Rust/Storage and Maintenance issues. (photos)

[Battle Creek Knives]

Okay I've been using mineral oil for a long time on my blades ,first and foremost because its natural/eatable. Now I know its not the end all be all but it works, but apparently only under ideal conditions. This is the second time I've had an issue, the first time was on an HI Khukuri that was stored in its leather sheath displayed in my house, I attributed the sheath as well as oil residue from limbs I cut down to that problem. This time however its on my BK2 that was stored in a kydex sheath that's been residing in my truck for about 6 weeks or so.

I wiped it down generously with Mineral oil before storage but still have rust creeping through. I wouldn't think this a factor because of the kydex allowing moisture to release. I have machetes I keep in the garage and normally those will get some good old A1 and they seem OK but they live their life in the garage which is modestly climate controlled.

In a vehicle its a different story (apparently) the temperatures get extreme inside a closed vehicle. This is the first time I've carried a dedicated blade in my vehicle, does anyone else have such issues?? if not what do you use to protect it??

here you see a couple streaks by the tip

there is a streak where the grind meets the stock, hard to see but its there

this one needs no description

Very possible I missed a few areas?

 

[Gamecock84]

http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/eezox.html

Do yourself a favor and check them out. I have personally been using this product on ALL my guns and knives for years now. Tested and used by US Military personnel. This stuff works great back at home in SC where the heat is terrible in the summer and the salty air wreaks havoc on all things metal.

I have ordered over $150 worth of Eezox from this guy in the last 5 years. Great stuff.

Ryan B.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

do you store your treated knives in a vehicle? I have a tramotina machete I have left outside all winter with no protection (other then patio overhang) and it has minimal to no surface rust..

 

[Gamecock84]

Yes, in the toolbox in the bed of a truck, in the glove compartment, even outdoors on the deck for days on end. Stuff really works well.

Ryan B.

 

[Flexxx]

I keep all my blades dry with know oil and have never had rust, I wonder if the oil is braking down?
Oil has water mixed in it...

Dry know oil and see what happens

 

[cramsey3006]

I'll bet that there is condensation forming inside the kydex from heat and humidity. If the blade is locked in the sheath, really, there isn't going to be a whole of breathing room in the sheath.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

I'll bet that there is condensation forming inside the kydex from heat and humidity. If the blade is locked in the sheath, really, there isn't going to be a whole of breathing room in the sheath.

This is what I'm thinking, locked inside a truck screams humugity...!!

Flexxx, I think if it were dry It would be a rust bucket after about 2 months of being locked in an unvented vehicle

Since the knife isn't being used and is dedicated to the truck for an emergency scenario (God forbid) I think I may give Mobil V Twin a go, I use it for all my guns and its worth its weight in gold without marketing

if that doesn't work I have a bunch of little jars of creosote from the army surplus:thumbup: that's a dead ringer for sure

really not a big deal as I like a little decorative flavor on my knives anyhow, besides as long as its only surface rust it will come off if I ever use this knife again:grumpy:

 

[JV3]

it probably evaporated after awhile? i used slip2000 ewl (mainly used as gun lube) on my less frequently used knives and never had any rust issues. slip2000 won't evaporate away and the one i have (30 weight) won't drip. i just use my mora and folders for food prep on the trail (and they don't get oiled though). it's been months since the last time i oiled my knives (it's bare metal now) and no rust.

as a side note, i'm wondering if different heat treats will have different effects on rust. my blind horse knives bushcrafter will rust if i leave finger prints on there whereas my spyderco bushcraft doesn't. they're both made out of o1...maybe that tiny difference in heat treat from batch to batch of the same knife will rust more or less than others?

 

[cramsey3006]

I'd say that the actual surface finish contributes to it more than heat treat would. The Spyderco probably has a finer finish on it than the Blind Horse, meaing fewer pores in the steel for moisture or acid to sit in. Being a plain carbon steel, I can't see the heat treat making a difference. If it was one the multiple element stainless steels, then it would probably be a factor.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

it probably evaporated after awhile? i used slip2000 ewl (mainly used as gun lube) on my less frequently used knives and never had any rust issues. slip2000 won't evaporate away and the one i have (30 weight) won't drip. i just use my mora and folders for food prep on the trail (and they don't get oiled though). it's been months since the last time i oiled my knives (it's bare metal now) and no rust.

as a side note, i'm wondering if different heat treats will have different effects on rust. my blind horse knives bushcrafter will rust if i leave finger prints on there whereas my spyderco bushcraft doesn't. they're both made out of o1...maybe that tiny difference in heat treat from batch to batch of the same knife will rust more or less than others?

very good points Jay.. when I looked at the knife this morning there is plenty of oil left on the knife but that's not saying 'some' of it didn't evaporate.. unfortunately I don't have a lab, let alone the degree, so all my 'scientific tests' come from trial and error... hey wait a minute, so does the scientist's...

as for your bushcrafter's whats to say ones a spydie love that knife btw!!

seriously you may be on to something, HT and forging has a lot to do with how a steel will react to the elements I think, kinda like how different elevations will effect cooking times and temperatures etc..