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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
should I have silica gel in my knife suitcase?
- Thread starter sogflash
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- Apr 12, 2009
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As mentioned above, it can't hurt. I haven't used it, simply because I don't want to become dependant on it. They work, but they must be either replaced with fresh ones or dehydrated periodically. Otherwise they'll stop being effective after they absorb their limit of moisture. Might not realize it's lost it's effectiveness until damage has occurred. I've had good luck by making sure the knives are clean and free of dirt, moisture, salts & acids, before putting them away. Wiping them down with Windex or isoproply alcohol works very well for this. And then, I'll seal them in clean, new zip-loc bags. I have some knives that've been stored this way for 15-20 years, and they're in fine shape. Carbon blades will still patina a bit, from exposure to oxygen, but that's OK.
Some like to oil their blades before putting them away. Just make sure they're absolutely clean & dry before doing so, or the oil can trap all that rust-causing stuff against the blade. Use a clean rag or paper towel to oil them, for the same reasons.
Avoid storing knives in or with leather sheaths. Acidic chemicals in the tanning agent for the leather can react with and corrode steel (and brass & nickel, too).
Some like to oil their blades before putting them away. Just make sure they're absolutely clean & dry before doing so, or the oil can trap all that rust-causing stuff against the blade. Use a clean rag or paper towel to oil them, for the same reasons.
Avoid storing knives in or with leather sheaths. Acidic chemicals in the tanning agent for the leather can react with and corrode steel (and brass & nickel, too).
Last edited:
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- Sep 3, 2008
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- 5,364
Me too. It can't hurt.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2009
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The only bad thing about the packs is that temperature changes can cause them to release moisture.
Depending on the humidity level where you keep your knives they may be completely unnecessary, useful IF used correctly or a hazard.
If you completely dry the packets, the knife and the enclosure then seal the enclosure, air tight you should never have a worry about moisture.
I think Mr. Levine has covered this, but the best place for knives is in the center of the house where temperature fluctuations are at a minimum and that light be limited but that was in reference to collectibles that would sustain further damage from exposure.
And for those of you who do use them, they really should be rotated out and replaced or dried preferably in an oven for about 24 hours if they are not in a completely sealed environment.
I think if you are really worried about this, get a vacuum sealer used for food preparation toss a completely dried and lubed knife in the vacuum bag with a single package of your desiccant and call it a day, I'm not sure what effect UV would have on the plastic bag, so probably best to keep it out of the sunlight.
If you have a ton of knives that you want stored at once, you would probably have similar results by using one of those clothing storage bags that use a vacuum cleaner to extract the excess air, dry everything and make sure the desiccant doesn't come into contact with the knives.
Depending on the humidity level where you keep your knives they may be completely unnecessary, useful IF used correctly or a hazard.
If you completely dry the packets, the knife and the enclosure then seal the enclosure, air tight you should never have a worry about moisture.
I think Mr. Levine has covered this, but the best place for knives is in the center of the house where temperature fluctuations are at a minimum and that light be limited but that was in reference to collectibles that would sustain further damage from exposure.
And for those of you who do use them, they really should be rotated out and replaced or dried preferably in an oven for about 24 hours if they are not in a completely sealed environment.
I think if you are really worried about this, get a vacuum sealer used for food preparation toss a completely dried and lubed knife in the vacuum bag with a single package of your desiccant and call it a day, I'm not sure what effect UV would have on the plastic bag, so probably best to keep it out of the sunlight.
If you have a ton of knives that you want stored at once, you would probably have similar results by using one of those clothing storage bags that use a vacuum cleaner to extract the excess air, dry everything and make sure the desiccant doesn't come into contact with the knives.