rust never sleeps

[MikeyJ]

Ballistol. Mineral oil based, non-toxic, biodegradable, and several major beverage companies use it in their bottling stations. I still clean mine off before food prep, but that's just because I'm a little OCD about that stuff. I've had a 6oz. can for well over 2 years and it's still well over half full. A thin coat works like a charm, and I've never had any rust problems.

Colorado is a damn-awful dry climate, but stuff still rusts out here...

 

[Haze240]

I've heard of Ballistol, been meaning to look for some. Would Wally world carry something like this? Living on the coast is hell for carbon steel, even stainless will rust. I left my victorinox swisstool in my tackle box on the boat for a year and it took me hours to recondition it and get it operating smoothly again. I used to just spray everything with WD40 to clean, protect and make things smell nice, but I finally figured out what the big skull on the front of the can means. Just thought it was a cool logo...

 

[Febeleh]

I keep my BK2 polished just enough to bead water, only have a few sporadic patina spots (lettin' the patina happen naturally), and don't oil it, ever. The thought of oil in a sheath collecting dust disgusts me. Never had any rust, ever. I live in a dry california desert though.

 

[Febeleh]

"I used to just spray
everything with WD40 to clean, protect and
make things smell nice, but I finally figured out
what the big skull on the front of the can means.
Just thought it was a cool logo..."- Haze240.
That was the funniest thing I have read all day.

 

[thrillbilly]

As a test, I have not oiled my BK9 since I stripped it. I stripped it, put a bleach etch on it, then wiped a thin layer of mineral oil on it right after the final sanding.

I have used it a lot, left it wet, all sorts of shenanigans...have yet to have any rust form. I haven't got any blood on it tho, except a lil from when I nicked myself on it. I live in north AR which is very humid, but no saltwater/air. I guess I have had my 9 a couple months now, ~3 months I think.

YMMV, but Im satisfied enough with my informal test to not worry about stripping the ugly black coating off, I haven't had a Becker yet I didnt strip right away. I think I held off the longest with my FPR16, my others I stripped within 24hrs.

Just checked, I got my 9 on march 1st and stripped it the next day. I oil my other knives, I just wanted to see what the bare 1095 would do without oil.

 

[machine26]

I've heard of Ballistol, been meaning to look for some. Would Wally world carry something like this? Living on the coast is hell for carbon steel, even stainless will rust. I left my victorinox swisstool in my tackle box on the boat for a year and it took me hours to recondition it and get it operating smoothly again. I used to just spray everything with WD40 to clean, protect and make things smell nice, but I finally figured out what the big skull on the front of the can means. Just thought it was a cool logo...

I'd just use mineral oil, it's cheaper and you can use it for medicinal purposes.

 

[MikeyJ]

I'd just use mineral oil, it's cheaper and you can use it for medicinal purposes.

It's funny you should mention medicinal purposes. In Germany, they have modified the original formula for Ballistol, called Neo-Ballistol and it has been approved for veterinary and human medicine. They haven't had it evaluated by the FDA yet, so it's not sold in the US.

Everyone has opinions on which rust preventative measures we should take. My best advice is find what works for you, and stick with it. I think Thrill's got the best idea though...just use it so much it doesn't have time to rust!!