Non toxic coating for KLVUK - Any recommendations?

snowwolf

snowwolf

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Hi guys,

I brought my KLVUK for a hike in the woods this weekend. The weather was very nice. Much better than the -40 we had lately.

This is definitely a very effective size and shape. I even split a 2 foot long and 7" inch diameter frozen maple log (batonning) with it. I was please to see the blade didn't warp. If it had, I would have been the only one to blame.

Anyhow,

I thought I dried it up properly but the next day when I pulled it out of the sheath, there was already significant amount of rust on the blade.

I've seen many posts here recommending all kinds of coatings for rust proofing. Most of them seems to involve toxic chemicals.

Do you know some that are fairly durable AND Non toxic?

I was thinking food grade silicone or "natural" wax, which will not leave an oily blade and will repel water until the blade is used. Then it will have to be reapplied.

Thanks,
 
If it's still got the forge scale you could linseed oil it- that's what we put on almost all decorative iron when I was still doing ornamental blacksmithing. Let it polymerize and it kinda soaks into the scale.
 
Mineral oil should work. I get mine at the grocery store, laxatives aisle.

Storing the blade in the sheath is a great way to get rusty. Keep it out of the sheath when you're not using it.
 
philllll said:
Mineral oil should work. I get mine at the grocery store, laxatives aisle.

Storing the blade in the sheath is a great way to get rusty. Keep it out of the sheath when you're not using it.
Click to expand...

Yep I figured that one out... We're doing it with our ice skates, why not with the Kuks :-)

Can I bake the mineral oil on the blade in the oven without damaging the Kuk?
ie How much heat can they take without problems?
 
That's what I was gonna say too. Ballistol is pretty incredible stuff.

My wife also got a jar of stuff to put on wooden spoons and stuff. It's some sort of food grade kind of waxy pasty stuff. I'll have to look at home. I don't know if it has any protective qualities for metal or not, I'll have to read the jar.
 
Hi Snowwolf,

Like you said wax would work, bees wax is a natural non toxic one. I've heard of people mixing it with various oils to make a sort of polish or paste. As mentioned above, mineral oil is a good one in terms of being non toxic(at least the grocery store stuff) and cheap. It will however leave an oily blade. Also, it isn't a drying oil. It will not dry in the oven with heat, if anything it will burn off.

You could try pure tung oil (not the stuff with added driers). It is derived from the nut of the tung tree. When dry it is food safe, used extensively in the coating of wooden kitchen utensils and wooden bowls. I haven't used it on steel but I have used it one many other things. If you apply just a thin coat it will dry to a hard layer in a day or two. It isn't permanent so it will come off fairly easily with use but it won't be oily at least. Might be worth a shot. Here is a link to a company who sells it.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=20049&cat=1,190,42942

Let us know what you end up using and how it works for you!
-mike
 
Lanolin sticks well but doesn't dry up so it's always like covered in sticky grease.

Rust bluing would be good. Just do it the traditional way and it is food safe according to what I read at BF. The black oxide from rust bluing is supposed to hold oil better on the blade and thus helps preventing real red rust.
 
The smell of ballistol is not something you'd want on food.. Melt some beeswax in mineral oil and pour it into a jar while warm, periodic application to the blade will protect it.

On second thought, why not use a smaller knife for your food then you can use ballistol or any other substance on your KLVUK.
 
some people do not like the smell of ballistol, some do. it to me has a pleasant anise-like aroma.
 
Smells a bit like pine oil to me. :D
Ballistol is good and food safe and you don't need to have so much on your blade that it makes your food smell and taste worse; or better, depending on your taste :D
 
It's distinctive that's for certain. To me it's not unpleasant. I have no clue what it taste like, maybe I'll let Mikey try it.
 
FROG LUBE

I tested around 30 different products on bare steel exposed to salt and water for extended periods. I got tired for hearing over and over "I use X, it's best" "no I use X it's better"......

In my tests a few were head and shoulders above the average and included Eezox, Rig and Frog Lube. For knives, Frog Lube is not greasy like RIG or Toxic like Eezox and as a bonus it smells minty! I like Ballistol but it couldn't stop rust like the ones above. Also, Remoil was one of the worst rust stoppers I tried. Might be ok for short term indoor use under good conditions, but after what I saw I wouldn't risk it on anything I own.

This is not my opinion, but based on my back yard testing with products I bought. I am not associated with Frog Lube in any way.

Now I am not saying it will stay on blades after you use them or shield them from acids. They will have to be wiped clean and lube reapplied. Doesn't perform miracles but worth a try to see if you like it.
PS Frog Lube seemed to perform better when I heated the metal with a hair drier after applying.
 
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