Food friendly knife conditioning other than lard...

flyfishrman

flyfishrman

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
506
I've heard it mentioned and have seen postings here about using lard to coat carbon steel blades. The main point was that it prevented rust and wasn't as questionable a coating as other oils especially if you prepare food with your knives like most of us do. I don't have any lard, so my question is will olive oil or other cooking oils work? I normally use 3 in 1, but would like to switch if something more edible will work.
 
Most organic oils can or will turn rancid after a while.

Get pharmaceutical grade mineral oil at your local discounter or pharmacy. It's safe and works well on steel and scales.
 
Vegetable based cooking oils dry out and will gum up the pivots. Clove oil and olive oil (choji oil) have been a traditional means of blade preservation for centuries in Japan, but will get sticky over time. I use a dab of bacon grease at times on a knife that will be used to cut food. Food grade mineral oil is ok too.
 
Blues said:
.. Get pharmaceutical grade mineral oil at your local discounter or pharmacy. It's safe and works well on steel and scales.
Click to expand...

Blues,

I have been using a good quality mineral oil for decades to rejuvenate stag, bone, ivory, wood, ext, and to clean my knives metal. What is the difference between Johnson & Johnsons Baby Oil(mineral oil) and Pharmaceutical Grade mineral oil?
 
liquid paraffin works well also....it's a wax you can spray on.
 
sunnyd said:
Blues,

I have been using a good quality mineral oil for decades to rejuvenate stag, bone, ivory, wood, ext, and to clean my knives metal. What is the difference between Johnson & Johnsons Baby Oil(mineral oil) and Pharmaceutical Grade mineral oil?
Click to expand...

Hiya Sunny,

Baby Oil has additives such as scents etc that are unnecessary and potentially less than desirable for use on your knife and blades.

Food Grade or Pharmaceutical Grade Mineral Oil is safe for human consumption and often sold as a laxative in pharmacies.
 
Blues said:
.. Food Grade or Pharmaceutical Grade Mineral Oil is safe for human consumption and often sold as a laxative in pharmacies.
Click to expand...

AHAAA.. I see now. I will gain extra benefits from this product then. Not only will I be able to breath new life into my old knives but it will keep me regular as well!. ;) :D
 
And if you use it on your blades and cut food you won't have to worry about ingesting the chemical scents etc that are added to the baby products.
 
Elliot,

I have been using a good quality mineral oil primarily for old knives that are in need of rejuvenation/replenishment since it was suggested to me by a semi-famous knifemaker back in the 1980's. Once I saw the results I was a true believer. After this process is complete, all the knives get a thorough rubbing wipe down and are subsequently completely wiped clean, so I am convinced that no undesirable chemicals ever crossed my pallet..

However, I am very pleased to have been informed by you about this product.. So thanks for that.
 
Another benefit of the mineral oil is that its not harmful to any part of the knife. On my khukris the blade, the handle (wood or horn) and all get a coating. It can overly soften a leather sheath (not a worry with khukri scabbards that are leather over a wood frame) or stain a light colored sheath.
 
is mineral oil also suitable for a the locking mechanism on a folder? i just used it to lube one knife today and it opens a lot easier. should i use it on my other folders?
 
Another place to look for mineral oil is hardware stores. Drugstores don't always carry it. I get mine from a local TrueValue.

Leo
 
Another vote for Mineral Oil. I have used it on all my carbon blades, fixed and folders and the natural scales/handles as well. I do not use it for a lubricant on the folders though.
 
I just scored a bottle of mineral oil from Walgreens by the laxatives (clear bottle with red label). Going to give it a try. My cv blade with the vinegar treatment is trying to get a little rust on it. This will be my first time using it so I will let you know what I think after.
 
no odor, easy clean up , seems to cover well , thin enought to get in those tight spots. Time will answer other questions. As for now I will use Mineral oil.
 
While I highly recommend the use of mineral oil for maintenance of your blade steel, scales etc, I do feel there are better choices for lubricating the pivots (though the mineral oil will work).

Tuf-Glide, Rem Oil, Hoppes or light machine oil, Miltec, Break Free CLP etc are all (imho) better alternatives for lubricating the pivot/joints of your knife.
 
Did you ever try Brunox Lubri-Food? A swiss product that should also be available in US market possibly via internet!?

It`s used in food industry to clean, preserve, maintain and lubricate machines that get in contact with food. (It`s got a NSF H1 registration.)

Some of our german knifemakers (and gunsmithes) use it and are very pleased with it, so am I. ;):D

Here their homepage www.brunox.ch
Just look for the can with Lubri-Food and click to the english description below.
 
I'm going to have to put in another vote for mineral oil. I bought a small bottle at Bed Bath and Beyond. It is used to condition wood cutting boards. Lately I haven't been using my knives on food so I've been using more 3 in 1 Oil on my knives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top