Maintaining Display Knives – Long-term Storage & Knife Blade Health

[Addicted_to_Knives]

Dear members - I would like to hear your expert opinion and advice on the long-term storage & maintenance for the display knives collection:

I had built a glass display wall for my knives and only once a while I take them out to flip, play with them and show them to intrigued guests and friends. So they don’t get any usage or cut anything basically, other than a little piece of paper here and there, they just stay there on the stands displaying their beauty and might.

One issue I am coming across though is how to maintain them. I used to use the KPL oil for pivot areas (bearings & washers) and Tuff glide lubricant for the blade. However, I’ve come across few posts and youtube videos suggesting this might not be a good idea. There are much better products out there.

For long-term display needs - Should I just wipe the blades down with a Marine Tuff cloth or WD-40 or Break Free CLP lubricant oil? I do live in a city where there is reasonable humidity, not too bad, so I want to insure the blades’ health the best I can (maybe my great grand children would be able to enjoy them just as much as I ).

What would you suggest? So far the best feedback here on the forum I saw regarding few several products: Break Free CLP lubricant, Marine Tuff cloth and WD-40 seem to be getting very good reviews here.

Are these the best products? Would appreciate your help and opinion. Thank you!

 

[marcinek]

Ren Wax for the surfaces. It's what museums use.

 

[JPD1998]

I can tell you that my storage regimen is very similar to yours , but I wipe down stainless knives with RemOil, IMO the products you list are good as long as they are recommend for corrosion protection.
I don't care for WD40 because it turns gummy when applied too heavy.

For tool steel blades or anything I'm not going to see for awhile, I use a heavier product called "Barricade".

I also use Renaissance Wax for short term storage on stainless, but I've had carbon blades treated only with Ren wax rust. Almost ruined a Great Eastern fixed blade I had stored in it's tube without the sheath.

But Ren wax makes stainless steel knives look great , especially when displayed. Repels finger prints too.
In your situation and if your knives are stainless Ren Wax might work too.

 

[eveled]

Those silicone wipes last forever keep one handy whenever you handle a knife wipe it down and put it back. Thats what the gun guys do. Also a pair of white cotton gloves make it easier. That way you know you are not getting acid from your skin on a blade.