what's your preferred blade maintenance choice

GarnetandBlack

GarnetandBlack

Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
1,781
Hey yall, just wondering what techniques/materials you prefer to use on your blade to keep it clean and in good condition.

I've sworn by mineral oil for several years now but im always looking at other options, sometimes just for the heck of it.

I've heard of some interesting options, such as bees wax and even chapstick (not sure about that one, i wonder if there's any ingredients contained in it that would negatively impact the steel and its performance).

Anyways, just curious, please share your thoughts.

:cool:
 
I probably have the worst knife maintenance habits of anyone on the forum. I use my blades, then stick em right back in the sheath. I never hardly wipe em off, I only sharpen when I have to, and what is oil? In all honesty, the only time I oil my knives is when I sharpen them. Ill take em to the stone, then wash em off with warm soapy water, and put a light coat of food grade lube on em. Thats it.
 
Nice. I'll admit I don't have the best knife habits myself either. I do like to give my blades a wipe or two with oil every now and again, but its not usually daily.

Had any issues from just sheathing em up after work? I like to atleast give mine a little bit of a scrub after hard use, won't oil them necessarily, but definitely a quick scrub.
 
My edc consists of a Vic super tink, and a BK-14. I carry the 14 in my pocket, which is not a great enviornment to begin with. I strip all my BKs, and force a light patina on em. The 14 sees use multiple times every day, with chores ranging from opening letters and packages, to cutting food, to shaving door facings for fit. If I get it nasty with say a glue or a grease, ill wipe the blade off, but thats about it. So yes, over the last 2 months of edc, the 14 has developed a very distinct natural patina. In all honesty, it looks like crap!! I use it so often that sharpening is required at least once a week, so it doesnt ever really go too long without being oiled, but general use will change the blades appearance.
IMG_20130104_232543.jpg
 
Great photo! my EDC is (and most likely always will be) my izula ii and it sounds like my izula lives a very similar life to your 14 haha! I haven't stripped mine, i enjoy the OD green but over time much of it's coating has begun to wear/scrape off.

What did you use for the forced patina? I've been tempted to try the coffee bean option. I try to wipe down my izula with oil a little more often than i do my bk9, just because it sees infinitely more carry time and use. The 9 gets a scrub after hard use and just an oil with sharpening.
 
Use em till they're dull, sharpen em, clean em up, oil em a bit with rem-oil or mineral oil depending on their intended purpose after I'm done sharpening, repeat. I'm a deadbeat knife daddy...
 
I like it! Have you noticed any better results from remoil vs mineral oil? i use most of my knives for food prep as well as just about anything else, so mineral oil is preferred for me.

I'm still curious about the chapstick. Anyone know of ingredients contained in them that might be bad for your knife?
 
I use the same thing to force all my patinas. Its one quart apple cider vineger, and one bottle of the little lemon juice extracts (4.5oz), all mixed together. I soak a paper towel in it, wrap the knife in the paper towel, and let it set for about 30 minutes. At the 15 min mark I flip sides. I dont heat the mixture or anything, just use it. It works great for a light patina.
 
GarnetandBlack said:
I like it! Have you noticed any better results from remoil vs mineral oil? i use most of my knives for food prep as well as just about anything else, so mineral oil is preferred for me.

I'm still curious about the chapstick. Anyone know of ingredients contained in them that might be bad for your knife?
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Remoil seems to lead to less overall gunk stuck to the knife and it has helped remove past gunk when I go to sharpen and clean it, mineral oil leads to a more versatile knife.
 
bsmith_shoot said:
I use the same thing to force all my patinas. Its one quart apple cider vineger, and one bottle of the little lemon juice extracts (4.5oz), all mixed together. I soak a paper towel in it, wrap the knife in the paper towel, and let it set for about 30 minutes. At the 15 min mark I flip sides. I dont heat the mixture or anything, just use it. It works great for a light patina.
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Thanks for your home brew. I'll give it a shot! I've got a stripped 1095 at home sitting in coffee beans to see how it turns out before i try it on a knife i really care about. I'm kind of curious into different patina techniques just to see what gets the best/worst/fastest/best looking, etc results.

TheWambo said:
Remoil seems to lead to less overall gunk stuck to the knife and it has helped remove past gunk when I go to sharpen and clean it, mineral oil leads to a more versatile knife.
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My only beef with mineral oil (and it may be the same with all oils) is that ANY and EVERY bit of lint/string/dirt in my pocket manages to stick itself to my blade after a fresh oil, no matter how much excess i try to wipe off.
 
ACF50 on my folders, Choji oil on my drawer queens, sunflower seed oil on kitchen knives and chopping boards. 50/50 carnauba wax/beeswax on my wooden handles.
 
Seriously, you only need to know 2 words: Fluid Film. This stuff is magic in a can. Google it. Read the FAQ on their site. Can be used on leather as well.
 
I tend to use it, dry it completely, and maintain the edge on a strop. I live in WI right next to Lake Michigan, so it's always humid and I've rarely had any rust pop up on my Ka-Bar 1095. My Rowen 1095 seems to show rust if I'm not more careful with it and for some reason, my Kershaw blades get minor surface spots really quickly if I don't put something on them when they sit.

If I oil something, it's only for storage. I'll rub a little olive oil on the blade and then put it away. If it's something I'm using often, the usage will keep anything from forming on the blade.
 
mrn8 said:
I tend to use it, dry it completely, and maintain the edge on a strop. I live in WI right next to Lake Michigan, so it's always humid and I've rarely had any rust pop up on my Ka-Bar 1095. My Rowen 1095 seems to show rust if I'm not more careful with it and for some reason, my Kershaw blades get minor surface spots really quickly if I don't put something on them when they sit.

If I oil something, it's only for storage. I'll rub a little olive oil on the blade and then put it away. If it's something I'm using often, the usage will keep anything from forming on the blade.
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I live in the wetlands of the SC coast. Man, we've got 90% humidity every dang day for about 9 months a year! I definitely have a knife or two that i feel it's a losing battle maintaining it. ESPECIALLY if i bring it out on the boat and it works some salty stuff.

I've heard of Olive oil going rancid on blades before, ever ran into it?

parbajtor said:
50/50 carnauba wax/beeswax on my wooden handles.
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thats a useful combo, we've made homebrew organic surfwax from beeswax and carnauba!
 
Some of my knives get CLP, others get mineral oil. Some get beaten and chained up in the basement with nothing.
 
On my tool steel (non-stainless), I use Choji oil or mineral oil. On my stain resistant knives, if they need cleaning, I just wipe them down with a soft cloth and a mild cleaning agent, then dry them off.
 
Alberta Ed said:
I've relied on BreakFree CLP for decades.
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i use that on my rifles, never put it on a knife before. ive heard great things, hows it performed for ya?

Ray Settanta said:
On my tool steel (non-stainless), I use Choji oil or mineral oil. On my stain resistant knives, if they need cleaning, I just wipe them down with a soft cloth and a mild cleaning agent, then dry them off.
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never heard of choji oil until this thread. what exactly is it, and how has it performed for ya? excuse my ignorance, please.
 
When I rinse a blade with soapy water, I'll dry it and put a very light coating of olive oil on it.
No problems here in the PNW!
 
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