knife care and storage

sdrmvy

sdrmvy

Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
19
I'm a relative newbie with a small, but hopefully growing, collection of custom knives. I live on the east coast and not sure the best way to store and care for the knives I own. For example, should a knife be stored in plastic, in a breathable cloth cover or something else. how often should the knife be lubricated? what can be used to help protect the blade from rusting? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

I'm guessing this topic has been discussed previously but had no look finding threads via the USN search. Please point me to the right threads if they exist.

Thanks.
 
knife should be oiled (i use mineral oil as i use my knives for eating /cutting foods)around the pivot points,,i dont protect my blades anything special ,,just put them away in my edc bin and pick up a knife and put it in my pocket,,i oil my blades about 1 once every 2 months,,depends on my uses ,,if heavy use then maybe twice a month,,
 
I live on the East Coast also - and although it may sound silly - keep a check on the humidity in the room or area you store your knives. Nothing makes problems like too much moisture.
 
I live in Buenos Aires and we have high humidity. If you don't use your knives often, it is convenient oil them with mineral oil (liquid vaseline) as Vic2367 told you before,and wrap the blade with flexible kitchen foil. If you use your knives frequently store them out of their sheats in a dry place.
Regards.

Pancho
 
I've heard of simply oiling them up, wrapping them in a towel or two, and storing them in a dry area. The oil should keep moisture from permeating and developing on the blade, and the towel should help with the humidity.

If anything, it's best to simply take them out and use them. In my experience, a knife that's being used doesn't develop rust, as long as you wipe it down with a little oil now and again and dry it well after use.
 
I oil every now and again (as mentioned) and I don't store my knives in their leather sheaths as oils from leather can wreak havoc. I toss a few desiccant packets into those stored inside original factory cellophane wrappers to absorb moisture.
 
Maybe this is overkill, but it's my method...

For Folders:
1. Check all screws for tightness. Handle screws, pocket clip screws, pivot screw, etc.
2. Resharpen / strop the blade if necessary.
3. Lubricate (I use RemOil or Tuff Glide) the pivot pin area and any other moving parts (the lockbar on a lockback, latch on a bali-song, etc.)
4. Clean the inside of the handle with a dry Q-tip or compressed air.
5. Run a Tuff Cloth over all metal surfaces.
6. Put into a Sack Up (breathable, silicone-impregnated socks).
7. Put into a tackle box that I use just for knives, in which each compartment has a dessicant packet.
8. Put it all away.

For Fixed Blades:
1. Check the handle for tightness and the sheath for wear / damage.
2. Resharpen / strop the blade if necessary.
3. Clean the blade (I use 3-in-1 oil to do this) and dry it.
4. Clean the handle with warm water (except leather handles, which get a leather cleaner). Dry with compressed air.
5. Wipe down all metal (including the pommell) with a Tuff Cloth.
6. Wipe down the handle with a clean, dry cloth.
7. Clean the sheath with a cloth and leather treatment if necessary. Metal (like snaps) gets wiped down with a Tuff Cloth.
8. The knife gets stored in a cardboard blade protector, while the sheath gets stored in a plastic bag containing a dessicant. Then they both get put side by side in another tackle box. Large knives that won't fit get stored inside a large storage box.
 
I live in a very dry environment, and, whilst this keeps the rust problem down you get cracks or receding bone handles etc.

All the suggestions re mineral oil are good as it's safe in conjunction with food.A fellow member over on Traditionals was kind enough to let me have a part used bottle of RUST FREE from A.G.Russell-their shipping charges to EU are very high so i couldn't get the stuff myself. It's a FIRST RATE product,just a drop on clean dry steel keeps off tarnish&rust, very good if you have to take stuff out in the snow or rain. Well worth using.
 
I like to use mineral oil and then wrap in wax paper...the high humidity where I live sneaks up on me so i also try to just check for corrosion every once and a while and when I check I also oil...I also oil every knife that I have used before I store it and after its gotten wet or come into contact with citrous fruits
 
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