Best Oil for long storage

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Hey guys, without giving you the full backstory, long story short, I will have a stainless steel knife stored in London interior houshold conditions in the open without a case, for longer periods of time and I have heard that it's best to lubricate the knife for such circumstances. The knife will not come into contact with food. While some people recommend WD-40, others say it's terrible and that motor oil is really good for this purpose. Then, some other people seem to prefer to use cooking oil. I would prefer to use something I already have at home, but only if that is a good option. What do you guys think of these? What do you use and can you make any recommendations?

Thanks for your help!
 
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The real promoter of rust and corrosion is the dust that accumulates on any flat surface. Household dust is terribly hygroscopic, which is why any steel blade, made of stainless steel or not, will usually rust on the top surface if placed flat on a table and left undisturbed for weeks or months. If you cannot cover the knife with a single thin sheet of plastic wrap, or better yet, place the knife in a sealable plastic sandwich or kitchen bag, then the old standby RIG (rust inhibiting grease or universal gun grease) or its Brownells counterpart, Rust Veto, will prevent corrosion for many, many months (if not years) indoors.

If you can keep a layer of dust from accumulating by covering or storing the knife in plastic, then even the much despised WD-40 will protect for a very long time.
 
What do you consider "longer periods of time"?

I have stainless kitchen knives that are never oiled and rarely used in months, even years - no issues.


Do not use cooking oil. It breaksdown and decomposes over time.

I use Mineral Oil for all my 'special' knives. It's inexpensive and available in the pharmacy section of any store. Some of my 'safe queens' just get a wipe down once a year.
 
Some kind of grease will work. Oil drys over time grease doesn't. Hoppes reel and gun grease is what I use for storage.
 
The military uses cosmoline to cover metallic surfaces on firearms for decades.


Sent via telegraph with the same fingers I use to sip whiskey.
 
If I dig around there was a test someone did with some (1095?) blanks, using wd40/renwax/oil/ and I think 3-in-1 oil.
The 3-in-1 did the best,

Edit: just searched for a while and can't find it... I'll keep looking
 
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lowes carries this stuff called fluid film, do a search on blade forums. it lasts the longest and does the best at preventing rust in blade forums tests. its lanolin based so should be food safe but some people are allergic to lanolin since its from sheep's wool.

anything else will do fine, just not work as well.
 
Baby oil, mineral oil, cooking oil are good to use on stainless. I always wrap them up in a paper towel after oiling.
Now, if it was carbon steel, the suggestions already mentioned would be the best option.
 
I would recommend mutton grease if you can find it. Works great and lasts a very long time. My second suggestion would be 3 in 1.
 
I use the same oil that I use on firearms (often RemOil or Breakfree CLP). I on occasion use Renaissance Wax. I never use WD-40 except in an emergency and I have few emergencies that involve knives or firearms. I think where you store the knife is more important than how you store the knife in terms of lubricants.
 
Jody744 said:
Renwax
Click to expand...

Precisely. Renaissance Wax is designed for long term storage. Museum grade stuff. Particular if you are storing it in "interior household conditions in the open".

You are not gonna coat is with grease let alone cosmoline. It will look like crap, attract dust, and reek of cosmoline.
 
Dip yer knife into this:

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I have used Sentry Solutions' Tuf Glide on all of my knives & guns for years & have had zero rust or corrosion problems. It is a "micro bonding dry lubricant and protectant." It goes on wet an dries almost immediately so it doesn't collect any lint or dirt. It uses a dry film to combat corrosion, friction and wear, "Sentry Solutions’ oil-free products were quickly adapted by the Navy SEALs to protect firearms and gear from the extreme environments of combat". It comes in a bottle applicator, or an impregnated cloth, and is fairly expensive, but well worth the cost. I purchase mine online.
 
Boeshield T9 works on my tools.

I'll let my wife know about the hygroscopic dust. She'll fight the good fight with renewed purpose once she knows what that dust is doing to my stuff.

I've also used wax but discovered this product above and it works well.


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Break Free Collector. Made for long term storage.
If not that , I just use 5w30 synthetic motor oil or the like.
 
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