Corrosion protection from permanent marker?

t1mpani

t1mpani

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Well, this may be something that a consensus was reached on long ago, but I can't come up with a word combination in a search that doesn't yield hundreds of unrelated results.
Now, I'm not putting forth the notion that it would end up being a GOOD rust inhibitor, but does a magic marker provide any protection, assuming the exposed steel being covered is clean/dry when the marker is applied? I suppose I'm looking at it as a way of coating the edge of a non-stainless edc to slow edge degradation that occurs from nothing other than proximity to a humid human body, which will be less prone to being wiped off by a tight fitting sheath than wax---I've used chapstick as an edge coating for carbon steel pocketknives for years, but for pocket fixed blades it just seems to end up collected at the lip of the sheath.
So, any value in this role? I could carry a mini-marker in my pocket for reapplications just as easily as I carry chapstick.
 
Yes, and I like it, but again I wonder if it adheres well enough to not be removed by friction with the sheath.
 
I don't think ink from a marker is an actual coating, doubt it'll do anything to protect against corrosion.
 
I agree with CWL. Also, I think permanent markers work better on porous surfaces cause it can go deeper into the material. On a dry erase board (non porous material), I put permanent marker on it and I was able to scratch off the markings fairly easily. I would think the tuff cloth is more resistant to getting rubbed off from leather.

In a different thread, there was a discussion of using car wax on knife blades:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=789875

As far as portability, you could also get some microfiber material or any soft lintfree cloth, impregnate with mineral oil or Tuff Glide, cut it down to fit into a threaded pill case, miniature ziploc bag, or something else that's airtight.
 
Might well work better. Just wondered if there was a hidden answer I'd not considered before. :D
 
I'd be surprised if permanent marker didn't cause corrosion.
 
Rather than chapstick, how about using real wax? I know that this works.

Also, doubt it'll work real well, but how about some of that birchwood casey cold blue?
 
Oh bluing works somewhat, it just isn't casually replaceable in the field. Ren wax and other products work great, I just use chapstick in the field because I can carry it in a watch pocket. I've done it for years, and in a less vacuum-fit type sheath it works well. :)
 
t1mpani said:
Well, this may be something that a consensus was reached on long ago, but I can't come up with a word combination in a search that doesn't yield hundreds of unrelated results.
Now, I'm not putting forth the notion that it would end up being a GOOD rust inhibitor, but does a magic marker provide any protection, assuming the exposed steel being covered is clean/dry when the marker is applied? I suppose I'm looking at it as a way of coating the edge of a non-stainless edc to slow edge degradation that occurs from nothing other than proximity to a humid human body, which will be less prone to being wiped off by a tight fitting sheath than wax---I've used chapstick as an edge coating for carbon steel pocketknives for years, but for pocket fixed blades it just seems to end up collected at the lip of the sheath.
So, any value in this role? I could carry a mini-marker in my pocket for reapplications just as easily as I carry chapstick.
Click to expand...

There is no protection imparted by a marker. To provide protection, a coating must provide a barrier to oxygen and/or moisture, both being necessary for the oxidation reaction to occur. The marking is a barrier to neither.
 
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