Knife Oil or Oil?

[Thirteenth Star]

Is there something particulary special about oil that's sold as oil for knives, or will standard houshold oil such as 3-in-1 do just as good a job of oiling a knife?

 

[Walking Man]

Militech and Eesox both do a great job of rust protecting.

 

[Gossman Knives]

3 in1 oil is ok for wiping down a fixed blade for storage, problem is it attracks dirt and lint and wipes off easily well using. There really isn't anything that will stay on while using a knife. I would recommend Tuff Glide or Renaissance wax. They seem to cling to the blade the best. For folders a dry lube on the moving parts is good.

 

[gud4u]

For the pivot area of a folder, I use Pro-Link, which is the best chain-lube I've used on my bicycle chain. This stuff is designed to creep into link-and-pivot areas and adhere. It works - even when the chain gets wet.

One drop is enough. Give it a minute to 'creep' into the pivot area. Wipe off any visible oil.

3-in-1 is fine. It just needs more frequent application.

Absolutely no WD-40. WD-40 is basically perfumed kerosene, highly evaporative.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I also like food grade mineral oil, especially on the blades themselves. Not that I eat off most of my knives, but it is a thought ... You can get it cheap at any pharmacy. It's real good on carbon steel blades in the kitchen, which is why I keep it on the kitchen counter, right by the sink.

 

[Emanuel]

30 weight motor oil will work extremely well for carbon steel knives aswell.

Personally I use a combination of 30 weight motor oil and a spray called CRC 5.56, specifically for corrosion, and firearms,.(as far as I know it's only sold in Australia and New Zealand, sorry--although it does have an American milspec number on it, so who knows)

 

[ras]

I like the idea of a food grade mineral oil for a knife you might use around food, but for folding utility knives including my EDC's, I use FP-10. It's outstanding for corrosion protection and is an excellent lube.

 

[KeithAM]

For the pivot area of a folder, I use Pro-Link, which is the best chain-lube I've used on my bicycle chain. .

I use Pro Link on my bike chains too and it seems to work well on the pivots. I've heard some cyclists have made their own chain lube by mixing Mobil 1 with 2-3 parts paint thinner. Wonder if that would work on knives too. It'd sure be cheap.

 

[Lhet]

Knife oil is usually more mild, to protect blades and keep smooth operation

 

[Daniel Koster]

militec for moving parts

mineral oil for non-stainless blades - cheap and easy to get. Plus it's foodsafe.

 

[bob bowie]

Most of the older knife/honing oils are just mineral oil that's watered down or perfumed up. Just buy a container of it from the druggist, and you'll be set for a long time.

3-in-1 is OK, if the knife will see use, or if it will only be stored for a couple of weeks. I once stored a knife for 3 months, using it, and I was shocked when the oil hardened up into a yellow mass that was almost as tough as Cosmoline to clean off.

 

[GarageBoy]

Militec is gun oil =P
Be sure to use baby oil, as it is less viscous than mineral oil (for stones)