Another thread about rust and knife storage...

[cricks1492]

Hi all!

I live near Boston and while I've honestly never had difficulty with rust in the past, we had an anomalously high amount of rainfall this year and, for the first time, I'm starting to get some pepper spots (some larger than I'd like) on my traditionals, especially along the backspring within the blade well (I've found a patina on the blade does wonders for preventing rust). Now, I know how to handle a little bit of rust with either polish or a combo of wd40 and some very fine steel wool for the larger spots; and I know to keep my blades fairly well oiled with a combo of mineral oil and Daiwa reel oil. I'm pretty conscious and consistent about oiling my blades, but still, I've been running into spotting. I've been keeping my knives in my Hohner harmonica box, but my collection has grown substantially over the last year or two and I'm running out of room which is further pushing me to consider a new storage option. I'm wondering which storage options that some of the members of this community who live in more humid areas of the country employ to ward off any issues with rust. I'd love to see some photographs of your storage set-ups or comments about tricks that have worked especially well for you!

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[OldHercDude]

Not exactly a traditional storage method for traditional knives, but if you want to control the humidity you can use a dry cabinet. Some photogs living in humid environments use those to help keep fungus from growing in their gear. I know some cabinets have the option for you to buy and use additional shelving.

I'm currently living in Arizona, so it's not something I have to worry about right now. Might have to in the future, and dry cabinets were on my short list for keeping some things (photo gear, non-stainless knives, etc...) in a humidity-controlled environment.

 

[SFO]

Hello there Cricks! I understand about humidity, being from the SouthEast myself. I ran into a similar situation for storage a while back so I designed, built, with help from my Dad- a rolling storage chest. The holes in the back of each cubby provide good circulation for the Eva Dry units I place on each end. It might seem like a bit overkill with (2) separate units- but I've found good success thusfar ( EvaDry units are rechargeable-dries the dessicant beads back out with 24 hrs)

 

[SFO]

Hi all!

I live near Boston and while I've honestly never had difficulty with rust in the past, we had an anomalously high amount of rainfall this year and, for the first time, I'm starting to get some pepper spots (some larger than I'd like) on my traditionals, especially along the backspring within the blade well (I've found a patina on the blade does wonders for preventing rust). Now, I know how to handle a little bit of rust with either polish or a combo of wd40 and some very fine steel wool for the larger spots; and I know to keep my blades fairly well oiled with a combo of mineral oil and Daiwa reel oil. I'm pretty conscious and consistent about oiling my blades, but still, I've been running into spotting. I've been keeping my knives in my Hohner harmonica box, but my collection has grown substantially over the last year or two and I'm running out of room which is further pushing me to consider a new storage option. I'm wondering which storage options that some of the members of this community who live in more humid areas of the country employ to ward off any issues with rust. I'd love to see some photographs of your storage set-ups or comments about tricks that have worked especially well for you!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Also, I'd say it might depend on the sizes of knives being stored, and also if you'd have issues with small children, pets in your situation. This size cabinet worked for me. Actual cabinet measures 37" high 21.5" wide 7.5" deep,,cubbies are 4.75" sq. I still go through and check mine often. I also use Renaissance wax to help prevent rust on mine.

 

[cricks1492]

Hello there Cricks! I understand about humidity, being from the SouthEast myself. I ran into a similar situation for storage a while back so I designed, built, with help from my Dad- a rolling storage chest. The holes in the back of each cubby provide good circulation for the Eva Dry units I place on each end. It might seem like a bit overkill with (2) separate units- but I've found good success thusfar ( EvaDry units are rechargeable-dries the dessicant beads back out with 24 hrs)



View attachment 1658241View attachment 1658242View attachment 1658243View attachment 1658244

This is such a cool solution! The cabinets are probably more involved than I would like for my current apartment, but I will absolutely consider something like this when we get a house. Thank you very much for the EvaDry unit idea — I had never heard of those before!

 

[SFO]

This is such a cool solution! The cabinets are probably more involved than I would like for my current apartment, but I will absolutely consider something like this when we get a house. Thank you very much for the EvaDry unit idea — I had never heard of those before!

Yes indeed, no problem at all. You can easily find the (2) packs on Amzon for a decent price. Very economical. Look for the better ratings on sizes. And the ones I have came with a hanging hook that pops on, if needed, to hang in closet, on wall.

 

[cricks1492]

Yes indeed, no problem at all. You can easily find the (2) packs on Amzon for a decent price. Very economical. Look for the better ratings on sizes. And the ones I have came with a hanging hook that pops on, if needed, to hang in closet, on wall.

Thank you very much for being so helpful!

 

[SFO]

Thank you very much for being so helpful!

You are more than welcome! There are some really great resources, help out there. Just glad to be of help friend. Maybe it will help someone else as well. Have an awesome week!

 

[afishhunter]

I use an old I think it cost me 75¢ at the local tobacconist empty 'PERDOMO Lot 23' wood cigar box.
Not sure what the wood is ... Birch, maybe?

A cigar/tobacco humidor (without the humidor installed) also works well.

Tobacco dries out in a humidor, if you don't keep the removable humidor part filled with water, by the way.
Company I used to work for had a cigar distributorship in Lost Wages. When we shut that down, they gave me all the unsold inventory.
I got over 10,000 dried out cigars in 3 large Cherry humidors in storage, here in Idaho.

They'll never be smokeable again. However, soaking one in a ziplock baggie using various liquid food flavorings, then unrolling the cigar, makes a useable long leaf chewing tobacco. .
Wish I had a few of those cigar bundles with me now. (and my baggie and food flavorings) I'd save a few bucks on dip/snuff.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

When I lived in humid central Texas, all of the collected knives that I didn't use frequently simply got cleaned up, dried out and sealed in new, clean Zip-Loc bags, which could then be stashed away in whatever boxes or containers were available. Nothing fancy in doing it that way - but it simply WORKED. Never had any issues at all with rusting or spotting in the 20 years I lived there.

I tend to believe that most means used to control or reduce the ambient humidity in storage will eventually lend a false sense of security. Very hard to completely control it - so you still have to be vigilant. My own means of sealing them up into a Zip-Loc bag was essentially a store-it-and-forget-it solution. I never had to worry about it. On the occasions when I'd take a knife out to look it over, I always made sure to wipe it down with some Windex or isopropyl alcohol to remove any trace of moisture and finger oils or dirt, before putting it back into the sealed bag. And on putting them into the bags, I'd put the clean, dry knife in the bag, roll the bag around it, THEN seal the bag, in order to force out as much air as possible before sealing it up. That was my routine.

I got sort of complacent about some of them, after moving back to my home state of New Mexico. It's very dry here, so I figured I had little to worry about. But in getting lax about it, some of the knives I removed from the Zip-Locs and left out eventually showed some spotting, thanks mostly to our so-called 'monsoon season' in July - August each summer, when the humidity goes up. BUT, of the knives I still have stashed in Zip-Locs, still no issues at all, some 25-30 years after they were put away.

 

[cricks1492]

Lost Wages

Hilarious! Definitely going to use this!

I have considered trying out a humidor (sans water, as you suggested), just haven't taken the plunge and wanted to see what was out there.

Also, that's pretty interesting about the cigars — I've never heard of someone reinvigorating old tobacco and repurposing it like this.

 

[cricks1492]

When I lived in humid central Texas, all of the collected knives that I didn't use frequently simply got cleaned up, dried out and sealed in new, clean Zip-Loc bags, which could then be stashed away in whatever boxes or containers were available. Nothing fancy in doing it that way - but it simply WORKED. Never had any issues at all with rusting or spotting in the 20 years I lived there.

I tend to believe that most means used to control or reduce the ambient humidity in storage will eventually lend a false sense of security. Very hard to completely control it - so you still have to be vigilant. My own means of sealing them up into a Zip-Loc bag was essentially a store-it-and-forget-it solution. I never had to worry about it. On the occasions when I'd take a knife out to look it over, I always made sure to wipe it down with some Windex or isopropyl alcohol to remove any trace of moisture and finger oils or dirt, before putting it back into the sealed bag. And on putting them into the bags, I'd put the clean, dry knife in the bag, roll the bag around it, THEN seal the bag, in order to force out as much air as possible before sealing it up. That was my routine.

I got sort of complacent about some of them, after moving back to my home state of New Mexico. It's very dry here, so I figured I had little to worry about. But in getting lax about it, some of the knives I removed from the Zip-Locs and left out eventually showed some spotting, thanks mostly to our so-called 'monsoon season' in July - August each summer, when the humidity goes up. BUT, of the knives I still have stashed in Zip-Locs, still no issues at all, some 25-30 years after they were put away.

You're right, this sounds like a very simple, straightforward, and effective solution.

Basically, I like to pull out several knives to keep in a rotation, and I change that rotation up every couple of months. So, none of my knives are total safe queens but they will get stored for long periods of time before coming into rotation again. A simple, methodical approach to storing and handling, as you mentioned, might just be the answer I need while I'm living in my apartment.

 

[SFO]

When I lived in humid central Texas, all of the collected knives that I didn't use frequently simply got cleaned up, dried out and sealed in new, clean Zip-Loc bags, which could then be stashed away in whatever boxes or containers were available. Nothing fancy in doing it that way - but it simply WORKED. Never had any issues at all with rusting or spotting in the 20 years I lived there.

I tend to believe that most means used to control or reduce the ambient humidity in storage will eventually lend a false sense of security. Very hard to completely control it - so you still have to be vigilant. My own means of sealing them up into a Zip-Loc bag was essentially a store-it-and-forget-it solution. I never had to worry about it. On the occasions when I'd take a knife out to look it over, I always made sure to wipe it down with some Windex or isopropyl alcohol to remove any trace of moisture and finger oils or dirt, before putting it back into the sealed bag. And on putting them into the bags, I'd put the clean, dry knife in the bag, roll the bag around it, THEN seal the bag, in order to force out as much air as possible before sealing it up. That was my routine.

I got sort of complacent about some of them, after moving back to my home state of New Mexico. It's very dry here, so I figured I had little to worry about. But in getting lax about it, some of the knives I removed from the Zip-Locs and left out eventually showed some spotting, thanks mostly to our so-called 'monsoon season' in July - August each summer, when the humidity goes up. BUT, of the knives I still have stashed in Zip-Locs, still no issues at all, some 25-30 years after they were put away.

You had more luck than I did. When I lived in suburb of Houston, TX for few yrs, I tried that also. I thought it was my best shot on carbon knives. A few I'd taken out after a year had some spotting already. Unsure how that was even possible as there was nothing left on them. Needless to say, checking them fairly often was & still is my best option it seems. That had to be the harshest climate I'd ever experienced, and hell on carbon based knives. Renaissance wax has greatly improved the overall of those I don't use, that are stored. I thought about using a food saver storage-heat sealing method at one point, lol. I'd almost forgotten about the ziplocs! Whatever works best- sometimes trial and error will teach us more than anything, lol.

 

[cricks1492]

I thought about using a food saver storage-heat sealing method at one point, lol.

It's funny and sounds a little unorthodox, but I totally understand the mindset that drives you to think these thoughts.

 

[SFO]

It's funny and sounds a little unorthodox, but I totally understand the mindset that drives you to think these thoughts.

It is funny! (I laugh often at myself over it) And I wonder if many folks go to the great lenghts some of us do to protect our gems we've worked so hard to acquire. I stopped caring about what others thought when I realized what a knife nut I am a long time ago.

 

[akaMatt]

I have some individual Sack Ups that I have sometimes used. Put some knives in them and put them in a coffee can with a snap lid. Not sure how effective that would be for long term storage, but it keeps them protected, and if you have to take them out periodically to check on them anyway, that’s fairly simple.

But I always come back to (for me) what’s the point of having a collection if I can’t look at them, play with them, and use them… so they end up back on a shelf. I do wipe them with mineral oil if I’m not using them for a while.

 

[SFO]

I have some individual Sack Ups that I have sometimes used. Put some knives in them and put them in a coffee can with a snap lid. Not sure how effective that would be for long term storage, but it keeps them protected, and if you have to take them out periodically to check on them anyway, that’s fairly simple.

But I always come back to (for me) what’s the point of having a collection if I can’t look at them, play with them, and use them… so they end up back on a shelf. I do wipe them with mineral oil if I’m not using them for a while.

My 20 or so that I use, regularly, go into a very old "silverware, wooden, velvet lined big chest" and come out often. I have (3) sets of Sack-Ups that I use for those I like to mess with, handle often as well. The actual cabinet storage is for those I'm passing along to our next generation, a few special folks someday as an inherited gift. I understand what you mean. Although, I thoroughly enjoy all my knives in a different way. If I lose the love for a particular example, I tend to trade it for something I have a real passion for. I guess everyone appreciates & enjoys them all differently.