Should I be Checking My Stored Knives for Rust?

[RedLynx]

Hi guys,

So, every time I get a new knife, especially carbon steel, unless I know I'm going to regularly EDC it for awhile, it gets a once-over to make sure it is okay, sharpened by me if it needs it, and then a coating of mineral oil applied to it. After which it goes into storage.

A lot of my knives have been in storage quite some time and will be for a long time to come unless I decide to EDC them at some point.

I know mineral oil is not a great lubricant/rust preventing compound, but it's what I have on hand and what I use for now.

My question is, even though I give each knife a nice coat of the stuff, should I be periodically checking them (every 6 mo./every year, whatever) for signs of wear or rust and possible re-coating? I ask because it would be a heck of a time taking them all out to re-coat them, especially as I do have a fair amount of carbon blades, but I would if I needed to. I'd just prefer that unless taken out and used they wouldn't need a re-coating just to sit there some more.

I live in a fairly mild region of the Midwest, can get crazy humid during the July/August months but otherwise not so much. Knives are stored in a large tool chest.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

I'n my opinion it is worth pulling them out at least once a year and checking them to make sure no rust is forming. The pain in doing it once a year is much more manageable than finding out your whole collection rusted out and having to deal with that. I normally do a rust check a few times a year on my multitools that are stored. Just my opinion though.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I'd say check in on them from time to time. Better to know whats going on in there, and you can head off problems if you catch them. It would suck if you started to get condensation build up, or a chemical breakdown. You could also look into desiccant packs, or vapor deposit corrosion inhibitors.

 

[RedLynx]

I'd say check in on them from time to time. Better to know whats going on in there, and you can head off problems if you catch them. It would suck if you started to get condensation build up, or a chemical breakdown. You could also look into desiccant packs, or vapor deposit corrosion inhibitors.

Thanks very much everyone. Desiccant packs, you say? I haven't heard of them, I'll have to look into that.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I lived in Central Texas for ~20 years, near Austin. Can be pretty darn humid or downright wet a good part of the year, with relative humidity levels at or higher than ~ 60% most of the time. I stored my rust-vulnerable knives in Zip-Loc bags, AFTER first making sure they were completely clean and dry. Didn't oil them at all, though it wouldn't have hurt anything to do so. If or when I took them out to look at them or whatever, I always made sure to wipe the blades down with some Windex on a clean paper towel, to remove all traces of fingerprints and the oils, acids and salts associated with them. Then I'd put them back into the clean bags, with CLEAN hands. Handled and stored in this manner, I never had any issues with rust, or even spotting on blades.

Handling all of the knives indoors, under environmental control (air conditioning, in other words) is important. If the knives are stored in the garage or other space without some control over humidity, I'd take more caution in oiling them or applying something to minimize risk of rust. Even then, I'd still check them all regularly.


David

 

[RedLynx]

I lived in Central Texas for ~20 years, near Austin. Can be pretty darn humid or downright wet a good part of the year, with relative humidity levels at or higher than ~ 60% most of the time. I stored my rust-vulnerable knives in Zip-Loc bags, AFTER first making sure they were completely clean and dry. Didn't oil them at all, though it wouldn't have hurt anything to do so. If or when I took them out to look at them or whatever, I always made sure to wipe the blades down with some Windex on a clean paper towel, to remove all traces of fingerprints and the oils, acids and salts associated with them. Then I'd put them back into the clean bags, with CLEAN hands. Handled and stored in this manner, I never had any issues with rust, or even spotting on blades.

Handling all of the knives indoors, under environmental control (air conditioning, in other words) is important. If the knives are stored in the garage or other space without some control over humidity, I'd take more caution in oiling them or applying something to minimize risk of rust. Even then, I'd still check them all regularly.


David

Thanks David,

I've checked a few of the Opinels in my collection, some have very slight rust spotting unfortunately... guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Does anyone know the best rust removal compounds? I am hoping light rust spotting can be removed... doesn't look deep or pitted, surface only, it seems. Really want to get rid of and stay rid of it, as much as I can.

The Ziplocs are a very interesting idea, I've stored my old toys in those as a matter of fact. Should have thought of it with knives.

David, if you stored your knives in a garage in a humid area like Central Texas, how often do you suppose you'd check them for rust?

I don't mind taking the collection out regularly, and it may sound silly but I'm kind of OCD about how I stack them, etc, so that takes awhile to un- and then re-stack them... I shouldn't be as obsessed as I am, probably, about the way they're stacked. Aargh.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Thanks David,

I've checked a few of the Opinels in my collection, some have very slight rust spotting unfortunately... guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Does anyone know the best rust removal compounds? I am hoping light rust spotting can be removed... doesn't look deep or pitted, surface only, it seems. Really want to get rid of and stay rid of it, as much as I can.

The Ziplocs are a very interesting idea, I've stored my old toys in those as a matter of fact. Should have thought of it with knives.

David, if you stored your knives in a garage in a humid area like Central Texas, how often do you suppose you'd check them for rust?

I don't mind taking the collection out regularly, and it may sound silly but I'm kind of OCD about how I stack them, etc, so that takes awhile to un- and then re-stack them... I shouldn't be as obsessed as I am, probably, about the way they're stacked. Aargh.

Some Flitz or Simichrome polish (or equivalents) will take care of the spotting on your Opinels. I recommend those two, because they use aluminum oxide abrasives (very fine and very hard), which will work much faster.

If I had stored my knives in a humid space like a garage, I'd likely be trying to check them at least once or twice a month. In some circumstances, such as an extended period of rain or otherwise very muggy conditions, spots on blades can turn up in a matter of hours. I'd avoid storing them in an un-conditioned space, personally.

It's better if you can store your knives someplace indoors where they'll always be comfortably at hand. I've found that if they're someplace where I"d not forget about them, I was more inclined to pick them up and fiddle with them more regularly (just because it's fun to do so ). If they're out of sight, they're more likely out of mind as well. That's when it's easy to forget, and stuff happens when you're not looking; usually it's bad stuff.


David

 

[RedLynx]

Some Flitz or Simichrome polish (or equivalents) will take care of the spotting on your Opinels. I recommend those two, because they use aluminum oxide abrasives (very fine and very hard), which will work much faster.

If I had stored my knives in a humid space like a garage, I'd likely be trying to check them at least once or twice a month. In some circumstances, such as an extended period of rain or otherwise very muggy conditions, spots on blades can turn up in a matter of hours. I'd avoid storing them in an un-conditioned space, personally.

It's better if you can store your knives someplace indoors where they'll always be comfortably at hand. I've found that if they're someplace where I"d not forget about them, I was more inclined to pick them up and fiddle with them more regularly (just because it's fun to do so ). If they're out of sight, they're more likely out of mind as well. That's when it's easy to forget, and stuff happens when you're not looking; usually it's bad stuff.


David

Again, thanks very much. I use Flitz already, seems a few of them are going to need some extra care with it this weekend.

I also just ordered a few small desiccant packs, should be here in a few days. Do you think one is enough for a toolbox a couple of feet long?

I store my knives in the toolbox in a closet in the bedroom, so they are indeed close to hand.

Side note: Does anyone know if coated blades (DLC coating, etc) are more protected against rust? Most of my knives are not "high carbon high risk" anyway, and none of my non-carbon steels seem to have had any problems. I'm not super paranoid about rust but I do want to keep it away. I don't buy many coated blades and even when I do it isn't for their rust preventative properties, so I am curious. Lately a few of my EDCs have coating.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Again, thanks very much. I use Flitz already, seems a few of them are going to need some extra care with it this weekend.

I also just ordered a few small desiccant packs, should be here in a few days. Do you think one is enough for a toolbox a couple of feet long?

I store my knives in the toolbox in a closet in the bedroom, so they are indeed close to hand.

Side note: Does anyone know if coated blades (DLC coating, etc) are more protected against rust? Most of my knives are not "high carbon high risk" anyway, and none of my non-carbon steels seem to have had any problems. I'm not super paranoid about rust but I do want to keep it away. I don't buy many coated blades and even when I do it isn't for their rust preventative properties, so I am curious. Lately a few of my EDCs have coating.

I'm sort of ambivalent about dessicant packs. You have to stay ahead of those, by replacing or drying them; once they're saturated with moisture, they're no longer doing their job. In 'open' conditions (not within a sealed package) I sort of view them as a false sense of security if relied on alone, especially under high humidity conditions.

DLC coatings should be nearly impervious to rust. Depending on what steel types (stainless or not) have this coating, it may not be an issue anyway.


David

 

[RedLynx]

I'm sort of ambivalent about dessicant packs. You have to stay ahead of those, by replacing or drying them; once they're saturated with moisture, they're no longer doing their job. In 'open' conditions (not within a sealed package) I sort of view them as a false sense of security if relied on alone, especially under high humidity conditions.

DLC coatings should be nearly impervious to rust. Depending on what steel types (stainless or not) have this coating, it may not be an issue anyway.


David

I want to try the Ziploc thing but I'm concerned about how much space they may take up. Would it be possible to store a few knives in each Ziploc, or would that defeat the purpose? Better to store them individually, or does that matter?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I want to try the Ziploc thing but I'm concerned about how much space they may take up. Would it be possible to store a few knives in each Ziploc, or would that defeat the purpose? Better to store them individually, or does that matter?

Not a big deal. Whatever the bag will hold is fine. For my smaller pocketknives, I've sometimes put 4-5 knives in one quart-size freezer bag. If you're concerned about scratches, dings or scuffs, wrapping each knife in a soft, clean & DRY cloth (or paper towel) may be a consideration, before putting in the bags. Keeps them from 'rattling' together in there.

 

[RedLynx]

Not a big deal. Whatever the bag will hold is fine. For my smaller pocketknives, I've sometimes put 4-5 knives in one quart-size freezer bag. If you're concerned about scratches, dings or scuffs, wrapping each knife in a soft, clean & DRY cloth (or paper towel) may be a consideration, before putting in the bags. Keeps them from 'rattling' together in there.

Very great to hear, thanks so much. I've got some quart bags on hand but I'm going to get some extras and I'll be "remodeling" the storage space this weekend. :thumbup:

 

[truth-seeker]

Besides the Ziploc's any knife I know will stay in storage more than 6 months I cover in Renaissance wax it's safe enough to use on photos or even paper, and I've never had a blade rust with it.
If no food preparation is intended with a blade I use eezox.