Knife care questions
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shooter
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:40 am
- Location: New Hampshire
Knife care questions
As an admitted newbie, I am, of course, concerned with maintaining my hoard as best as I can. Is there a preferred means of maintaining the surfaces for longer term storage? My collection are mostly NIB and stainless, although the number of carbon steel items is growing. Will a light wiping of the blades with a quality oil work? WD40? Is there any product that I should avoid due to possible discoloration of the steels or handle material? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks - and by the way, this site has been extremely infomative!
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El Lobo
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 3036
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:47 pm
- Location: Arizona, right here in the U.S. of A.
Man, oh man...
On some forums you would get about a shabbadabbazillion different answers. Here, hopefully you'll get a couple of good choices.
OK, I'll start:
I think most people put too much oil/lube/whatever on Stains-Less steel blades. All types of steel can stain, even that called stainless. But not usually just sitting there minding it's own business.
Carbon rich, lower Chromium steels are subject to peppering spots or even little spiderweb like spots, even during benign long term storage.
Alright already he says...answer the doggone question...
For me...
Carbon users get a mineral oil wipe, and a drop in the pivot if they are folders, whenever I touch them up, (1-2 times a month), and don't get put away wet, unless I don't care what the patina looks like. Some of these I force a patina with vinegar (use the search if you're interested) to allow them to just be quickly wiped off after use, and to retard rust.
Carbon collectors get a wipe with a Tuf-Cloth (most gun shops) about once a year.
Stainless users and collectors just get normal reasonable knife care. A little mineral oil in the pivots after cleaning.
High speed...Low drag use...or saltwater use, is a different subject.
Mineral oil is available at any pharmacy (it's also a laxative
) for $1-2 a bottle.
Oh, WD-40 (Water Displacement...40th formula) is is a good thing to use if you need to clean up your knives (works great on tape, etc.), but I always blow it out with canned air. It is NOT a true rust inhibitor, like the Tuf-Cloth/Tuf-Glide products...
http://www.sentrysolutions.com/welcome.shtml
Not affiliated...yada yada yada. I just know these work from my own experience.
Whew!!!
Next batter.
Bill
On some forums you would get about a shabbadabbazillion different answers. Here, hopefully you'll get a couple of good choices.
OK, I'll start:
I think most people put too much oil/lube/whatever on Stains-Less steel blades. All types of steel can stain, even that called stainless. But not usually just sitting there minding it's own business.
Carbon rich, lower Chromium steels are subject to peppering spots or even little spiderweb like spots, even during benign long term storage.
Alright already he says...answer the doggone question...
For me...
Carbon users get a mineral oil wipe, and a drop in the pivot if they are folders, whenever I touch them up, (1-2 times a month), and don't get put away wet, unless I don't care what the patina looks like. Some of these I force a patina with vinegar (use the search if you're interested) to allow them to just be quickly wiped off after use, and to retard rust.
Carbon collectors get a wipe with a Tuf-Cloth (most gun shops) about once a year.
Stainless users and collectors just get normal reasonable knife care. A little mineral oil in the pivots after cleaning.
High speed...Low drag use...or saltwater use, is a different subject.
Mineral oil is available at any pharmacy (it's also a laxative
) for $1-2 a bottle.Oh, WD-40 (Water Displacement...40th formula) is is a good thing to use if you need to clean up your knives (works great on tape, etc.), but I always blow it out with canned air. It is NOT a true rust inhibitor, like the Tuf-Cloth/Tuf-Glide products...
http://www.sentrysolutions.com/welcome.shtml
Not affiliated...yada yada yada. I just know these work from my own experience.
Whew!!!
Next batter.
Bill
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shooter
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:40 am
- Location: New Hampshire
Thanks, again, Bill,
So, mineral oil, eh? Never thought of using that as a lubricant for the joints or as a rust inhibitor. The Tuf-Cloth sounds like an interesting product after reading their website. I'll give it a try.
Anyone else willing to offer up their views? (sounds like this topic is a lot like "how to make the best stew")
Regards,
Greg
So, mineral oil, eh? Never thought of using that as a lubricant for the joints or as a rust inhibitor. The Tuf-Cloth sounds like an interesting product after reading their website. I'll give it a try.
Anyone else willing to offer up their views? (sounds like this topic is a lot like "how to make the best stew")
Regards,
Greg