I took a 2 day canoe trip down the James River (fresh water) and carried my leatherman wave in a nylon pouch. I went swimming for 30 minutes while it was on my waist (I forgot I was wearing it). After the swim, it took eight hours to get to camp, pulled out my wave and to my surprise there was rust on the pliers, particularly in the grooves of the mouth. I have had this wave for at least 3 years, and have had no surface rust issues. Should my wave rust after such time? How should I remove the rust?
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Should my Wave rust after this?
- Thread starter razcob
- Start date
Naturally, water + oxygen + steel(with iron content) = rust, and the LM Wave being of stainless steel is no exception to this.
First, dry the tool completely (air-dry), paying close attention to getting excess moisture out of the pivot areas near the plier head and on the foldout tools-end. You can remove the rust with a stainless/brass detailing brush and a little WD-40. Also, spray some WD-40 on the pivots to displace the excess moisture or water.
Once everyting is cleaned, lubricate the tool with mineral oil or 3-in-1 oil, and wipe the excess off. =)
First, dry the tool completely (air-dry), paying close attention to getting excess moisture out of the pivot areas near the plier head and on the foldout tools-end. You can remove the rust with a stainless/brass detailing brush and a little WD-40. Also, spray some WD-40 on the pivots to displace the excess moisture or water.
Once everyting is cleaned, lubricate the tool with mineral oil or 3-in-1 oil, and wipe the excess off. =)
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2007
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You might want to use some Tuf-Glide or a Tuf-Cloth as a rust preventative. It's supposed to work pretty good. That's what I do with my Leathermans. They are great tools but a tendency to rust easily appears to be one of the drawbacks from what I've read. I think that the Marine Tuf-Cloth might be best. I'm not sure about food prep use with a knife that's been treated with Tuf-Glide so be careful. -DT
ElCuchillo
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- Oct 3, 2006
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Razcob, the Leatherman rust issue is a bit over exaggerated. I mean, sure they can rust, but so what? It won't take anything away from the tool's useability. Think of it this way: Growing up, I remember helping my uncle build things, or take things down, or whatever he needed help with at the time. I'd hand him pliers, wrenches, and files that were all rusted, yet functional as all get out. He didn;t seem to mind that they were rusted. They did what they were made to do, and thats work. Besides, although LMs can rust, it's usually only superficial rust, which can be wiped away or cleaned away pretty quickly. I wouldn;t worry about it too much. My Wave has a little rust on the plier teeth, and I have yet to bother with it. Shows signs of use in my opinion. Gives my tool character. Kind've like a patina.