Mineral oil applications

[jfn]

I recently purchased a bottle of mineral oil for use on my soon to be growing collection of traditionals.

I know that coating CV blades prevents major rusting, and putting it on handles prevents drying out. Are there any other uses for mineral oil, like pivot lubrication or anything else?

Also, what's the best way to apply it? Do you only coat knives that are going into storage?

Thanks in advance.

 

[grizzled gizzard]

The only time mineral oil is best is in contact with food. It's not very good at preserving or protecting wood or metal or lubrication- at least, there are much better substances for these things, if you don't need to worry about ingesting it.

 

[powernoodle]

WD-40 is mineral oil plus mineral spirits (mild solvent), so thats one way to apply mineral oil. Leatherman recommends WD-40 on its multitools. Baby oil is also 100% mineral oil plus fragrance. You wouldn't want to use either of these with food prep obviously. I concur that mineral oil is not a long-term rust preventative, but I think its fine if applied at regular intervals.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Mineral (and other) oils should be kept OFF of handles. It saturates, softens,and darkens them.

 

[grizzled gizzard]

Mineral (and other) oils should be kept OFF of handles. It saturates, softens,and darkens them.

So what can you do if the handles got a coat of oil? I'm talking Dessert Ironwood, and Breakfree. Yes, they got dark

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Alcohol on a cotton ball. This will remove some of the natural oils in the wood, too-so it may be better to do nothing at all. Just try not to oil your handles.