If you smoke, the knife you sell is gonna smell bad......

Rhinoman said:
I'm certainly not going to be overly open when you begin you communication with me by saying that I'm overreacting to my situation. Why go there? I've responded appropriately and calmly and now, due to your insightful posts as well as others, we've learned something about the steps that can be taken to deal with stinky knives.
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I apologize for that, it was certainly a mis statement on my part. What I meant is that I don't think it's irreparable (at least let's hope not), it could have been worse (people get all kinds of bad luck dealing online, and we've all seen some terrible dealings here on BF), and in my opinion you're certainly dealing with an extreme case here. My aunt smokes, and I picked up a few odd habits from her after I had asked her "why do you do this?" She blows smoke into the sky (even when she's outside), she washes her hands constantly, and she doesn't touch the cigarette with her fingers when she draws on it. It's the small things like that (and possibly the brand of cigarettes she smokes) that keep cigarette odor out of her life. I dated a girl for 8 months that didn't know I smoked, and never used cologne - I did brush my teeth a lot and carry chewing gum though (I also smoked a lot less during that time), and the fact that I was able to hide something so prevailing for so long was a factor in the breakup. I have also met people that flat out reek of cigarettes. Their clothes, hair, breath, just everything about them. I don't know why one person does so badly and the next person doesn't (could be smoking habits, volume, environment, brand, or a bit of everything) but I have met the type of person that could make a bottle of perfume smell like a carton of winstons set on fire.

I know you're upset considering the money you've spent, but let's hope it is not something that ends up being permanent. There was a good bit of information shared here, and it will definitely come up again. Good luck with whatever you choose to do to address the problem.

.....as for my fire, it was actually the best thing that happened to me in several years in a roundabout way. It helped me clear out some junk (I had to be selective about the items that were important to me), it got me out of a bad living situation, and the changes I was forced to make has allowed me to buy more nicer things that I will certainly miss more in the next house fire than what I lost in the last one. The smoke damage was the bulk of it, and a couple events made it so a lot of the things I wanted to keep weren't damaged as badly (the mix of doors that were open and closed in my house at the time protected some rooms, stifled the fire in the room it started in, and allowed the firemen to reach the actual fire quickly and unimpeded while keeping them from searching a lot of areas that would have wasted time - circumstances couldn't have worked out better) and a few of my most important possessions were actually with me (Laptop and Camera). No persons were injured, and it gave me some good perspective; I was a single male with a manageable amount of resources - what if I had a family and kids, nowhere to go, or even a woman would have had a much harder time replacing her clothes. Better me than someone else. All is well that ends well. Win/Wn :)
 
A Justice said:
I apologize for that, it was certainly a mis statement on my part. What I meant is that I don't think it's irreparable (at least let's hope not), it could have been worse (people get all kinds of bad luck dealing online, and we've all seen some terrible dealings here on BF), and in my opinion you're certainly dealing with an extreme case here. My aunt smokes, and I picked up a few odd habits from her after I had asked her "why do you do this?" She blows smoke into the sky (even when she's outside), she washes her hands constantly, and she doesn't touch the cigarette with her fingers when she draws on it. It's the small things like that (and possibly the brand of cigarettes she smokes) that keep cigarette odor out of her life. I dated a girl for 8 months that didn't know I smoked, and never used cologne - I did brush my teeth a lot and carry chewing gum though (I also smoked a lot less during that time), and the fact that I was able to hide something so prevailing for so long was a factor in the breakup. I have also met people that flat out reek of cigarettes. Their clothes, hair, breath, just everything about them. I don't know why one person does so badly and the next person doesn't (could be smoking habits, volume, environment, brand, or a bit of everything) but I have met the type of person that could make a bottle of perfume smell like a carton of winstons set on fire.

I know you're upset considering the money you've spent, but let's hope it is not something that ends up being permanent. There was a good bit of information shared here, and it will definitely come up again. Good luck with whatever you choose to do to address the problem.

.....as for my fire, it was actually the best thing that happened to me in several years in a roundabout way. It helped me clear out some junk (I had to be selective about the items that were important to me), it got me out of a bad living situation, and the changes I was forced to make has allowed me to buy more nicer things that I will certainly miss more in the next house fire than what I lost in the last one. The smoke damage was the bulk of it, and a couple events made it so a lot of the things I wanted to keep weren't damaged as badly (the mix of doors that were open and closed in my house at the time protected some rooms, stifled the fire in the room it started in, and allowed the firemen to reach the actual fire quickly and unimpeded while keeping them from searching a lot of areas that would have wasted time - circumstances couldn't have worked out better) and a few of my most important possessions were actually with me (Laptop and Camera). No persons were injured, and it gave me some good perspective; I was a single male with a manageable amount of resources - what if I had a family and kids, nowhere to go, or even a woman would have had a much harder time replacing her clothes. Better me than someone else. All is well that ends well. Win/Wn :)
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I hear you my friend. :)

I was surprised to receive knives that smelled so bad (I can smell them now) and I thought it worthwhile to share my experience as I never imagined worrying about odors with knives. I'm a musician and it's common practice to mention the environment that the gear has been exposed to as it tends to carry it for a long, long time.

This is a first for me with knives.

I really do appreciate your information and suggestions and I appreciate what everyone has shared. When I sell I feel that I can't be happy until the buyer is happy. I didn't feel that from the seller today.

Very cool knives though. :)

Take care.
 
Getahl said:
....soaking the affected materials in a mixture of water and baking soda for approximately half a day.
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Baking soda can absorb almost any smell.

A couple of decades ago right after we bought my wife her first brand new car, she hit a skunk. She was in tears. It took about a week and several large boxes of baking soda sprinkled, sitting, then vacuumed, but I got the smell out. She drove my truck and I rode a bicycle for ordeal.

Baking soda and vinegar. Separately, they're both work miracles around the house.
 
I smoked cigs in the 70's.I think they stink much worse now with chemicals and crap they've added.Later,i smoked a pipe until i quit all tobacco about 10 years ago.I used to get lots of compliments on the pipe aromas.The worst comment i got was "Is someone smoking a cigar?"I was heavily addicted for most of my life from age 13 to age 50 and am so happy to be free of it.Cheaper cigs do smell much worse and it can be a horrible stench.Good fresh tobacco still smells good to me,but old nasty after smoke is horrible.I agree Baking Soda is great for removing odors.I was in the cleaning business 20 years and simple baking soda made me a hero a few times.
 
Thanks for posting this thread, Rhinoman. I should be able to remove any odor now, with all of this information.
 
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For the knives two cleaning products should sort the issue completely used in conjunction. First get a good enzyme based cleaner, lots of pet stain and odor cleaners are good for this, make sure it has active enzymes to break down organic molecules. At room temperature dip the knives in the solution and scub with a brush. After scrubbing soak for a few minutes in the solution. The next thing that works very well for smoke stains and odour is orange oil based solvents, they are fantastic at breaking down the oil residue left from smoke. Apply heavily and allow to sit or soak in solution if you have enough. The orange solvent works for leather as well but is likely to stain it so take caution. After using both of these products your knives at least should only smell vaguely of oranges. Good luck.
 
Bigfattyt said:
You only think that. Trust me.
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Then you're doing it wrong :D

But I totally agree cigarettes leave a horrible stank. I could never figure out people can live with that smell in their house or car. It never goes away, doesnt matter how much you clean. But then again when burning anything, the smoke gets trapped in surfaces only prevention is a vaproizor.
 
I have only had this happen a couple of times and it was never with sheaths, only knives, so it was easy to fix.

if you Google "how to get smoke smell out of leather" there are lots of things you might try. You might also look for a dry cleaner that specialized in leather and see if they have any suggestions.
 
O got a knife as a gift from a friend a few years ago and when I opened the box I knew instantly he was a smoker. This knife was in the box and had a decorative case and boy did they smell for a good long while. I need to pull it out to see if it still smells.
 
The smell will go away... eventually. That's happened to me too. I open the box and a foul stench comes out. Nasty.
 
Happened to me too - with a nice Dozier sheath:barf:

Micarta and steel did not pick up any odor. Kept the sheath in a container with a small container of baking soda in it - no sheath to baking soda contact. After many cycles, the sheath smelled only like leather again. Now, anytime a leather sheath is involved, I ask whether the knife and sheath have been stored in a non-smoking environment.
 
The sheath does seem to be the main culprit....I've stored it with baking soda and we'll see how that works.

Thanks everyone! :)
 
I think glade makes some of that powdered carpet cleaner that is specially formulated for smoke. may want to try that.
 
I have the knife in an old tupperware with baking soda......in a couple days I'll put a fresh batch of baking soda in and repeat. :)

Thanks for all of the idea guys!
 
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