I've never went for purple so I can't help there......Forgot to mention, and I'm sure you already know, but the less time you leave it in the dye the lighter it will be. So my 15 min statement may not work for you as I do most of mine dark colors. So just check it every minute or two and when it's where you like it just drop it in the cold.
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Delica Underwater
- Thread starter tjswarbrick
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2006
- Messages
- 5,612
I've swam with Enduras since 92. G2 ( gin 1), then ATS 55, now VG10, which is the best at resisting corrosion. As long as you care for your knife after swimming ( even in the ocean), there shouldn't be any problem. I would recommend a pouch or lanyard as I've had to dive for knives in pools, and once at Can Cun in the ocean when I just used the clip.
wash off salt
dry off
re lube. Break free, rem oil, etc. I just use wd 40 for cleaning stuff off like glue, oil gunk, etc. IMO it provides next to no wear protection, and darn little corrosion protection.
note* don't forget the pivot. This is the area I had problems in my pre Spyderco days using inexpensive knives I bought just for swimming. By the time I got my first Spyderco's I was more inclined to give the knife the care it needed where and how it was needed.
wash off salt
dry off
re lube. Break free, rem oil, etc. I just use wd 40 for cleaning stuff off like glue, oil gunk, etc. IMO it provides next to no wear protection, and darn little corrosion protection.
note* don't forget the pivot. This is the area I had problems in my pre Spyderco days using inexpensive knives I bought just for swimming. By the time I got my first Spyderco's I was more inclined to give the knife the care it needed where and how it was needed.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
- Messages
- 3,006
Thanks Mastiff.
The WD is to displace the fresh water rinse, prior to wipedown and lube. I'm just not sure I can catch it in time, every time.
Went to a local shop and tried both. I must say, I much preferred the Delica to the Salt I in hand feel and pivot/lock action. I know people have been using "stainless" and even carbon steels on the water for centuries. Civilization also went without fluoride toothpaste for millennia. People also lost a lot of teeth. Oh, what to do. On the one hand, the Salt is designed and built for my intended purpose. On the other, the Delica seems directly targeted to my wants and preferences. I imagine the BF motto will kick in at some point, but for this summer "get both" is not in the cards.
Ahead of you on the lanyard. While at the shop yesterday, I picked up both purple camo and neon yellow paracord. Made the light lanyard tonight - combined 'em in a square style, capped off with two SureFire cord locks. Won't try that again - 4 lines did NOT want to go through those locks.
I was going to snap a shot, but the camera battery is dead.
I'll probably do a two-loop, two-tone king-cobra style for the Spydie - hopefully removing the inner threads will keep the bulk down enough. The I can run one cord lock on it, to make an easy-adjust wrist loop.
Thanks again. Keep the ideas and input flowing. I'll figure it out soon enough, I think.
The WD is to displace the fresh water rinse, prior to wipedown and lube. I'm just not sure I can catch it in time, every time.
Went to a local shop and tried both. I must say, I much preferred the Delica to the Salt I in hand feel and pivot/lock action. I know people have been using "stainless" and even carbon steels on the water for centuries. Civilization also went without fluoride toothpaste for millennia. People also lost a lot of teeth. Oh, what to do. On the one hand, the Salt is designed and built for my intended purpose. On the other, the Delica seems directly targeted to my wants and preferences. I imagine the BF motto will kick in at some point, but for this summer "get both" is not in the cards.
Ahead of you on the lanyard. While at the shop yesterday, I picked up both purple camo and neon yellow paracord. Made the light lanyard tonight - combined 'em in a square style, capped off with two SureFire cord locks. Won't try that again - 4 lines did NOT want to go through those locks.
I was going to snap a shot, but the camera battery is dead.
I'll probably do a two-loop, two-tone king-cobra style for the Spydie - hopefully removing the inner threads will keep the bulk down enough. The I can run one cord lock on it, to make an easy-adjust wrist loop.
Thanks again. Keep the ideas and input flowing. I'll figure it out soon enough, I think.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 980
Tom, I've snorrkeled and scuba dived with VG-10 knives without ever having the slightest inkling of rust issues. Having said that, they were not folding knives, as I only dive with fixed blades. I imagine the issue with a regular Delica to be the screws, pivot, and liners, but not the VG-10 blade itself. Nonetheless, I don't think there would be any issues if the usual care is followed.
Here's another plug for an H1 knife over a Delica: I carry a SE Salt 1 clipped in the waistband of my shorts when I snorkel and clipped to my BC vest when I'm scuba diving. I find it to be pretty much perfect for my marine activities--all around cutter, probe and poker when I'm underwater and gereral EDC when I'm on the surface. I actually prefer it to the Delica 4 for a number of reasons. It's lighter. It's got a tiny bit more blade. The clip feels more secure. I give it very little care other than an occasional rinse with fresh water and periodic sharpening on the Sharpmaker. When I'm not on the water I prefer a flat ground, plain edge blade, but I just got back from 2 months of travel, mostly in and around salt water, and the Salt 1 was the only knife I brought, and it worked out great!
Yeah I just like the h1 as my water knife because I don't have to rinse it at all. Which is kinda cool when you are out for the day diving or boating and you don't have access to fresh water and wd-40. I have been diving with regular stainless dive knives and made the mistake of forgetting to rinse and dry quickly, so I let the knife sit in wet salty gear over night, the amount of rust for the length of time suprised me.
My favorite knife for use around salt water, or any water, is the Pacific Salt. I like the PE version of it better than SE. It's one of my favorite knives, period.
With the Delica 4 (also a very good knife), you'd have to worry about the steel liners, screws, locking mechanism, etc. I've also had a Delica 4 blade develop slight rusting sitting in my pocket, from perspiration. Not a big deal, though.
The great thing about the Salts, as already mentioned, is that you can simply enjoy your day without having to worry about cleaning your knife off ASAP.
Jim
With the Delica 4 (also a very good knife), you'd have to worry about the steel liners, screws, locking mechanism, etc. I've also had a Delica 4 blade develop slight rusting sitting in my pocket, from perspiration. Not a big deal, though.
The great thing about the Salts, as already mentioned, is that you can simply enjoy your day without having to worry about cleaning your knife off ASAP.
Jim
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
- Messages
- 3,006
I promised pictures...
First, the flashlight in question (Xeno E03 with neutral-white XM-L), with purple camo and yellow lanyard:
Here it is with the lanyard I made for the TBD swimming Spyderco (I left it loose enough that I'll replace the huge orange carabiner with something more suitable):
I tried to dye some yellow nylon zip-ties as a bit of practice. (Blue PM2 is there for color reference.)
I was going to go into great detail about how much dye I used, what solution I put it in, how long I kept each piece submerged, whether I lightened it or not, and share the result. Sadly, 4 batches and hour and a 1/2 later, all I have is black:
I will say I did most with 4C water, 5Tbs of color, along with salt and vinegar, and let 1/2 sit for 10 minutes and 1/2 for 20. I then "cured" them in an ice bath.
When they all came out way too dark, I put the head-ends in die remover, and did one more tie in 4C water, 1T dye, salt and vinegar, for 5 minutes.
It's the one at the top. I'm hard pressed to tell the difference.
The remover worked enough that I can just make out the black permanent marker underneath, which I couldn't prior.
So, unless someone can clue me in to the trick to turn Yellow into Purple, I've given up on the dyeing idea.
I think the lanyards will help "tie" it all together, whichever way I go (leaning toward a yellow Salt I; tempted by the Pacific, but I need to try them out one more time.)
First, the flashlight in question (Xeno E03 with neutral-white XM-L), with purple camo and yellow lanyard:
Here it is with the lanyard I made for the TBD swimming Spyderco (I left it loose enough that I'll replace the huge orange carabiner with something more suitable):
I tried to dye some yellow nylon zip-ties as a bit of practice. (Blue PM2 is there for color reference.)
I was going to go into great detail about how much dye I used, what solution I put it in, how long I kept each piece submerged, whether I lightened it or not, and share the result. Sadly, 4 batches and hour and a 1/2 later, all I have is black:
I will say I did most with 4C water, 5Tbs of color, along with salt and vinegar, and let 1/2 sit for 10 minutes and 1/2 for 20. I then "cured" them in an ice bath.
When they all came out way too dark, I put the head-ends in die remover, and did one more tie in 4C water, 1T dye, salt and vinegar, for 5 minutes.
It's the one at the top. I'm hard pressed to tell the difference.
The remover worked enough that I can just make out the black permanent marker underneath, which I couldn't prior.
So, unless someone can clue me in to the trick to turn Yellow into Purple, I've given up on the dyeing idea.
I think the lanyards will help "tie" it all together, whichever way I go (leaning toward a yellow Salt I; tempted by the Pacific, but I need to try them out one more time.)
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2002
- Messages
- 3,376
VG-10 will be fine in the salt water. After you finish diving, rinse it good with fresh water, maybe blow it dry with compressed air and oil the pivot.
I regularly dive to clear rope from the propellers of commercial fishing boats...I use a Byrd rescue knife. Sometimes I forget to rinse it. It is rusty but functions fine...
If you forget to rinse the knife or leave fresh water in it it's not the end of the world. The knife won't crumble to dust overnight. The internals of the Byrd Spyderco sent me to test are pretty rusty. I have used it commercial fishing, and in constant contact with salt water for about 18 months. I RARELY clean it or even rinse it. It works fine.
I regularly dive to clear rope from the propellers of commercial fishing boats...I use a Byrd rescue knife. Sometimes I forget to rinse it. It is rusty but functions fine...
If you forget to rinse the knife or leave fresh water in it it's not the end of the world. The knife won't crumble to dust overnight. The internals of the Byrd Spyderco sent me to test are pretty rusty. I have used it commercial fishing, and in constant contact with salt water for about 18 months. I RARELY clean it or even rinse it. It works fine.
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2004
- Messages
- 4,704
The nice thing about the Salt is in case you do forget about it you won't come back to a rusty knife that needs a lot of work. Before I got my Salt I used quite a few stainless folders in the salt water. Not sure if any were VG10 but all got at least a little rust at some point. I would go with a serrated edge Salt of the model you like best. The plain edge that I have just doesn't hold that good of an edge. On the other hand, I gave a friend who is a commercial crabber a SE Salt that he leaves in his boat mainly to cut rope. I just saw the knife and it is well used and still pretty darn sharp and he hasn't touched it other than to use it. It would actually still pop a couple hairs off my ARM which my PE stops doing after just a couple days of use. I'm not a big fan of SE knives but for that application and steel I think they are worth it.
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2002
- Messages
- 1,507
I once "misplaced" an Endura for six months. While sweeping up, I found it outside, open, behind my garbage cans, under a pile of wet leaves. There was barely some surface rust that easily wiped off in seconds. I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest. I must have dropped the knife when cutting up cardboard for recycling. I made due with a CRK&T Point Guard for six months; I was overjoyed when I found that Endura ! 
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
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I tried some more - different combinations of purple, royal blue, and scarlet.
I tested on yellow nylon zip ties.
Using 2Tbsp of color to 4C water, near boiling, with a drop of Woolite, 20 shakes of salt, and about 1/2 tsp vinegar in the solution,
These are some of my results:
Left to right:
Original, 2T purple - 2 minutes; 2T purple for 1.5 min & 1T purple + 1T blue for 1/2 min; 1T/ea royal blue and purple - 2 min; 1T royal blue, 1/2T purple, 1/2T scarlet - 2 min; 2T Royal blue + 2T purple - 5 min.
I know they didn't come out great in my photo.
In sunlight, they look:
Yellow, reddish brown, forest green, dark green, OD green, and black.
I think with a yellow base, your best bet is to go for a green or an orange.
Unless someone can give a detailed description of how to get purple from yellow, I'm going to leave my Salt alone.
I tested on yellow nylon zip ties.
Using 2Tbsp of color to 4C water, near boiling, with a drop of Woolite, 20 shakes of salt, and about 1/2 tsp vinegar in the solution,
These are some of my results:
Left to right:
Original, 2T purple - 2 minutes; 2T purple for 1.5 min & 1T purple + 1T blue for 1/2 min; 1T/ea royal blue and purple - 2 min; 1T royal blue, 1/2T purple, 1/2T scarlet - 2 min; 2T Royal blue + 2T purple - 5 min.
I know they didn't come out great in my photo.
In sunlight, they look:
Yellow, reddish brown, forest green, dark green, OD green, and black.
I think with a yellow base, your best bet is to go for a green or an orange.
Unless someone can give a detailed description of how to get purple from yellow, I'm going to leave my Salt alone.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2012
- Messages
- 327
A few years ago I'd forgotten I had a Delica in my BDU pants and spent most of a day in salt water. I changed my uniform and threw the wet ones (with my Spyderco) in the bottom of my ruck. About a week later I was doing my laundry and found the knife. To my surprise, only a little surface rust on the blade. No permanent damage. The steel is more rust resistant than you would think.
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- Mar 31, 2011
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- 3,006
My yellow PE Salt I arrived today. I pulled the clip and attached my bright purple/neon yellow lanyard.
Looks awesome next to my purple flashlight, and about a million times better than my failed RIT dye experiments. So I'm going to keep it as-is.
Can't wait to spend a weekend (not this one, sadly) at the beach and pool and see how it does.
Looks awesome next to my purple flashlight, and about a million times better than my failed RIT dye experiments. So I'm going to keep it as-is.
Can't wait to spend a weekend (not this one, sadly) at the beach and pool and see how it does.