ZDP-189 a bit rust prone?

Dknight16

Dknight16

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I've carried a lot of knives over the years in my pocket. None have ever rusted on me except my Spyderco Manbug in ZDP-189. It's attached to my keying, so gets pulled in and out of my pocket several times a day. After only a few months it has some micro "stain" spots on the blade and actual rust in the opener hole. Is this stainless steel more prone to rust than other modern knife steels?
 
Hi Dknight16 -

Not in my experience - I have only one knife with the Hitachi steel, and AG Russell Acies.

I carry it in rotation in the muggy conditions in the midwest and I have never had any staining or spotting on the knife.

I will say that I get a great edge on the ZDP-189, but it takes longer than say a D2 steel etc.

It may be that you live in a coastal region -I have heard of folks living in areas near salt water having more issues than us here in the cornfields.

best

mqqn
 
Yes, ZDP-189 is more rust prone then most stainless. This is because a lot of the chromium is formed as carbides and not all of it goes into the steel for corrosion resistance.
 
gine said:
Yes, ZDP-189 is more rust prone then most stainless. This is because a lot of the chromium is formed as carbides and not all of it goes into the steel for corrosion resistance.
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This. :)
 
gine said:
Yes, ZDP-189 is more rust prone then most stainless. This is because a lot of the chromium is formed as carbides and not all of it goes into the steel for corrosion resistance.
Click to expand...

Yup, this explains it quite nicely. With 3% Carbon the knife is naturally prone to rust. Another big part of it though is probably the pocket time it sees. I've only had 2 knives rust on my, my two Spyderco keychain knives, a Jester and ZDP Ladybug. I think it's because they see the most pocket time and don't get rotated out as much, as well as not wiping them off as much as my other EDCs. At least in my case, I make sure to wipe off my main carry whenever I get it out, but my keychain knives aren't as cared for as much. They're always there in my pocket. This on top of me sweating a lot makes for a bad combination.
 
Thanks to all for the replies. Always good to find out about other people's experiences and learn some things along the way.
 
Remember also that true stainless steel is a lousy knife material. Anything with enough carbon to harden is stain resistant rather than stainless and will rust with enough provocation. There are a few metals (like H1) that will not rust, but they also don't have carbon in them so should probably be called alloyed iron rather than steel.
 
Freman Bloodglaive said:
Remember also that true stainless steel is a lousy knife material. Anything with enough carbon to harden is stain resistant rather than stainless and will rust with enough provocation. There are a few metals (like H1) that will not rust, but they also don't have carbon in them so should probably be called alloyed iron rather than steel.
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The term "stainless" is just what it says--the steel stains less. It doesn't mean "stain proof", which you seem to be implying. :)
 
In my purely anecdotal and non scientific experience, it stains a bit when used on acid food (its a very slight discoloration, I rather like it) but I haven't had major rust issues. I use my ZDP189 Lum Chinese folder often, it's a wicked slicer in a very compact package, and I only had a couple of specs of rust in the lovely super hot and humid South American summer.

I've found it similar to D2 inthis aspect, perhaps a bit more corrosion resistant.
 
Google Fluid Film. Educate yourself. Magic in a can. Jack of all trades, master of many. It laughs at rust.

 
I have some William Henry folders with laminated 410/ZDP-189 blades. In my experience the 410 rusted more than the ZDP-189. We're not talking major rust here, but 410 is noted for its rust resistance. So I would say that ZDP-189 has better rust resistance than 410. Not too shabby.
 
Any knife I carry in my pocket gets oiled about once a week. I know it may be overkill, but it's what I do. :)
 
Freman Bloodglaive said:
Remember also that true stainless steel is a lousy knife material. Anything with enough carbon to harden is stain resistant rather than stainless and will rust with enough provocation. There are a few metals (like H1) that will not rust, but they also don't have carbon in them so should probably be called alloyed iron rather than steel.
Click to expand...
H1 has more carbon in it than it has nitrogen, and while it is an odd alloy, I do think it qualifies as steel since 1015 is a low carbon steel and contains the same amount of carbon.
 
When I got my zdp-189 Endura it started getting some small rust spots (even though I was taking care of it). I forced a patina on it with vinager and now I don't get rust spots. This is what it looks like because I wrapped it in a Bounty paper towel and soaked it with vinager. If you just submerge it you should get a more even "tan" as opposed to a spotty one.
c36020120919185220org.jpg
 
I went on a 6-hour hike and the condensation from it being in my pocket caused corrosion over the entire blade, before I even got off the trail.
I will be sticking with low-maintenance stainless steels.

So yeah, it is definitely more rust prone than standard stainless.
 
gine said:
Yes, ZDP-189 is more rust prone then most stainless. This is because a lot of the chromium is formed as carbides and not all of it goes into the steel for corrosion resistance.
Click to expand...

This is true of ANY high carbon stainless knife steel, that is why to be stainless in this country it must have 12.5% chrome to be called stainless. STAINLESS means what it says, it stains less The German Rustfree is a lie applied when there was so little carbon in the steel that it was almost rustfree, not so today. IMHO ZDP is no more prone to rust than any other good stainless. When properly heat-treated it will be tougher and hold an edge MUCH longer than any I know of.
 
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