blade care in the field

A

angelr15

Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
121
Hey guys so I have been loving the Becker blades and have been using the heck of of them. I love the 1095 steel and it takes a wicked edge, however I am having some probelms with rust out in the field on the edges that sets in deep enough to need a minor reprofile. What do you guys use out on the trail for keeping the moisture off the blades. I live in the damp cold very wet PNW in the cascade mountains so it is a constant battle! Especially on a multi day venture.

Thanks in advance boys for all the help this place has proved to be an amazing wealth of knowledge:)
 
Use the knife enough so that rust doesn't get time to from ;-)

No seriously, just wipe it clean with some dry cloth after using it, and store it somewhere dry (backpack,...). If you leave it in your sheath in a moist environment, don't think you can do anything except oil it. I usually don't run around in the woods carrying mineral oil, though :-)
 
You can just carry an oil impregnated rag in a ziplock bag.
Dry off the blade and wipe it down with the oil cloth before you sheath it. Every time.
 
I've been carrying bees wax. After I dry the blade I just run the edge across the wax and it coats it enough to protect it from rust. Plus bees wax is useful for sealing & protecting just about everything else from boots to boonie hats.
 
Great idea. I've used wax for long-terms storage of carbon blades.
 
The oil rag in a Ziploc is a good idea.
I'll have to try the bees wax also.

I started using a 5ml bottle to keep oil in.
Its small enough to fit in my pack or the pouch on the front of the sheath.

Here is a pic for size comparison. That's a bic mini and a BK16.
7471F6D1-C58E-44AA-9375-99501A514B38-18872-00001039A02B8ED2.jpg
 
Hey, I'm in the same area as you... I spend a lot of my time in one of the little micro climates of the PNW that is really wet, we've had over 90" of rain so far this year.

I do a couple of things to protect my blades, breathable sheaths with good drainage, sheltering them from direct rainfall and moisture are the no brainers.

Here's my little secret weapon... I love dried Italian style sausages, and always have a chunk in my pack... I make it a point to clean my blade after any use, and then shave some sausage, I get the treat, and the blade gets a protective oily coating. In all honesty, on lots of outings, food prep, which almost always includes shaving sausage is about the only thing I use my blade for.

Oh, yeah, I haven't stripped my Becker's yet, just letting the coatings wear off through use.

Hmm, almost lunch time... :)

Erik
 
I got the idea from somebody here to use Renaissance Wax. It's pricey, but it works great so far. Failing that, I use a double-bagged, mineral-oil impregnated square of old t-shirt, which works pretty well, too. Also, keeping a little steel wool in a plastic baggie might be nice for removing light rust before it becomes heavy pitting. A small handful weighs almost nothing, and might be invaluable in wet climates.
 
tradewater said:
Vagisil
Click to expand...

One of my friends had a tooth ake once and he needed something to put on the tooth to relieve the pain, so he asked his wife where the origell was and she told him in the bathroom under the sink. So he goes looking for it. Now mind you he is blinde as a bat without his glasses! So anyway he finds it and uses it. About an hour later he says babe why is this origell not working? His wife looks at the tube he is holding and it was Vagisil he was using on his tooth hahaha! True story :D
 
i like that ky-kentucky jelly on a biscut ummm hummm!! i keep a silicone rod and reel coth in my bag or a pants pocket for field use!
 
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If you absolutely HAVE to do field maint. A clean, small piece of rag, soaked with Fluid Film, in a small ziplock bag or bottle/vial. This stuff friggin WORKS !!! I have never had to do field maint if i apply some before i go.

100_0506.jpg
 
Thanks guys I will have to try a couple of these tips:) you guys rock! I usually have my Becker in a kydex sheath on my belt cause it is used pretty often:)

I like the oil cloth method and the wax I'll have to try both:)
Lol and might as well bring some ky you never what might happen lol
 
angelr15 said:
Thanks guys I will have to try a couple of these tips:) you guys rock! I usually have my Becker in a kydex sheath on my belt cause it is used pretty often:)

I like the oil cloth method and the wax I'll have to try both:)
Lol and might as well bring some ky you never what might happen lol
Click to expand...

You got that right! You might see Big Foot ;)
 
I do 2 things. Number 1, I keep a square of old tshirt thats soaked in food grade lube in a ziplock bag in my pack, and 2, I keep a visine bottle full of food grade lube in my pocket.
 
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