Best cloth material for wiping/cleaning carbon steel blades?

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Derek15555

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Jul 15, 2014
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Just curious if there is a consensus around here as to what the best/most effective type of cloth for wiping and cleaning carbon steel knives. Are there types of cotton or polyester that work well? I find some cloths dont rub water off them very well.
 
If I'm cleaning a blade I just wipe it down with whatever's handy. If I'm camping and things might be damp/humid, or if they're being stored, I'll wipe the blade with a peice of microfiber cloth that's had some food grade mineral oil worked into it.
 
I use 100% cotton, flannel or gun bore patches to wipe blades. Poly sucks and won't pick up water as well. i coat them with a good gun or general purpose oil occasionally...probably going to start using mineral or vegetable oil soon.

I wipe them down with a 'slicone cloth,' the kind you buy in the container for $2.99, when I want to store them for a while. I use paste wax on most of my steel so I usually don't have any problems w/ corrosion. Tuff Cloths are probably good too but I've never used one.
 
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EChoil said:
I use 100% cotton, flannel or gun bore patches to wipe blades. Poly sucks and won't pick up water as well. i coat them with a good gun or general purpose oil occasionally...probably going to start using mineral or vegetable oil soon.

I wipe them down with a 'slicone cloth,' the kind you buy in the container for $2.99, when I want to store them for a while. I use paste wax on most of my steel so I usually don't have any problems w/ corrosion. Tuff Cloths are probably good too but I've never used one.
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Thanks this was just what i was looking for!
 
I cut up an old pair of jeans. Oil some pieces, leave others as is for later use.

I even use it to re-oil my wood scales. To get a smooth finish with danish oil I rub the finish hard with a rag of some sort. Jeans do really well with this because it's not fluffy and allows a lot of pressure and friction without deteriorating.
 
I came back from hunting in the rain.Gun soaked knives soaked .An old friend was visiting told me to take toilet paper to take the water off guns and knives then let them warm up over a furnace duct. In a couple hours wipe them down with your oil and to my surprise worked great.I use gun patches with clenzoil.I have'nt had anything rust since
 
First off, what type of carbon blade will it be? Is it a EDC user or an art grade mirror polished bowie? I use old oiled rags in different textures for beaters, but
you bet for damn sure I don't for the nicer stuff. I don't need the grit to mar the finish. Rags are cheap. I stick with 100% cotton fabric and paper towels of different softness.
The softer paper towels to wipe off excess oil on mirror polished blades. Yes, poly material isn't very good.
 
At work we get towel service, they work ok. Sometimes I steal microfiber from the wetbar, really smooth on carbon steel and dries them well.
 
An old cotton Hanes or Fruit of the Loom T-Shirt will do just fine, unless you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and need to get fancy. I use the same for cleaning firearms.
 
RevDevil said:
An old cotton Hanes or Fruit of the Loom T-Shirt will do just fine, unless you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and need to get fancy. I use the same for cleaning firearms.
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What he says. A good rag is always great. I don´t spend any money on clothes for this kind of work. Just a cotton / denim / canvas or whatever.
I have some old rags for gun cleaning as well as for my knives. They are tools and no pieces of art (at least not for me)
 
Mostly I wash the knife in hot soapy water, rinse off the soap with hot water, dry the knife with a paper towel, and use a paper towel with 3-in-One oil on it to wipe the blade down.

If the knife is used for food prep, I wipe the blade down with mineral oil USP.
 
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