Protect from Patina

T

Traverse

Joined
May 10, 2011
Messages
59
Is there a way to help a knife NOT get a patina? I liked my almost mirror finish, but I used it to cut some steak and literally had it not cleaned for maybe 5 minutes and it stained my knife. Doesn't look bad, in fact Patina's usually look cool, but I was digging the way I had it before. Would keeping mineral oil lathered on it help? Thanks,

-Traverse
 
Patina's no big deal. Whether you find something to coat the blade with or not, if it does patina, just use some Simichrome, Flitz or other polish to shine it up again. These will make short work of it. In fact, if you continue to put the knife to some real use, let the patina be. It doesn't hurt the steel, in fact it protects it. When it's convenient to do so, hit it with the polish again, when you want to show it off.
 
Awesome, great Idea thanks! I should probably be putting the food grade mineral oil on my knives also, all I have now is Gun oil and I definitely don't want that in my food. Thanks a lot guys

-Traverse
 
Buy a stainless steel knife? :D

Seriously though, just use it, let the patina develop, and I think you'll learn to like it!

Frosty
 
Stainless steel is for suckers! lol just kidding. I thought a patina would take a long time to develop, but it came within 5 minutes of first use! It honestly doesn't look bad, but I worked that sucker to get it to a near mirror finish and it was gone soon thereafter
 
Traverse said:
Stainless steel is for suckers! lol just kidding. I thought a patina would take a long time to develop, but it came within 5 minutes of first use! It honestly doesn't look bad, but I worked that sucker to get it to a near mirror finish and it was gone soon thereafter
Click to expand...

All is not lost. That mirror finish will actually help to prevent against red rust. Polishing helps to close up many of the nooks, crannies & pores in the surface of the steel, which can collect the stuff that contributes to rust (acids & salts from foods, dirt and other material that holds moisture, and moisture by itself). Moisture has less to cling to, on a polished surface. If you've ever wondered why/how a highly-polished surface like a car's finish makes moisture bead up & roll off, it's largely due to that same effect. Polishing will also slow down the patina a bit too, although the patina (black oxide) is a non-issue, save for personal preferences.
 
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