Probably a silly question...

C

Charyou Tree

Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
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So I remember being in a SERE class about 4 years ago and an instructor said that graphite from a pencil could be used to prevent rust on a carbon steel blade.

I never really gave it much thought, as I've always just used 3 in 1, but right now I'm bored and for whatever reason I'm wondering if that would actually work if no oil or wax was available.

Does anyone know if this would work, or was that instructor mistaken?
 
Graphite could be an abrasive...maybe the instructor meant you could scrub off corrosion if it appeared on your blade?
 
I know this is not the point, but I guess my questions is why would a SERE instructor be teaching something so trivial when it comes to their course. Rust, on a knife blade, is not an issue. It does not change the overall performance or mean the difference between life and death.
 
course filler ?? :D
imagespencil1.jpg

imagespencil2.jpg

imagespencil3.jpg
 
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I have always been told that modern pencils have hardly any graphite in them anymore. Maybe this just urban legend, like rust on a knife will make it useless...
 
R.A.T. said:
I know this is not the point, but I guess my questions is why would a SERE instructor be teaching something so trivial when it comes to their course. Rust, on a knife blade, is not an issue. It does not change the overall performance or mean the difference between life and death.
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Ha! I never even thought about that! I mean I know that rust doesn't change the performance of the blade but I didn't ever wonder why that was even a topic of discussion in that sort of class. Maybe it would be relevant in an open ocean/coastal survival situation. Hopefully the downed flier or otherwise stranded person would be rescued in a fairly short amount of time, but that doesn't always happen. Maintaining your gear is always a good habit in any situation, especially when you don't know how long you'll be needing it. If your survival NEEDS are taken care of, it only makes sense to keep your equipment in the best condition possible. Sometimes the best condition possible is dull and covered in rust, torn, wet, broken, and dirty. That's the way it is and if that's the case, then worrying about rust prevention would be silly. But if the situation does allow for it (many factors contribute to this), then repairing your gear, patching, cleaning, drying, sharpening, and dealing with rust might be the sensible thing to do.
 
DH1 said:
Graphite could be an abrasive.
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graphite is used as a dry lubricant for locks and other mechanisms where oils collecting dirt is not a good idea.

perhaps someone in a humid or coastal environment could test the "pencil graphite prevents rust" theory out for us? i'm in the desert and... well, it would take forever to see any results here.

but i agree with Jeff that rust shouldn't be a huge issue... but i recall in the story "The Raft" the 1911 they had rusted up quickly and soon became worthless despite periodic cleaning. they had no oil to lube it or prevent rust in the maritime environment. but they were in that raft for roughly 40 days.
 
holy crap, are those carvings real?

also, i vaugly recall seeing a pencil recommened on a gun forum to remove rust spots (I tried it. it works.) but not as a rust preventative.
 
Because, Jeff, they are miticulous about keeping their gear clean and in perfect condition. I don't know what it is, other than a sign of professionalism that their gear seems to look showroom ready all the time even after a hard days' work....
 
TTD, I wished next time you decided to post photos of my artwork you'd ask permission before doing so..:mad:































:DVery nice indeed... absolutely amazing !!! did you just google those or have them on file in your puter?
back to topic..
 
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