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Chapter Fifteen - Cleaning and caring for your Slide Rule 89edges where slide or body meet. We learned this the hard way by damaging anice Versalog. Ouch!Don’t try ScotchBrite pads or sandpaper on a Pickett or other rules withprinted scales ... or any rule which does not have engraved scales... the markingswill come right off!ErasersAnother good method for cleaning is to use a white vinyl eraser ... the kindthat is rather soft and has no grit in it. This will remove many kinds of grimeand will not scratch a shiny surfaced slide rule. It is slower than a ScotchBritepad, but it eventually does an almost equal job.This method was used recently to clean Michelangelo’s famous statue ofDavid in Florence.If you are cleaning a Hemmi or K&E rule which has a semi-matte finish,you can use a regular old Pink Pearl eraser. It contains some abrasive material,but it will not seriously alter the semi-matte finish. You can touch it up afterwardwith a ScotchBrite pad.SunlightLimited exposure to sunlight can help to return an aged yellow colored ruleto its original white/ivory color. Start with one hour exposure; then try anotherhour, etc. Too much exposure, say more than 4 hours, can possibly affect theinked colors in the engravings. Use this technique after cleaning your rule usingthe preceding methods.WaxWe do not recommend using wax on the rule edges or face (as it collectsand traps dirt, especially under the cursor). But you may wish to lightly rub thefaces and edges with a very small amount of hard wax or “Pledge” to give ashiny appearance if the rule is mainly for display. Wax will often bring out thewood highlights in a very attractive way on edges of exposed wood.Anything in the sliding area of a wood rule generally increases friction andbinding, and the best possible technique is to have this area as clean as you can.If this area is rough and sticks, and it has already been well cleaned and the gapis correctly set, a very light rub with a hard wax may improve the action, butoften makes the rule stick after it has been unused for some time. If anything isused, here, we prefer a light rub with a rag or piece of paper towel lightlydampened with Pledge furniture polish, and nothing else. An almost imperceptibleamount of Pledge can work wonders for a stubborn slide.