Cigar box storage bad?

VernonRemington

VernonRemington

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Apr 6, 2016
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I've developed a small collection of folders and fixed blades in the past year. I've stored some of my older folders in a cigar box inside my gun safe. The knives that have been in the box the longest have gotten covered with a sticky film. The handle, the blade, everything on the knife is sticky.

Some won't open and I'm considering just tossing out. Could this be from the cigar box, or something else in the safe? Haven't noticed anything else in the safe with this problem.

I've just never heard of a cigar box doing this.

Thanks.

Mistakenly classified this as "leather" and can't change it. Apologies.


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If you live in hot weather climate, the temperatures may be causing the plasticizer in the handles to migrate out. My area is experiencing a heat wave right now, and I've now thrown away several 'Stanley' screwdrivers for this same reason. I'd wipe them down, wash them with soap so they would feel clean, then put them back in my tool rack. A week later they'd be all 'oily' again.

I don't know why, but only some plastics seem to be affected this way. No need for you to throw away good knives, though. I only threw away these screwdrivers as I had others in the same size that weren't reacting in this manner.


Stitchawl
 
One's a cheap Spyderco, the other is a beat up SOG trident. Both plastic handles. I had an Opinel in there as well. Some stickiness, but not nearly as bad as the other two. Luckily I didn't have my nicer blades in there.

As for climate, I live in Ohio and my safe is in my basement. So nice and cool. I also keep silica packets in my safe, so there shouldn't be any moisture.

The cigar box was a newer box I got from my local shop. They sell old boxes when they empty for a few bucks.


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DrVenkman01 said:
One's a cheap Spyderco, the other is a beat up SOG trident. Both plastic handles. I had an Opinel in there as well. Some stickiness, but not nearly as bad as the other two. Luckily I didn't have my nicer blades in there.

As for climate, I live in Ohio and my safe is in my basement. So nice and cool. I also keep silica packets in my safe, so there shouldn't be any moisture.

The cigar box was a newer box I got from my local shop. They sell old boxes when they empty for a few bucks.


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Is the basement air conditioned? If not, I'd bet the humidity is pretty high down there. Cool or not, that's not going to be good for knives. Also, if the silica packets don't get dried/dehydrated or replaced on a regular basis, they'll saturate with moisture pretty fast and won't be effective anymore. I tend to believe they contribute to a false sense of security about moisture, unless they're refreshed or replaced very frequently.

As for the cigar box, first thing I'd try is to store some knives in new Zip-Loc bags (sure to be airtight, in other words), after making sure the knives are clean & dry. Put the knife (or a couple/three) in a sandwich-sized bag, roll it up to force most of the air out, then seal it. If you see an obvious improvement in the condition of the knives stored as such, that might clarify what the problem is. I used to live in central Texas, with daytime relative humidity levels frequently above 50%, and stored my knives in Zip-Locs this way, and also in an air-conditioned environment. They held up well.


David
 
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The ziplock storage really works well. Have had some of my knives stored in them for a couple years with no problems to handles or blades. Constant temp and humidity are the keys.
Rich
 
oh no! i have been storing most if not my folders in two 11''x8x1/12 cigar boxes for the past 2 plus years now!i don't keep them in safe unless i leave home for vac.they mostly stay on my dresser top! i have never noticed any problems!but kept a adsorbent/humidity packs inside the boxes,i think thats the key factor hear!humidity is the bad guy.
 
My guess is that its something from the wood, if its over very different knives. Its possible that the wood contains some propylene glycol which is used as a humidity balancer with cigars. so my guess is that its evaporating from the wood and condensing on your knives. it should be easy to wash off, but it may also react with some oils, which is why you say some are locked up. Just a guess on my part.
 
I have never had a problem storing knives in a cigar box, but then i use a 1940s vintage wooden box so im sure that makes a big difference.
 
I've determined it has to be the box. Other knives and guns I've had stored in the safe have had no issues. I'd advise others to let their cigar boxes dry out before using them for storage.


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Either that, or the box is haunted and covering everything in ectoplasm..... sorry, couldn't help it.
 
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