Dip Bucket Tip For Less Rust

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Are you getting flash rust on your blades after you cool them in your dip bucket?

Add some Borax to your dip bucket along with a few drops of dish soap and it will help a lot.

The Borax helps with rust and the soap helps reduce surface tension so the crud will sink.

I probably add a half cup of Borax and sometimes more if my 5 gallon bucket is getting full and I notice any rust popping up. I need to change it more regularly, it gets pretty scary looking in there!

 

[Lo/Rez]

Good tip. Thanks.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Yeah, thanks!

 

[Salem Straub]

Ah, finally a reason for non-forgers to use borax. Actually, there will be more on the market for you, since it's being phased out of forge welding...
That's a good tip, though. Thanks!

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks Daniel.

 

[butcher_block]

you change your water i jsut keep adding more and pull the steel out of the bottom now and then

 

[Big Chris]

you change your water i jsut keep adding more and pull the steel out of the bottom now and then

That is the same approach I take.

Will try the Borax though, dish soap alone just didn't seem to work as good as I wanted.

 

[Mike Gesualdo]

I already do the dish soap, but I'll have to try adding Borax. Thanks Daniel!

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

I add baking soda and dish soap, seems to work.

 

[james terrio]

I use baking soda and dish soap, it definitely helps. I'll try the borax and soap instead next time I get around to it...

 

[Bailey Knives]

My shop is a separate building (like most are I suppose) and in the winter, my dip bucket is frozen solid. I get the animal safe antifreeze and mix it in there. Now I have liquid all winter long. (just another tip)

 

[grizzled gizzard]

I use TSP and a little Simple Green. About the same thing I guess. It works well.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Yep, baking soda and soap here, too.

 

[Hankins]

Borax keeps the water Soft and is antibacterial (I think) just know it works well for keeping the scum off and the water clear. Small quirt of dish soap is a must.
Wonder if using Baking soda and borax is overkill?

 

[i4Marc]

I'm writing all this stuff down. Why haven't I been doing any of this yet? As I was reading these great tips you guys sparked a thought (It was bound to happen eventually). For you guys who race, would Water Wetter work for reducing the surface tension and getting the crud to fall to the bottom? I'm going to try it and see.