Rust Prevention

Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
118
I just recently purchased a high carbon knife that needs to be oiled to prevent rust. I just have a few questions about how and when I should do this. First of all, what type of oil should I use? Second, how often should I oil it? After every use? After I use it in wet conditions? Can it wait a few hours after I have used it in a wet climate before I oil it, or should it be immediate? Finally, how much oil do I use? Will there be a thin layer of oil all over the knife? Will it make the blade messy or slick?

Thanks for any replies. I tried to run several searches, but for some reason the searches aren't working.
 
Generally you oil the knife just before you put it away for the day. You apply a small amount of oil to put a thin coating over the knife, it doesn't take very much, a couple of drops will cover a very large knife (10"). Rub it over the blade just taking care around the edge, which is easiest to treat if you oil up a plain leather strop and use that, which will also very midly sharpen the knife at the same time.

Some of the low alloy steels will rust very fast such as L6 and 5160, if you are using these wet (raining) it is near impossible to keep them rust free, even if they are oiled it will just get burnished off in use. The blade will start to discolor almost immediately in use around blood and food acids, the sides will turn black and get a mottled color.

To minimize the corrosion you can keep the blade dry, rinse with fresh water and dry if exposed to blood or fruit juices or sea water. You only need to oil it frequently if is is really humid or you are close to salt water.

-Cliff
 
Dave568 said:
I just recently purchased a high carbon knife that needs to be oiled to prevent rust.

Rust is caused by salt. There is salt in the oil or sweat on people's hands. It is common to see a finger print on a old knife that is eating away at the metal. I had a friend once that use to clean every knife blade whenever anyone touched it to get the oil off of it from their hand. Moisture then becomes a secondary problem. So if you want to protect the knife, it depends on the humidity in the air and if your are near a ocean so that there is salt in the air. I like to use old wood cigar boxes to store my knives in, because they seem to keep them in the best shape. Also, if it is a good knife I like to wrap it up in a paper towel. I oil them when they need oiled from being to tight or if there is some dirt that needs flushed out of the hinge. If it is to loose, then I find the pin and tighten it. But I have seen many a old knife that had a decorative bolster that someone hammered and ruined.
 
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