Surface rust... Grrr!

Rounic

Rounic

Joined
Jun 23, 2013
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197
I guess this is a multi-part post:

1. My problem: I have the Emerson Commander SFS (Stonewash Serr) folder which rusts. It doesn't rust everywhere but mostly on the Stonewash of the blade and a bit on the grind. Doesn't rust anywhere else surprisingly. Not around the pivot, not anywhere near the lock. Rust isn't overwhelming either - more like small dots. I have many different blades (including seriously high carbon steel) but none ever develop any rust at all - zero. Every 2 weeks or so I CLP most of my steel (guns, blades, etc) and I always have to clean the rust of the Emerson. I read about sweat acid levels etc but the thing is - I don't touch it with my bare hands. I always use gloves and the only things that come in contact with the blade are my CLPs and the cleaning/lubing cloths. I've tried everything but this particular knife just comes back with rust every time. I am almost at the point of selling it to someone who can handle it better than I can but then again I don't want to offload an issue onto someone else's shoulders. I make sure it's clean and well oiled and I store it with silica but the rust dots keep coming back.

This my question: does anyone have the same issue with this exact knife and how do you deal with it?

2. How common is rust with 154-CM and what do you do to avoid it? Is this just this particular knife, because I've never seen any rust on any steel I've ever owned and cared for except for this one.

3. Given the advertised and assumed purpose of this knife - why is it so damned prone to rust given all the expected exposure to all of the harsh elements? I know you'll say that it's stain-less and not stain-free, etc etc but I care for my steel and my 1065 high carbon steel never ever rusts or develops any blemishes (it would in a heartbeat if I left it in the rain overnight but I don't and neither do I mistreat this one either). Is this just my bad luck? Was this a bad batch?

4. What are your personal expectations from a modern SS blade you purchase in terms of rust formation?

Excuse my obvious frustration because I've owned this knife (purchased from Emerson) for 2 years and all this time I've forced myself to accept this problem right up until today when I just got tired of spending yet another hour cleaning the rust off a knife I baby and never use.

I hope you can guide me towards a solution.

Thank you in advance.
 
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I don't own any Emerson knives but I'd suggest using a little Flitz or similar mildly abrasive metal polishing compound on the blade. The problem might be the stonewashing on the blade. Usually a little Flitz will help polish things up, which helps to reduce corrosion. This may or may not affect the look of the finish on the blade. That's my suggestion.
 
WD40.... soak it and scrub it with a cotton ear swab. So far I've had pretty good luck with that, and afterwards clean it and wipe a small film of oil on the blade.
 
Thanks guys. I clean it off quite well, my problem is no matter what product/oil I coat it with - rust keeps coming back sooner or later.
 
DREW78 said:
Just use the knife and the specs of rust will come off!
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Heh, I would trust me, just others somehow seem to always find their way into the rotation. The Commander is just a bit... too much for my EDC tasks at the moment and lately I feel like it's overkill. Yet I am very fond of it and want to keep it for life... If only it stopped being such a high-maintenance baby!
 
There is a thread where a guy used all the stuff you see here on BF on some pieces of steel and put them in a salt water bath and then an ice storm...eezox outperformed them all by a lot, I'll see if I can find the thread.

Contenders were mineral oil, wd40, 3-in-1, frog lube, Benchmade blue among others. I used 3-in-1 for awhile and didn't have any problems but after seeing this guys test the choice was very clear!

There are two types, regular gun type and knife care. I have both, the knife care being a bit more expensive but I found the gun stuff left a bit more streaks. You have to coat it and let it dry overnight and wipe the excess away. There is an old thread comparing the two (knife care and gun) but if recommend the knife care it comes with the needle applicator for precision delivery.

I have a small Sebenza 21 that I've been lugging around at work for weeks now. it gets a nice line of sweat on it every day and I just wipe it at the end of the day and haven't had a spot yet, only coated it once when I got it.
 
Excellent! Thank you for the link and personal experience example, off I go to research.
 
Ive seen 154cm rust on two different knives.

The Gentleman Jim had some by the logo and on the grind when i got it. Just some spots nothing major. Scrubbed it with Breakfree CLP. The rust came back the first few times but after a week or two it was fine.

Also had a benchmade bedlam in 154cm that i wore to work one night. Sweat so much all all my clothes were drenched. The bedlam got some more concentrated spots around the thumbstuds and logo. Used clp and it never came back.

Do you work or live in a hot humid climate?
 
Rounic said:
Thanks guys. I clean it off quite well, my problem is no matter what product/oil I coat it with - rust keeps coming back sooner or later.
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Your problem might be your body pH is highly acidic. It happens, sometimes diet, medication, beverages, stress, etc creates a highly acidic, stainless steels can and will rust. I'd recommend hitting the blade with some Ren Wax, a small can will last you at least 5 years. It will provide a barrier against contaminants, if that fails try Fluid film.
 
I own every size Commander, I have dealt with surface rust. I've posted this in another thread but I'll say it again. I'm a fireman, and when I have a stonewashed knife from any manufacturer in my pocket while I'm in a fire it gets surface rust. It has to do with the micro scratches in the steel being conducive to oxidation, regardless of steel type. All I do is take some weapons CLP and a nylon bristle brush and scrub it off. My knives are tools, I expect a little rust now and then.
 
I am about a hundred feet above seal level, east coast (north). Not too hot or humid but we have our days. I don't think it's my pH level as I haven't touched the knife with my bare hand for at least a year now. Thing is - it rusts year long just stored away. Perhaps it is the Stonewash. I just bought something in m390 stonewashed - am I going to have the same issue?
 
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If you are getting recurring rust that quickly on just one portion of the blade I think it may be a defect in a coating, the steel, the stonewash....something. I would get them to replace the blade.

I've had good luck with 154, mostly in satin and polished. It's one of my favorite steels. Never had a rust problem with it.

And Eezox may well be your answer.
 
EChoil said:
If you are getting recurring rust that quickly on just one portion of the blade I think it may be a defect in a coating, the steel, the stonewash....something. I would get them to replace the blade.

I've had good luck with 154, mostly in satin and polished. It's one of my favorite steels. Never had a rust problem with it.

And Eezox may well be your answer.
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Hmm... Interestingly enough the edge never rusts, the grind does very slightly mostly closer to the wash and the wash is what rusts the most by far.
 
I doubt there is a defect in the steel, rust is not a defect. Every steel will rust but some will resist it better than others If they are stonewashed or bead blasted they will be more inclined to oxidize. The edges on my Emersons and others doesn't rust either.
 
Silvanus said:
I doubt there is a defect in the steel, rust is not a defect. Every steel will rust but some will resist it better than others If they are stonewashed or bead blasted they will be more inclined to oxidize. The edges on my Emersons and others doesn't rust either.
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So basically my stone washed m390 will have the same issue (to a lesser degree)?
 
I'd say it's likely, but I've never owned an M390 knife so I couldn't say for sure. If you aren't going to use that knife for food, apply a thin coat of weapons CLP to it. That's what I do and it stops the surface rust. I did the same thing to my M16 while in Iraq and it works.
 
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