (e.g., GumOut carb cleaner a.k.a. "flamethrower in a can").

The way I handle the acetone bath in my basement is to keep it covered with a screw-on pipe cap when not in use. When I have blades soaking in it I put a plastic bag over the open end with a rubber band to minimze vapors. It's right next to a window that I can crack open if I need ventilation.

-Dave Neevel

[damianip]

Without sounding too much like an alarmist, I'll restate that acetone is not an item to have laying about in appreciable quantities without the proper facilities.

Points to consider:

i know people who've washed their hands in the stuff

And I remember folks who washed their hands in benzene. I'll bet their livers regret that now.

If we spilled a significant quantity in our lab, a HazMat team was required. Also sending it up the stack is illegal as a disposal method.

I don't know if it's still true but many oil reclaim centers used to "sniff" waste oil for solvents. A buddy had his waste oil refused because he had dumped some cleaning acetone in with his oil.

Last but not least, consider the LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) when you handle it indoors. Pilots open flames and switches can make for nasty surprises.

The point is, there are safer more effective solutions, but if acetone is your choice, exercise caution.

Alarmist sermon complete.

BTW, I spent 12 years in a metallurgy lab, part of that time studying vapor degreasing for oxygen use components, so I've handled my share of nasty materials.

Paolo


[This message has been edited by damianip (edited 11-13-2000).]

[latenight]

I'm of the Dremel cutting wheel school myself

[Lumberg]

Addendum to first post.
I used latex gloves while using the gun cleaning solvent. I would suggest using protective gloves with whatever chemical you choose. I don't know exactly what is in it but it's flammable but not as odoriferous as mineral spirits or turpentine.
I would read damianip's post. I don't want to sound like an alarmist either but what kind of a retarded idiot would wash their hands with acetone.
P.S. Depending on where you buy your blades, if the stuff is like goop, it's probably naval jelly and not grease.

[This message has been edited by Lumberg (edited 11-14-2000).]

[flik]

[quote]Originally posted by Lumberg:
but what kind of a retarded idiot would wash their hands with acetone.

an organic chemistry professor actually. acetone can have trace amounts of benzene though i've looked for this as an excercise and couldn't find any traces of it.

i've been working as a research biochemist for the past two years in addition to taking classes - i've handled my share of nasty stuff also.

[Lumberg]

To flik,
Interesting. I think if you originally said "...hell, I know of an organic chemistry professor who washed his hands with the stuff...", it may not have come off as Homer Simpson-ish. I kind of feel like washing your hands with acetone is like washing your hands with gasoline. Why was this professor washing his hands with acetone? What was on his hands?
Final note, if you want to use acetone to clean your blades, go ahead if you find it effective. Just make sure you handle the acetone carefully, that the waste is properly disposed of, and that there is adequate ventilation.

[darius]

Hrmmmm...if he had Zap CA on his hands, washing them in acetone would probably be a pretty smart idea.

[flik]

The point I was trying to get at with my previous posts is that acetone is a useful tool and it shouldn't be avoided out of fear of killing yourself. Checked my jug-o'acetone today and it says it's slightly hazardous (the ratings are slight, moderate, high, extremely, and I hope you have a will) The warning label doesn't even list a contact hazard other than eye contact - just don't breath the vapors or drink it.

A gallon or half-gallon jug should last the average fencer who does his/her own repairs indefinitely, so disposal shouldn't be too much of a concern. The chances of the dissolved glues reacting with each other to form something nasty is nearly nonexistent - there's not much of a reason to dispose of it.


I've seen people wash their hands in acetone for numerous reasons - Darius has one of 'em. The reason my prof was doing it is actually kind of funny and involves some idiot doing something that completely covered the lab in a thin layer of orange "dust" that after a few weeks of analyzing it all we could be certain of is it wouldn't kill us (immediately)

one further thing about the use of acetone: if you wear contacts, take them out or use the stuff in a very well ventilated area. It's possible (though unlikely) for the vapors to get trapped behind the lens. This will cause some serious irritation you should really avoid. Contacts are prohibited in most labs that routinely use solvents. enough of my sermon...

As to the original purpose of this thread, all but one of the blades I've had to degrease were easily cleaned by acetone. the only one that wasn't had this blackish goop that i just took out with a screwdriver and a rag. It just depends on what the manufacturer uses...

-jeremy

[HilandDoug]

Acetone can't be that bad, it IS the primary ingredient in nail polish remover. Any house with a woman who wears nail polish should have remover, just make sure you ask before you use it, or you could end up in hot water!

[Lumberg]

To flik,
I concede. You are now the new President of the United States of America.
Just kidding. I kind of thought that acetone was in nail polish remover but I wasn't sure.
Thanks to HilAndDoug for providing that info.
This topic has bored me completely. Have a nice day.

[Rapier9mm]

Originally posted by damianip:
And I remember folks who washed their hands in benzene. [/b]

mmmm 2,4,6 - trinitromethylbenzene.....

[neevel]

I mentioned this thread talking to Ron Herman (one of the head national armorers) today in conjunction with the subject of lead vs. lead-free (which really suck) solders. He made a comment that "anything that really works is probably bad for you in some way" .

-Dave