How to protect carbon steel blade?

Heimdal

Heimdal

Joined
Jan 4, 2001
Messages
20
How do I protect my blade made of O1 tool steel from corrosion? Is it enough just to wipe after use?
Some recommends blueing with lemon juice, but is that really effective?
Are there any products on the market that doesn´t make the blade slipry or is toxic?
 
Hello Heimdal,
Welcome to BFC!!!

Can you give us some more information as how you will use this knife?
Example:
Food preparation?
Hunting/field dressing game?
Collecting/storage?
Everday pocketknife carry?
Neck carry?
The weather condition where you live is?

All of the above conditions, and I'm sure some that I have forgotten, will have an affect on which protectant you should use on your knife.

--The Raptor--

[This message has been edited by Raptor (edited 02-20-2001).]
 
If you are not doing food prep with it, try a Tuff Cloth. Renn Wax is another good product. O1 will tarnish and discolor even from finger prints if not treated. If you live somewhere very dry and clean and dry the blade after any use or handleing, it might not need treating. But better safe than sorry.
 
Hello,
thanks for the welcome.
The knife will be used in most outdoor situations, except hunting.
The climate were I live is quite moist, and the knife will probably need some sort of protection.
 
Hello,
thanks for the welcome.
The knife will be used in most outdoor situations, except hunting. Including food prep.
The climate were I live is quite moist, and the knife will probably need some sort of protection.

[This message has been edited by Heimdal (edited 02-20-2001).]
 
IMHO- the patina carbon steel gets with age and use adds character. I keep mine clean and corrosion-free but try not to worry about discoloration.
smile.gif
 
Richard's advice is sound. Don't worry about trying to prevent the natural patina from taking hold. IMHO, it adds character anyway. However, rust & corrosion is a killer. I would use a Tuf-Cloth for this application. Maybe even Marine Tuf-Cloth if it is going to be exposed to salt water.

--The Raptor--
 
A comment or two regarding food prep.

If it was me, I would wash, dry, use the knife for food prep, then re-wash, re-dry and re-apply the Tuf-Cloth if possible.

I don't know if it's harmful (probably not in such small infrequent quantities) but maybe it won't taste that good.
Hey, maybe you could let us know.
wink.gif


--The Raptor--
 
I have never been able to find a really effective solution. Tuff Cloth is praised by most people and Marine Tuff cloth is a bit better. I doubt that it is toxic after it dries, despite the smell, but that has been debated here previously. Renaissance Wax [Ren Wax] sounds great, but it doesn't really work that well under moderate to heavy use - it's better on nonmetallic materials, I find. Many people simply use a variety of light oils and are careful to maintain their knives as best they can in the field. Me, for really adverse conditions I use talonite or coated Infi.
 
Working in a resteraunt I use one particular knife to slice lemon wedges for iced tea. It was an Old Timer I think. The blade was washed off and dried with a towel after every use. No problems with rusting. Sure the discoloration looked nasty at first but the knife still works. However, the instant someone forgot to dry it off the thing rusted like heck.
So no, blueing the blade with lemon juice isn't a miracle cure. Just keep it dry when not in use.
 
One more note.

I almost forgot this. Many others here have mentioned that when camping they apply mineral oil to their knives since it's non-toxic.

--The Raptor--
 
For knives used around food, use Crisco or some other form of cooking oil/grease. Recommended by Newt Livesay.
smile.gif

For a liquid, Corrosion X is the best.
www.corrosionx.com
For a dry film, Marine Tuf-Cloth is the way to go.
 
If wanting to blue the blade, why not just use the right stuff? Try some of the several "home" bluing kits available at most sporting/ firearms/ hunting outfits. I' ve used the Birchwood Casey brand to cold blue a few of the carbon steel scandinavian blades I' ve had in the past. You may not get a factory finish but it will do its intended job.

Nakano
 
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