Chemicals and their impact on knives

dePaul

dePaul

Joined
Aug 8, 2000
Messages
1,044
I am no metalurgist or do have any kind of knowledge about how chemicals affect my knives.

Is there stuff I have to avoid? Stuff like gasoline, chlorine, acids and so on?

My knives usually feature G-10, CF, stag, wood, Craton and TI for handles and the most common blade metals.
 
Each knife is going to have different effects from different chemicals. I had a BM that had plastic inserts, when I was cleaning this knife with gun scrubber as suggested by the manufacture, it ended up eating this plastic away.
I later posted on this so other would not have the same misfortune, and I recieved a reply explaining that the manufacture of gun scrubber had changed thier ingredients to a stronger and more abrasive nature, most likely causing the damage.
G-10 is extremely storng and will hold up many chemicals, but to be safe I would keep it away from harsh chemicals. Some chemicals that may not harm G-10 will in fact harm the metal blade. Each material you listed can have a extremely different effect from the same chemical. With all the chemical products on the market with thier different compositions, all I can suggest is do your best to keep your knives away from chemicals.
Since I needed one for my job, I picked up a $20.00 fixed blade. It took allot of wear, but I'm glad I wasn't using something like a LCC for my job. I worked in maitanance, and I discovered just how much damage chemicals can have on knives and other materials.
 
Plastics are most vulnerable organic solvents: gasoline, acetone, lacquer thinner, carb cleaner,... There are plastics that are more resistant than others, but you are likely to damage the finish on almost any plastic with solvents. Even alcohol may cause a surface haze. On the other hand, the metal components of the knives should be unaffected by the solvents (except that you might remove some metal protecting treatment you have applied to metal).

Strong acids (sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric) attack metals and dull the finish on plastics. Weak acids (vinegar, citric acid, fruit juices) corrode metals, but have no effect on plastics. Strong bases (drain or oven cleaner) attack light metals like aluminum very strongly and other metals to a lesser degree. They dull plastic finishes. Weak bases (soap) have little immediate effect on metals or plastics as long as rinsed off thoroughly. If left on, they can promote metal corrosion.


 
One "chemical" lots of people don't even think of is insect repellant --one year a summer camp a kid dropped his "deepwoods OFF" into my boonie hat which also held my SAK - it leaked and "jellied" the scales of the SAK - back to Victorinox for new scales.
I've also seen that jungle juice dissolve laquer and other finishes - maybe you all want to keep that in mind .

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Don't wrestle with the hogs - they enjoy it and you get dirty !
Jonesy
 
PS, Chlorine should act like a medium acid. It corrodes metals rather quickly and attacks plastics. It is notorious for making plastics brittle and causing them to crack.
 
Thanks for your contributions guys (especially Jeff). Very helpful. With other words, I have to avoid almost everything. I was thinking of keeping my knife (Military) in my boat. However, now I have to reconsider.
Tom, what do you mean, does Talonite withstand the chemicals better than steels?
 
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