Just received a lot of old needles. Some wood, some aluminum, some steel and rusted. Does anyone have an idea on the proper cleaning method for the needles? I don’t want to make them worse. Beside the rusted ones most are just musty and dusty.
I would say that the rusted ones are garbage, unfortunately. Try rubbing the wooden ones with wax paper, and try washing the aluminum ones. It shouldn’t hurt them. Lucky you!
Just in case any of these are steel-- for those, Shetland’s Jamison and Smith recommends rubbing the needles with steel wool and then with a little light machine oil on a cloth. I haven’t tried it, but thought I would pass it along.
When I found a bunch of old needles my grandmother had given me in a box in the attic, I just put them on the top rack of the dishwsher and ran them through the cycle. They came out clean and spot-free thanks to good old Jet Dry! lol
I use isopropyl alcohol or ethanol or use something similar.
Be careful if you do this with older “plastic” needles, some of them might not survive.
Be careful if you do this with older “plastic” needles, some of them might not survive.
Of course not! lol All of my needles are aluminum. I forgot to stick that into my first post.