How to best protect carbon blades from corrosion?

M

mountainranger

Joined
Mar 25, 2010
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What can I do to protect higher carbon blade steels like A-2?

Saw a youtube video on the BRKT Bravo 1 in which the owner used mustard to cause a kind of corrosion that helps block corrosive rust pitting. That and a little wipe down with mineral oil from time to time?
 
Send it to me. In AZ there is little humidity and not a lot of rain. I will put it to great use. If you would like to come visit once in a while, let me knwo. LOL

All kidding aside, decide if it will be food prep or not. If not use a silicone based spray. Once per week or 2 will be good. Also, wipe it down after use.
 
mountainranger said:
What can I do to protect higher carbon blade steels like A-2?

Saw a youtube video on the BRKT Bravo 1 in which the owner used mustard to cause a kind of corrosion that helps block corrosive rust pitting. That and a little wipe down with mineral oil from time to time?
Click to expand...

That corrosion is called a Patina. Those videos are demonstrating how to force one on. You can opt to do that or just let one build naturally.

Generally I find the best way to take care of them is to 1)Wipe down or wash after use (fresh water obviously) 2) Make sure it is properly dried 3) Apply some oil. Mineral Oil works well if you might use the knife on food.

Also I wouldn't store the knife in a leather sheath for long periods of time when not in use. Other than that you don't need to do anything else.
 
I live a couple of miles from the beach. Lots of humidity. If it's a blade I use frequently I just wipe it down. If I'm putting it in the drawer for a spell I put a drop of mineral oil on it.
 
You can also force a patina also by sticking the blade in an apple for a few hours. But just wiping it down with food grade mineral oil (if you want to use the knife on food) or other sources of mineral oil like Johnson's Baby Oil or WD40 will do the trick. Or gun oil, CLP, or just about anything will work.

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If you want to keep the blade shiney and new, then Fluid Film is the stuff for you. ;)

It is food safe as well.

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Break Free has been my lubricant/protectant of choice since 1988, when I found a case of it at BigLots for $0.99 a bottle.

I think I only have 2-3 bottles left. I don't know what I'll switch to once they are gone :)
 
I think the importance of oiling a carbon blade is over-emphasized. Sure, oil is fine and isn't going to hurt anything, I guess. But the main this is just keeping it dry. I grew up in south Florida on the coast and went to college in north Florida - two very humid environments. I carried a carbon steel knife for a lot of those years and never had a problem with rust. I'm not talking about keeping a blade shiny and pretty, my carbon knives did have a patina. But that's not rust and doesn't affect the performance of the knife.
 
mountainranger said:
What can I do to protect higher carbon blade steels like A-2?

Saw a youtube video on the BRKT Bravo 1 in which the owner used mustard to cause a kind of corrosion that helps block corrosive rust pitting. That and a little wipe down with mineral oil from time to time?
Click to expand...

G'day there.
You didnt mention the type of sheath. If it is leather dont store the knife in the sheath. The leather will start to argue with the steel but in the main all the advice here is good.
Cheers.:thumbup:
 
mountainranger said:
What can I do to protect higher carbon blade steels like A-2?

Saw a youtube video on the BRKT Bravo 1 in which the owner used mustard to cause a kind of corrosion that helps block corrosive rust pitting. That and a little wipe down with mineral oil from time to time?
Click to expand...

Use them. After you are done for the day wipe it off unless you are getting it wet or bloody then wipe it off right after you are done. A little mineral oil wouldn't hurt either. It will develop a nice patina which will help protect the blade. I like the look a a nice patina on a knife myself.
 
All my knives get an M1 treatment - it dries itself and leaves a non-greasy layer of protection (I suspect there are other lubricants out there like that)... and some 3 in 1 oil -- never had a rust problem.
 
I use Kydex sheaths for all regular use knives and in the case of Moras I guess will use their plastic ones or make a kydex one for a particularly good model.
 
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