Tool steel upkeep

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FL23833

Joined
May 1, 2021
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So I've always kept to stainless for EDC and want to get a Spyderco Gayle Bradley 2 now (M4 blade). I get that they need to be oiled after use but

Do you still oil them occasionally even if the blade isn't used or if it's only been used for opening packages and envelopes?

What if I take it out of rotation and I leave it in a drawer for a couple months should I still oil it just because?

If it's in my pocket and I get caught in the rain is that an automatic oil and wipe down when I get home?

Do I need to take the whole knife apart to get oil in the whole blade or just what's not covered by the scales?

I live in Toronto Canada if it matters. Humidity isn't crazy high like some parts of the globe but we do get the lake effects.

Thanks!
 
With all carbon steels I just clean the blade and dry it after I use it. If you wash anything acidic off of it after use and make sure it’s dry it won’t rust.

I wipe mine down occasionally with oil and put a drop or two on the pivot, but that’s only if I’m not gonna use it for a while. Believe it or not, the best thing you can do is carry and use your knife. They only rust up if you put em away for extended periods. I learned that from Bob Loveless.
 
Yeah, if you handle and use your knife every day, it's much easier to stay ahead of rust issues. This is simply because you'll SEE issues early, if they're developing, and also because you'll (hopefully) be wiping down and/or cleaning the blade frequently, after each use. Most of the issues that've gone too far, in my experience, happen if/when I've put the knife aside for some time (days/weeks or longer) and essentially forgotten about them. That's when oiling the blades can help, if the knife gets put aside for a while.

And slightly higher humidity can have rust spots developing in the span of a few hours. I live in the desert southwest of the U.S., where the daytime humidity is usually very low (from < %5 to maybe 15% R.H.), for most of the year. But around July/August each summer, we have our so-called 'monsoon season', during which the humidity is higher (30% - 40%) during the heat of the day. It's during that time, that I sometimes notice some spotting on the carbon steel blades I use & carry. So, I pay a little more attention to them at that time of year. And carrying them in-pocket on the hot & sweaty days of July & August can bring some spots too. But again, because I carry & use them daily, I can see it when it's starting up and I take measures to control it. That means keeping the blade CLEAN & DRY, and maybe applying a little bit of mineral oil, if I think I need it.

Use it regularly, look it over each time, and clean it up after every use. That takes care of most of the problem.
 
M4 is pretty rust/stain resistant. My GB2 has a couple tiny spots after about 6 months daily use mainly for food prep. I wipe it after hning with the same rag I use to clean my DMTs so there's a little BreakFree CLP that gets on the blade.
 
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