INFI and rust

shigawire4sure

shigawire4sure

Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
1,019
I am curious if anyone has experienced any rust on their INFI? I understand that INFI isnt rust aggressive but under some conditions it must rust some. Does it pit? Or does it form a patina? Any experiences with salt water? I do some diving and though I own some high quality dive knives that more than suffice(Missions) Im curious how INFI would stand up to salt water. Any ideas?
 
I was curious about this too. I live by the beach and have taken a Busse out to play but never had anything happen. Not even a speckle. But then again I wipe my blades down and keep them covered constantly.
 
My DC Mojo has a few light spots on it from when I trimmed a bush and let it sit overnight before wiping it off. My DC Assasult Shaker also has a few spots on it, but I don't know what they're from as i've never used it.
 
and ive had rust develop after leaving an oj out all night. it got pretty humid, everything had a nice layer of water in the morning.

and my batacle patina'd after cutting some lemons.

both the rust and patina wiped off with a little flitz. no pitting.
 
I've tried making it rust by getting it wet and putting it away unoiled in its sheath in a hot humid (leaky car, floorboards would get soaked after a rainstorm) in florida for a month. Best I got were a few light powdery spots of orange that wiped off with an oily rag, left a blue/black spot like gun blueing underneath, no pitting.

Edit: For what it's worth, I have far less luck with ATS-34 and 154CM as far as rust resistance goes. They form rust quicker and tend to pit unless it's removed immediately
 
Blood_Grooves said:
patina... whats that??
Click to expand...


A "patina" (or patination) is the process of oxidation on steel or other metals.

Just as copper or bronze will turn green... the surface of carbon steel blade will oxidise when used to cut acidic foods.... some foods are more acidic than others.

Because the patina is only formed on the surface of the steel... it can actually help to prevent rust.

Here is my well used J Neilson knife custom made from 52100 steel (ball bearing steel)

IMG_3020.jpg


I have used INFI on a lot of foods and it doesn't seem to patina like a carbon steel.

I have seen INFI's corrosion resistance compared to ATS-34 and that seems about right... although it's a completely different steel.

"patina can refer to any fading, darkening or other signs of age, which are felt to be natural and/or unavoidable."
 
Since I live in a tropical climate with very high humidity, all the so called stainless steels rust here, including S30V! But the interesting thing is that I have so far not seen any rust on my INFI! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: :)

Boar-gen
 
No salt-water experience (at least not submerged), but like others said, INFI will tend to discolor (patina) or oxidize if given enough time... Just my experience, but the double cut blades seem to be the quickest to oxidize (actually the worst is a very "toothy" edge on any blade.)

But like others have said, it is difficult to get it to pit -- it is mostly surface rust and most of the time you can wipe it right off.

A little off topic, but related... If you had a blade "stained" from sweating through a stained leather sheath, would that technically be called a "patina"??? When I say stained, I mean it looked like a homemade hammon! It eventually came off, but only with some aggressive sanding...
 
Yes...INFI will rust under the right (or wrong) conditions...but I've never seen any pitting whatsoever.
 
xaman said:
A little off topic, but related... If you had a blade "stained" from sweating through a stained leather sheath, would that technically be called a "patina"??? When I say stained, I mean it looked like a homemade hammon! It eventually came off, but only with some aggressive sanding...
Click to expand...

Yes.... IIRC.. leather sheaths can be quite acidic and can rust carbon blades... and sweat can be quite acidic to.... so I would call that a patina.

Rust is an oxide too... but.. I don't hear many people calling a rusty blade a "nice patina" :D
 
I have skin/sweat that will rust most steels from simple handling in less than one day during the summer.

I have corroded many different steels, most all the carbon steels I come in contact with like A2, O1, , 5160, SR101, CPM-3V, etc., and even stainless steels on occasion.

INFI gives me the ability to handle and use the knife with MINIMAL oiling. My experience is that my DC finished blades need more care than the satin/stripped SHSHII that I have.

I think the extra surface area of the bead-blasted double-cut finish gives the sweat more 'time' or concentration to cause patina or rust.

The INFI resistance to my skin/sweat is what closed the deal for me with Busse. I can spend thousands on the knife of my dream, and watch it rust before my eyes if it's made from the wrong steel.
 
I can only imagine how mirror polished infi would hold up. I bet if you worked a double cut blade with some elbow grease and metal polish (or maybe a loaded buffing wheel) it would help out with the rust resistance.
 
Thanx guys thats pretty much what i wanted to hear. No pitting. I take very good care of my blades, especially living in S. Florida and all but have seen some pretty aggressive staining on my work knives in very short time..which are all very high quality carbon steels and even some stainless varieties as well. Everything gets oiled with mineral oil daily and i still see some spots. I havent seen this with INFI. I dont mind a nice patina my self,tends to lend character to a blade imo. As for salt water Ill just stick with my Ti blades..better safe than sorry I guess. While on the topic has anyone actually tryed Bluing their blades?
 
Shig, since I'm in the middle of refinishing my FBM I'll give it a quick go since it's still pretty rough, though I'm pretty sure the answer will be negative.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top