A cup hilt sword ... atypical, for your comments.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by ariel

Fernando,
Have you tried WD-40 to remove the grip?

I thought of doing that, Ariel but, i left it for a possible new round.
The stuck up is not between two metals but between the steel tang and the wooden grip core; the tang must have 'swollen' with the rusting process.
I wanted to avoid to mess up the area with the penetrating oil; but i will probably give it a try. But above all, i fear for the damage; these things are pretty old and, if we damaged them, they are not the same again.

[kronckew]

WD40 and wood are not a good mix. It dries and leaves a gunky residue when over-applied. There are better oils available from gunsmiths.

I've heard an old 'fix' for a loose grip on a tang with a slightly oversized central grip hole was to paint the tang with a salt and vinegar paste to encourage rust, which increases the size of the tang as rust takes up more space than the steel it used to be.

That is why you can't use water with a high salt content to make reinforced concrete. It rusts the rebar, expands them and the concrete cracks from the outwards force which is quite strong. This lets in more water & the deterioration accelerates.

If it's used on an old somewhat fragile and dry shrunken wood grip, the expansion could crack the wood. medical grade mineral oil/Ballistol would be better, to rehydrate the dry shrunken wood and lube the internal rust that is preventing the disassembly. It's also non-poisonous and food safe unlike WD40. It will discolour light wood tho and you can't varnish over it. It never dries or hardens. Ballistol has a nice aroma, if you like Ouzo liquor (Greek) you might like it's anise aroma. I do.

[fernando]

Alright Govenor, Ballistol will be ... when time comes.
But you are wrong in one thing; its aroma stinks .

[Victrix]

I use Ballistol only on guns (with moving parts). I use mineral oil for swords, and when dry I apply Renaissance wax on top. I use walnut oil for wood (butt stocks on guns, wood hilts on swords, poles on polearms).

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Victrix

I use Ballistol only on guns (with moving parts). I use mineral oil for swords, and when dry I apply Renaissance wax on top. I use walnut oil for wood (butt stocks on guns, wood hilts on swords, poles on polearms).

Yes, you are right in what counts primary use of this ingredient; i happen to have a can of this because some old collector/hunter adviced me to use it, which i almost never did, leaving it for active gun shooters, which is not my case.
But after Wayne's smart advice, i went to look to ALL BALLISTOL PURPOSES and decided i will give a try.
If it doesn' work and something goes wrong, he will see my lawyers.

[Philip]

Originally Posted by Victrix

I use Ballistol only on guns (with moving parts). I use mineral oil for swords, and when dry I apply Renaissance wax on top. I use walnut oil for wood (butt stocks on guns, wood hilts on swords, poles on polearms).

Agreed, Ballistol is great for lubricating the mechanical components of guns, and moreover is not harmful to wood (softening/staining). But for the surfaces that will be in contact with wood, or outside and exposed to handling, I prefer a good wax (like Renaissance). This, mainly because wood can absorb oils, and waxed surfaces are cleaner to hold. This, for antiques to display and other guns to shoot.

Thanks for the tip on walnut oil, will try it as you advise. Heretofore I have only used it for cooking (certain dishes from Turkey and Caucasus require it).

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by fernando

Alright Govenor, Ballistol will be ... when time comes.
But you are wrong in one thing; its aroma stinks .

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It also repels sabre toothed tigers. Haven't seen a single one since I started using Ballistol.

In other words: (use google translate if you don't read Latin. )

“Quod ali cibus est aliis fuat acre venenum”
-Lucretius, 1st Century BC.

p.s.- Victrix, what are civilian and most old military rifles made of? Last time I owned one it was wood and steel.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

...“Quod ali cibus est aliis fuat acre venenum”-Lucretius, 1st Century BC...

Everybody knows that Lucrecia suffered of hyposmia .

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by fernando

Everybody knows that Lucrecia suffered of hyposmia .

Uh-oh - Best get her tested for Covid-19, anosmia is a symptom as is not liking anise, or licorice candy.

p.s. - Never get an Ouzo hangover.

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by kronckew

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It also repels sabre toothed tigers. Haven't seen a single one since I started using Ballistol.

In other words: (use google translate if you don't read Latin. )

“Quod ali cibus est aliis fuat acre venenum”
-Lucretius, 1st Century BC.

p.s.- Victrix, what are civilian and most old military rifles made of? Last time I owned one it was wood and steel.

As I mentioned I put the Ballistol on the steel and the walnut oil on the stock on guns with moving parts. I then wrap them up in waxed paper.

[fernando]

So what do you say Vitrix ? Do you think it is not such a good idea to use Ballistol to remove (unstick) the wooden grip ? I assume that is the tang that has increased its volume due to rust and not the grip that has shrunk; its exterior has its original volume, under the wire wrapping ...

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by fernando

So what do you say Vitrix ? Do you think it is not such a good idea to use Ballistol to remove (unstick) the wooden grip ? I assume that is the tang that has increased its volume due to rust and not the grip that has shrunk; its exterior has its original volume, under the wire wrapping ...

Can’t advise you on this as no conservation expert. Personally I would just leave the grip where it is. If you really wanted to remove the grip and look at the tang I would start with a little bit of mineral oil. At least it will dry up some day. I don’t use Ballistol on wood so have no idea what effect it has. But it stays really oily on my guns.