Renaissance wax - how to use it?

flava

flava

Joined
Mar 3, 2000
Messages
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I've seen some tiny rust spots on three of my knives :(, one of them is carbon damascus, one is carbon steel like 1084 and the other one is 52100. I oil the knives that I don't carry every two weeks (with gun oil) but it seems not to be enough given the high umidity in the air arround here. The ones I carry get oiled very often and are OK. I done a bit of reading here on the forums and ordered some "Renaissance Wax" . It should protect them better and eventualy I can use it to preserve horn and ivory handles. The main questions are: how should I apply it on the blade/handle, how often, so I don't get more rust on my knives or cracks in the handles?
I ask this here because I think those who have a bunch of cusom knives must protect them someway and might help me with good advice
 
I use a very soft cotton cloth and apply a very thin coat one knife at a time and wipe the wax off as soon as I finish the knife. Q-tips work well to get to hard to reach places (relief in Stag for example). If I am not handling the knife too much I apply every 6 months.

I am not a big bead blasted blade fan, but on the few that I own which are users it is harder to get the wax off evenly. My trick is to shut the knives in a warm car trunk for a few min. That makes the wax become liquid and easier to remove.

I use Ren. wax, rem-oil and tough cloth for the humid environment in Georgia and have not had storage problems.

Now on my carbon steel users, I expect tarnish and spotting to occur and really do not mind it.
 
I apply a thin coat normally just using my finger over blade & handle - let it sit for minute then wipe off with soft cotten cloth - Q-tips work great for tight spots. Ren-Wax forms a bond with the metal so can polish blade without removing wax & protection - reapply after using knife - have not had any rust problems as long as reapply after using.

Bill
 
I have found that REN-WAX works extremly well; although it's kind of expensive. I use a case or two a year.

When I first get a new knife, I will heat the can of wax on the stove for a few minutes;(Caution! DO NOT LET IT BOIL OVER! IT BURNS!)
When it comes to a liquid state, I lay the knife on wax paper and I pour the wax over the knife on all sides.(USE A MIT!) I let it sit for an hour. I then get a tooth pick and draw designs in the wax. Sometimes I like the drawing better than the knife and I'll leave it that way. But, most of the time I will use the same tooth pick to scrape away the excess wax. I keep track of where the wax falls so I can form it into a ball with my fingers. I like making furry little bunny rabbits with my REN-WAX balls. If any falls on the floor, be very, very carefull not to step on it and smear it into the carpet! After this, I wrap the knife in aluminum foil and I hold it over an open flame burner using a pair of tongs.(TURN OFTEN!) When I hear the melting wax sizzle, I immediatly open one end of the foil and let it drain out into the can. I will then place it to the side to cool. I will then unwrap the knife and look at it. The handles sometime brown a little depending on what their made of, but the knives usually come out SHINY.( browning of the handle material only gives it more character, especially on a FISK knife,FLATGRIND SAID) This can sometimes become very tedious, put I find this method works well for me. My knives NEVER rust. When someone wants to hold a knife I will first give them a production model; their hands become uncomfortably sticky, and they usually don't ask to hold another.

NOTE: If I where a first timer, I would probably use Gus's method.:D
 
Darby:

You my good friend are an incorrigible nut.

By the way., I have the motel reservations for the mesquite show in sept.:D :D :D :D
 
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Now that was funny. A while back on TKCl we were talking about it, seems like one of the members who is quite a profilic collector (close friend of Cavin Cooledge's) has an old water tank on his property (about 30 feet in the air filled with the stuff). Gotta introduce Darby to him. They would get along great.
 
I guess I started using it when I saw makers that I know using the stuff. It really goes a long way. So much so that you should be able to pass most of a 20 dollar can on in your will with your knives. :D
I think I have had my can for about 10 years and about 1/10 of it is gone.
 
Thank you all for the answers. Darby, your method sounds very good but I think for the moment I'll stick to the less technical one :D
 
flava,

Please don't be intimidated. Have COURAGE! I know my method sounds hard, but once you do it a time or two, you'll have it down. TRUST me on this. It won't take but a case or so and you'll be a pro.

It's really not that hard; and think of how many bunnies you'll be able to make!

If you noticed, Gus couldn't talk about the bunnies!
 
Darby,
Tried your method - have ordered cases of Ren-Wax & blown knife budget for year! :D :eek: :D

Side benefit is my cats love squashing the bunnies!!! Gets very ugly! not for the squeamish! :barf: :barf: :barf:

Keeping me busy - they can't get enough of the bunnies! Maybe if Gus has some extra bunnies I could get him to send some to me! :D :D :D

Bill
 
Bill,
My bunnies are your bunnies :D.

Good to see ya back around these parts. Hope your daughter is faring well.
 
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