Maintenance of coated carbon steel

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johnu2

Joined
Jun 5, 2007
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Hi, first of all, if this has been brought up before, I apologize. I tried doing a search but all I get is a blank screen.

Anyway, what I wanted to know is do carbon steel that have a black (or urban camo or whatever) coating require maintenance to prevent rust? since the edge is uncoated? All my current knives are stainless steel and I was thinking of getting an AG Russel Sting (CRKT).
 
Any steel rusts, but stainless steel has enough chromium in it that it forms chromic oxide in a thin clear skin that prevents oxygen from getting to the iron. In the presence of salts, that skin is useless. Coatings are best for rust prevention ... almost 100% effective.

Carbon steels vary, depending on the specific alloy. Most of them you can blue like a gunsmith would do. You can also pickle them, like I do, in tomato sauce. I sort of like that brown patina. Either way, you get a limited amount of rust prevention.
 
thanks for the responses so far, i'll just coat the edge with hanwei oil since i've already got those at home
 
johnu2 said:
Anyway, what I wanted to know is do carbon steel that have a black (or urban camo or whatever) coating require maintenance to prevent rust? since the edge is uncoated? (CRKT).
Click to expand...

Johnu2,
The uncoated carbon-steel edge needs to be protected just as you would protect an uncoated blade.

After use, clean it and dry it. Apply oil as soon as you can. I see that AG Russel recommends something called "rust free". I'll take that as a confirmation of my basic recommendation.
 
thanks for your input knarfeng

edit: btw, i should coat the edge with a bit of oil then put it back in its sheath, is that what most people do? am i correct in assuming that the oil won't harm the plastic or leather sheaths?
 
A drop of oil used on the blade edge should not hurt the plastic or leather sheath.
 
Try doing a search, many people like many different oils. I wouldn't use motor oil, but mineral oil (laxative at the pharmacy) does the trick without going rancid. If you do this, and don't store it for more than a few months at a time, you should be fine.

Having said all that, your climate is a big factor in this. I live in dry Colorado, and store most of my knives in their leather sheaths with no oil for years at a time with no rust problems. Some do, some don't. YMMV.
 
I've got Hanwei oil that I use for my swords. I wish it lasted longer than a 2 or 3 months tho
 
I use motor oil for my carbon steel machete, no rust and the nylon sheath is fine.

Will do the same for kabar when I get it, of course I won't use it on food.
 
Can I know some of you might say its a waste, but can you use beer to patina a satin finish, oh lets say, a Ranger RD9?
 
I doubt that thought has ever ocurred to anyone here. Use a light beer so no one will cry... :D
 
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