Gunk on my knife?

O

OnlyOneSpyderco

Joined
Aug 21, 2006
Messages
1,020
Probably a dumb question, but what is this green gunk and what do I do about it? The knife is pretty new and barely used. Thanks!

gunk.jpg
 
Probably verdigis from the brass liners. WD 40 should clean it out.
Bill
 
I heard a long time ago, when I first started getting into car repairs, that WD-40 will tend to make steel rust (unless, of course, you constantly keep it coated) due to the fact it is a solovent and will remove any oils on the metal (which is why I only use PB Blaster for bolt removal and Hoppes #9 for knife lubrication!)
 
I didn't say oil it with WD 40, I said clean it with WD 40.
WD 40 will not make anything rust, it's just not a good rust preventative.
Hoppe's # 9 is a gunpowder solvent, not an oil or rust preventative!
Bill
 
Do yourself a big favor and throw out the WD-40 !! That green stuff is not rust but verdigris from the brass liner ,it's a copper carbonate corrosion product.Is that stored in a leather sheath ? that could cause it..Wipe it off as best you can and lube with a light oil.
 
It's interesting-I am known as one of the foremost knife restorers in the United States, and I find out I'm constantly wrong on this forum! Listen to the other guys-I'm sure they have been doing this for at least 6 months!
Bill
 
Bill DeShivs:

Hard to know who to listen to online. :-) Thanks for the info.

Do you have any pointers for basic knife cleaning and maintenance tips for beginners?
 
Bill DeShivs said:
I didn't say oil it with WD 40, I said clean it with WD 40.
WD 40 will not make anything rust, it's just not a good rust preventative.
Hoppe's # 9 is a gunpowder solvent, not an oil or rust preventative!
Bill
Click to expand...


From the bottle:
"Lubricating Oil"
"High viscosity and penetration"

From the back of the bottle:
"A pure lubricant"
"A light, pure, colorless oil that will not gum, harden or turn rancid. High viscosity. Gives lasting protection and lubrication. Cleans and protects wood work. Keeps rust away."


Now, I've been using this stuff for years on my shotguns and my knives, and my dad has used it all his life on his shotguns. So don't tell me it isn't an oil, and don't tell me I shouldnt use it on my knives. Works 10x better than any of that shitty spray on oil (eg: rem oil).
 
Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. The original Hoppes #9 Nitro Solvent is a powder solvent, though it is a bore rust preventative. Mine says nothing about being an oil. Hoppes probably does make a lubricating oil, and I'm sure it works well.
Bill
 
Yeah, I guess I can see the misunderstanding. I also have hoppes #9 sol. but I call this Hoppes #9 since it still has the big old 9 on the bottle. But yeah, it works absolutely great, and I highly recommend it.
 
WD-40 has changed over the years but I remember when it started it wasn't much more than a marketing scam !! Use it on steel and it would quickly rust !! So I don't want any part of it .A light oil such as a good gun oil or instrument oil will work well. I'm using a turbine oil , Mobil MTE which has all the properties needed for an excellent gun ,knife oil But you'll have to buy it in bulk !!
 
WD 40 is still not a good rust preventative. It's very thin. It does, however, make a good cleaner/water displacer.
Any good oil will work on knives-from plain mineral oil, to Militec.
Bill
 
At work we coat non-stainless steel gun barrels with pure silicon. It keeps oily fingerprints off the guns that will rust right onto the barrel over time. I've started wiping it on my blades after hard use and it seems to be doing a nice job.
 
Using WD-40 on any gun is retarded! It will get gummy and even harden over time. Heat and powder residue speed up this process. I remember reading somewhere that it can neutralize primers. Also ruins the finish on wood. After it sits for a few minutes it loses its lubricant properties. Ergo, Dub-Dizzle is the Devil.
 
No one really said anything about using WD 40 on guns.
WD 40 will thin most oils, causing them to lose lubrication properties.
It's petroleum carrier evaporates, leaving a very thin film of lubricant. It does not get gummy or harden, but the old oils it dissolves will. In my 35 years of using it doing gunsmithing, cutlery, and jewelry work I hae never seen it ruin a wood finish-though I suppose it might if it were just sprayed on and left pooled on the wood. Yes, it is a penetrant and it can neutralize primers if you don't simply wipe the residue off the gun. Common people simply don't know how to use it (or use a Dremel, either-for that matter.)
Bill
 
So what is the best commonly found oil to use? I have been using WD-40 to clean gunk off of the blade, and 3-in-1 for lubrication, I have used Rem oil also, but I kind of liked the 3-in-1 better.
 
I've used WD-40 as a cleaner for nasty gunk, then hot water after (yeah, water after the water displacer :D), thoroughly dry, and whatever lubricant. I use Tuf Glide atm. Hoppes and Rem oil on my pistols, which probably isn't a great combo.
 
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