Dilemna.

TheDoggyGuru said:
Good point, Franciscomv. Do they sell smaller ceramic rods? I find I personally have the most success with them.
Click to expand...

For the last 15-20 years I've had very good luck with the Eze-lap diamond hones. I get the flat little red plastic one and cutoff the handle short enough to fit in my wallet. Maybe about 1/8 inch thick, by about 3 inches long and 3/4 inches wide.

With a bit of practice you can resharpen your pocket knife in a minute or two. Finish it off with a stropping on the back of your belt and you're good to go.
 
Check these out. I don't have one, but I've seen them in stores and thought they looked pretty good. Pre-set angles, though.

I'll bet jackknife's suggestion is easier to carry, and would work in more situations.

-- Sam
 
MG_Saldivar said:
The town must've been named when "intercourse" was used to mean "conversation" or "discussion" --- an appropriate name for the state that gave us the City of Brotherly Love. :D
Click to expand...
Intercourse is right down the road from Bird In Hand and Paradise. Ten miles northeast is Blue Ball, Pa.
 
I *think* that red (active) rust on some steels will turn into a nice black (inactive) patina if you dip it in some boiling water for about 15 minutes. This has worked for me with low-carbon steel, anyway.

As long as the patina stays on it should protect the underlying steel. A little oil or ren wax will go a long way towards preserving the patina.

Smarter people (at least 99% of you) feel free to correct me; I'm not what you'd call a metallurgical genius.
 
bluejaunte said:
I *think* that red (active) rust on some steels will turn into a nice black (inactive) patina if you dip it in some boiling water for about 15 minutes. This has worked for me with low-carbon steel, anyway.

As long as the patina stays on it should protect the underlying steel. A little oil or ren wax will go a long way towards preserving the patina.
Click to expand...

Wow, boiling your knife blade as a way to turn rust into a patina sounds like a REALLY REALLY bad* idea. You're right that patina will protect the steel. And while perhaps a little oil or ren wax might not be a bad idea (though, to be honest, I almost never oil my blades at all - just the joint once or twice a year) you don't really need to "preserve the patina." Just USING the knife is going to perpetuate a patina.




[* Seriously, a REALLY bad idea!]
 
* Seriously, a REALLY bad idea!
Click to expand...

I'm not arguing, I'm just asking: Why? Will 212 degrees F really affect the temper at all?

Anyway, like I said my experience is with low-carbon (i.e., mild) steel. Not something you want to keep an edge.
 
A general rule of thumb I learned while grinding new mill/lathe tools in the machine shop-never get the metal too hot to hold with your bare fingers.
 
I'd guess for almost any knife boiling hot isn't going to harm the temper in the least.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top