Recommend a tube of something to protect my knives

peacefuljeffrey

peacefuljeffrey

Joined
Feb 24, 2001
Messages
1,308
Hello. I'm looking for recommendations for oils or treatments to put on my knife blades to protect them. I currently just rub a thin film of CLP on them (it's good enough for my Glock!) but I know I have heard that oils such as that have the unwanted side-effect of attracting dust and particulate matter.

I have heard of stuff mentioned on the forum here but don't remember much of it. Something called "Tuf-cloth"? Silicone-based this-or-that? Militech or something like that? Could anyone put these in a hierarchy for me, and make a recommendation? I understand that the Tuf-cloth stuff also comes in a dropper bottle of liquid that dries to some sort of silicone lubricant...am I right? I used to have a bottle of something like that and I don't know for sure if that was the brand... Anyway, input will be appreciated.

Also, please advise whether the stuff you recommend is available at local stores, typically (you know, Sports Authority, hardware stores, Walmart and which aisle?). I really would like to avoid having to order online from a knife specialty store if I can.

---Jeffrey
 
Hey peacefulljeffrey,

I Just polish my knives with flitz (comes in a tube :) ) and I use ballistol oil to oil them after handling. I just buy the stuff at my knifedealers. I think the ballistol is a smal miracle ! Protects from rust, lubes, disinfects and.... it's EDIBLE !!! yes, really you can eat/drink the stuff. (Try this at your own risk, I'm not liable)
 
Check out this thread -

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=260488

Post-5-121681-Overall_for_Gunboards.JPG
 
Where can one get the Eezox? I thought the Miltec would perform better than that and it just so happens that the humidity runs rampant where I live.
 
www.eezox.com

I just got mine and like it a lot. It doesn't rub off as easily as oil, and even when it seems to have "rubbed off" it still is supposed to be there, protecting away. Supposed to form a dry film that protects. (No its not visible of course)

It doesn't attract dust and dirt like oil either.

So far, so good! :D

The militec is strictly a lubricant, not a cleaner and especially not a protectant of any sort, as you can clearly see.

That picture is what prompted me to give Eezox a spin. :eek:
 
As Cliff Stamp says in the aforementioned thread, if you use the knife, then there is no magic coating that can protect it.

Something like DLC (diamond-like coating) can go a long way. But this is not something that comes in a tube and you just rub it on. Furthermore, even something like DLC can be scratched or rubbed of leaving exposed metal. If you use your knife, you must either select a less rust-prone alloy with the compromises that come with that, or you must clean your knife and re-apply a protectant after every use and, as much as possible, store your knives in cool, low-humidity conditions.

For long-term storage or for collectible knives, there is an excellent alternative in Renaissance Wax. A coating of Ren wax can protect a knife for years. Ren wax is tough enough to be handled and so forth, but it too will rub or scratch off easily with any use.
 
For me i just wash it and them wipe it dry. Than i wax with car wax. Finally i put a coat or rain x on.
Works pretty well for me cannot rust if water can't stick on the steel.
 
Wow, that Renaissance Wax is *expensive*. When you mentioned it,I remembered having seen it -- in the Museum Replicas catalog. It's $28 + $4.95 s/h! True, it may be worth it, but that's still a lot of money for a small container of wax, even if it's true that "a little goes a long way," as the catalog says.

The catalog also lists Metal Glo. It's supposed to be an aluminum oxide paste. Here's the kicker: it's got UNITED CUTLERY's logo on the tube. Now... I don't know, but United has to be the biggest purveyor of total CRAP that I've ever seen... Does anyone here know enough to vouch for or condemn their Metal Glo?

And what of the Tuf-cloth stuff?

---Jeffrey
 
The 65ml jar of Ren Wax is about $12. This will easily protect at least a hundred knives.

Here's a tip: don't Ren Wax just one knife at a time. Line up a bunch at go to it. It takes more wax to do the first one since you have to get the cloth wet. After that, it takes very little per knife. In fact, once you get going, every fifth or sixth knife will be "free", you won't need to add any wax out of the jar.

But, my advice is spring for the big jar because once you get this stuff, you'll be Ren Waxing everything in your house that is iron, steel, brass, silver, or wood. This stuff stops tarnish on brass and silver, rust on iron and steel, and it makes wood just beautiful. I haven't gone this far, but I'm told that there are people who Ren Wax their cars.
 
I use Flitz polish. Flitz is a non-abrasive, chemical polish. So, you really don't have to rub hardly at all. Just apply it with enough rubbing to work the cream into surface irregularities, let is sit for a minute or so, and wipe it off. It will not remove any but hairline scratches since it's non-abrasive. But tarnish, rust, fingerprints, etc., all just vanish.

Yesterday, I tackled a silver crean and sugar set that belonged to my mother. I doubt that it had been polished in quite some time. It was just about completely black and brown with tarnish. I wondered if Flitz would be able to do it or if it might take multiple applications. But, one pass with Flitz and even that heavy tarnish was gone. I added a coat of Ren Wax and now that set will sparkle for years.

I also polished a knife with brass handles that I bought at Bladeshow and hadn't gotten to wax yet. Even in just these few weeks, the brass had discolored. Flitz made it sparkle again and Ren Wax will keep it that way.

And, I cleaned up a working knife that had developed a few rust freckles. Flitz took 'em off and I Ren Waxed it just to prevent any further rust 'till it gets used again.

So, once you get these two products, Flitz polish and Ren Wax into your life, you'll start using them all over the place.
 
Tuf-cloth is a product from Sentry Solutions. It's just a lint-free cloth saturated with thier Tuff Glide lubricant/protectant product. It's very easy to use. You just wipe the blade or whatever with it using just enough rubbing to work the Tuff Glide into the surface irregularities. It dries within a minute or so and leaves a protective coating on the surface. Previous testing has shown that its protection works pretty well, but that the coating is very easily rubbed off leaving the surface unprotected.
 
If you are hemorrhaging over the price of Renaissance Wax, and it is expensive (but very white and clear), one notable knifemaker told me he just uses Turtle Wax. And you know that is a bit cheaper... for sure.
 
I have used all the products mentioned on guns and knives and other products that will rust. I now use one product for everything and it is excellent, Eezox. Don't just take my word, buy some and try it.
 
The thing about Zymol is... well... look at it! It's BLUE! It's obviously got some coloring in it. That won't be a problem on metal, of course, but I'm concerned about it on bone, ivory, horn, wood, leather, and many of the other materials found in knives. Such materials can absorb dyes and colorings and be permanently discolored.
 
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