Edible knife oils?

samhain73

samhain73

Joined
Mar 5, 2005
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Hi, just wondering what some of you use for a lubricant if you are going to use the knife for anything, including food. For example, I would like to be able to use my manix to cut rope etc. but also a sandwich as well. I know that certain oils are toxic and should not be consumed. Can things like olive oil and such be used? Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
I think you'll find the most common answer is mineral oil, although many of us dont worry about a little gun oil ,etc.
 
I highly doubt that the small amount of a toxic blade protectant is enough to cause any adverse affect to your body.

Adverse affect to the taste of your food however....
 
Oil tends to get around. I like to use candle wax as a joint lubricant. It is edible and doesn't stain my clothes or make my handle slippery. I usually just scrape a candle with my finger nail and let some wax drop into the joint while the blade is closed. Then I work the blade back and forth. I do that a couple times and the joint works smooth and clean.
 
Yeah, that's really the main reason. The flavor of militec or 3&1 or whatever petrolium based oil is not the most delicious obviously. So, does the mineral oil work okay? It seems that it's not the most viscous of oils. And does it have rust resistant properties?
 
Although it is not recommended for human consumption, Ballistol is a non-toxic lubricant and protectant.

David
 
You might try some things that turn into a dry film and won't get into your food to begin with like these:

White Lightning
Prolix

White Lightning is good because it won't wash off very easily if you rinse your knife often, but it can get build-up and get gunky if you use too much. Prolix smells pretty, is biodegradable and is a decent cleaner as well.
 
Just about anything fossil fuel-based is edible, of not a little wierd-tasting. There's petrolium in most of the hard candy you eat, so don't worry about it too much. :cool:

As far as the best compromise for protective qualities vs. toxicity and taste, mineral oil will probably work, though I suspect it'd wash off easier than some other products mentioned here. Basically anything that doesn't smell much (I Imagine 3 in 1 oil isn't too bad) won't taste too bad, and will blend in with your sandwich taste enough for you to not notice it.

As long as it isn't really copiously applied, anyway. If you leave your blade in a pool of WD-40, then yeah you might taste it a little :p

_z
 
Militec on, Militec off. Militec on, Militec off.

That's the spirit! :D

(it leaves dry protecting, lubricating film)
 
I use camellia oil, traditional japanese that I was put on to by a maker, due to the fact it's non toxic.
 
z537z said:
There's petrolium in most of the hard candy you eat, so don't worry about it too much. :cool:
Click to expand...

I suggest you read up on your organic chemistry. There is a big difference in petrolium and products gotten from petrolium by refining/cracking/... it. A slight change in the molecular structure can make a big difference in a product.
 
If it helps, the Japanese use camelia oil. I think the mineral oil mentioned above is fine and easy to find in any drug store.
 
If you want a nice smell to your mineral oil, get either hair tonic or baby oil. Both have fragrance added.
 
All of my carbon steel knives that will come in contact with food get a mineral oil treatment. It also works good on wooden handles. If you want it scented, get clove oil from the drug store or health food store. Add an oz or so to a bottle of mineral oil and you have a great food safe metal protectant that smells good. I usually keep my folding knife blades dry. I oil the pivot after cleaning the whole blade first.
 
Food grade mineral oil sold at any pharmacy as a laxative. (Camelia or Japanese oil is nothing more than mineral oil with scent added)
INOX...I have been using it and am very impressed.

As for not worrying about toxic oils since the amounts are so small, keep in mind that many of these substances are stored in the liver if it can't break them down and over time will build up to a toxic level. I mention this because I had a minor liver problem about ten years ago, and believe me I would not wish a liver immbalance on my worst enemy.
 
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