Rust protection for a collection of vintage folders and razors?

K

Krav Dragon

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Sep 7, 2004
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There was recently a thread about using militech for a folder collection (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422686). This is the stuff I am using for my vintage collection as well. However, according to that thread, Militec does not protect from rust very well. What other oils/lubricants are recommended for this application that won't damage natural handle materials but still protect those carbon steel blades for a long time?
 
I use Tuf-Cloth but I don't store my blades. Renaissance Wax has a good reputation. Whatever you use, make sure to clean the blade thoroughly before applying and check the knives regularly because blades have been known to rust even when people thought they did everything right.
 
Krav Dragon: I'm a gunsmith and store quite a number of both my own and customer guns plus some knives in a large (Winchester) safe so rust is a major concern for me. I live in a usually dry climate here in western New Mexico but we do have occasional and even lengthy periods of rain or snow with high humidity. My solution is to literally load my safe down with dozens of small moisture absorbent packets scattered all around. Some of these change color from white to a pinkish blue when they absorb a small quantity of moisture. When I see this, I gather all of them up, put them in a pan, and bake them in the oven for a few hours at about 200 F, then back into the safe. Also, some of the gun parts sites sell various packets, packages, and devices for keeping enclosed areas moisture free. There are also "gun socks" of various sizes. These are a loosely woven cloth "tube" impregnated with some kind of chemical that provides a rust barrier. I've seen guns with fancy stocks stored in these for lengthy periods with no apparent affect on wood finishes, inlays, etc. Rust, to my limited knowledge, is a ubiquitous bacteria that feeds on ferrous metals. All that waxes or oils do is keep the bacteria from making contact with the metal so if the oil dries up or the wax cracks the bacteria get access and the result is rust. Therefore, keeping iron based metals in a dry environment is crucial. BTW, I dip a rusty or rusting piece of metal in boiling water for a couple of minutes to kill the bacteria before starting the rust removal process.
Hope this might help. Regards, Old CW4
 
CW- rust is oxidization, not bacteria. If you keep the moisture that is in the air from reaching the metal surface you prevent rust.
Bill
 
what bill deshivs said...

rust is oxidation... basically, when iron comes into contact with oxygen, it forms iron oxide, which is the brown stuff that we see when stuff rusts. it's a similar process to how silver gets tarnished over time.

to prevent rust, oil can act as a barrier between the iron and the oxygen (in the air). there's also oxygen in water (H2O), so keeping things dry really helps.
 
I have stored a collection of Gerber "Paul" knives for over 30 years in their boxes in ZipLock Freezer watertight bags. I occasionally (about ever couple of years) wipe them down with Breakfree CLP which you can get at almost any gun store and many sporting goods departments. It isn't real expensive and you just have to wipe it on and wipe off the excess. It doesn't have to go in the toaster oven to heat treat like some other lubes. I have used it extensively on skeet/trap guns with excellent results. These firearms get lots of use.

Here is a link to a good test.

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html

You can buy Breakfree CLP in liquid or on a cloth. RemOil is the same thing made for Remington by Breakfree. I buy it in gallon jugs and funnel it into 1 pint spray bottles and use it like WD-40 around the shop and garage. It seems to work pretty good on anything metal.

http://www.break-free.com/

http://www.botac.com/breakfreeclp16.html
 
Bill Deshivs: Ducked out and did an extensive web search on rust, iron, steel, and bacteria. Seems there's a lot of controversy about the topic in the scientific community. Most agree with you that oxygen and water combined cause it; others say it's "nano bacteria." I don't know. I was quoting from a 1909 tome written by Greener of Brit shotgun fame. The thought then was that bacteria DID cause or at least contribute to rust.

One thing some of the research did bring up---bacteria are present in ferrous rust and their excretions cause or promote corrosion. Way beyond my limited knowledge and something to do with hydrogen, various sulphides, etc.

Anyway, pardner, maybe we're both right. You more right for sure but maybe me also to some extent also because boiling water was referenced as one way to kill the bacteria present in iron rust. Something Greener also recommended in his book "Development of the Gun." I love that book, by the way. He starts with throwing rocks and ends up with machine guns, auto pistols, etc., as used in 1909 when he released it as the ninth edition. One thing suprising, even startling, about the book is how much they knew then in areas such as metallurgy, alloying, heat treating, tempering, stress testing, ballistics, chemistry, and so on.

Anyway, best regards and sorry if I stepped on it.
 
I think what's happening here regarding bacteria contributing to rust is probably as follows.

1. Rust is oxidized iron, period.

2. It is well known that certain ph conditions can accelerate the process (i.e. acidic/base)

3. It has been observed that bacteria-related activity can have a dramatic affect upon such ph conditions. The example of a famous Spanish Medieval sword comes to mind. It was recovered when the body of a king was exhumed (centuries after burial). The sword was found in excellent condition, except where the hand of the corpse rested upon part of the hilt. At that location, it is nearly completely wasted away and covered by evidence of some sort of 'organic growth'.

The oxidation was sped up by the un-neutral ph created by the decaying flesh, and when the steel eventually turned 'fluffy' with corrosion, the bacteria took up residence in the corrosion, feeding off the decaying hand, all-the-while the organic action of the bacteria further contributed to additional corrosion.

In this way, I think one could say bacteria can "cause" rust, in the same way dipping a piece of iron in acid and leaving it out to dry 'causes rust.'

Still, bottom line: rust is oxidation, period.
 
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