Prevent rusting blades

**Gael Ridire** · 8th October 11, 04:30 AM

I have a high acidic ph to my body oil, I guess, cause in a day my skeens will pit and rust. Is it cause the blades are cheep, or the body acids? Get home and dremmel buff the rust & pits, but...How can one remedy this?

**gary meakin** · 8th October 11, 05:13 AM

Is your body really too acidic?
Have you been checked by a doctor.
Are you more prone to viruses, bacteria?
Are you always tired?
Are you in pain more than most?
Are you sick alot?
If so, I think a pitting skean dhu should be the least of your concerns.
If you're OK, then you probably just have a cheap knife.

**ForresterModern** · 8th October 11, 05:37 AM

Sounds more like a simple case of salt and water in sweat meeting a non-stainless ferrous material in the sgian, which combination in the presence of atmospheric oxygen yields oxidation, i.e. rust.

Nothing magical or physiologically abnormal going on here. Try lightly oiling your blades after each use or sharpening and keepint the inside of the shealth oiled as well to drive away the sweat and form a barrier of oil to seaprate the iron from the salt.

**Ryan Ross** · 8th October 11, 07:14 AM

A couple of things- Your blade isn't rusting because it's "cheap". Some of the very finest steels are also the most prone to rust.

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

Try lightly oiling your blades after each use or sharpening and keepint the inside of the shealth oiled as well to drive away the sweat and form a barrier of oil to seaprate the iron from the salt.

Never keep your knives in a leather sheath for storage purposes, no matter how much you've oiled them. That's just asking for rust.

A couple of really good things to try:

Get yourself a Tuf Cloth and some Tuf Glide and use it.

http://www.sentrysolutions.com/

For a more rustic protective barrier, create a patina (that will inhibit rust) by letting the blade sit in vinegar for a while (check it every 15 minutes or so) or by stabbing the whole blade into a potato and letting it sit in there for a while (again, checking it regularly). This will turn the blade darker, but will help guard against rust.

Probably most importantly though, just keep it clean. Wipe it every time you use it and don't touch the blade to your skin, wether it be your fingers or your leg.

With the above in mind, you should have no problems at all. I'm around blades of all sorts constantly and I actually prefer non-stainless steels for their performance; I always care for them along these guidelines and never have a problem with corosion.

**Gael Ridire** · 8th October 11, 09:57 AM

Thanks all for the tips!

GPMEAKIN : Had a major head injury 18 yrs ago which did a number on chemical balance & hard wiring in the brain. Can't change what happened, just have to adjust. Use to be wear a white shirt or t-shirt a couple times and I had a permanent stain around the color, etc. Even wedding band tarnished, didn't before. Now it takes a couple of years to do the yellow stain. Okay I hear it already, ya, ya, I bath at least a couple times a week!

**gary meakin** · 8th October 11, 10:04 AM

Wasn't insinuating that bathing (or not) was the issue. No amount of washing will change your pH unless you're washing with Soda Ash

I just thought body pH was more important than a rusty knife. You obviously know that. My apologies for being insensitive.

**Gael Ridire** · 8th October 11, 10:10 AM

No apology needed, and didn't take it that way. As soon as I typed about yellow shirts I could hear my brother-in-law making jokes.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 8th October 11, 10:26 AM

1. keep the blade lightly oiled (or waxed).
2. always remove the blade from the sheath when taking off your knife.
3. always wipe off the blade immediately it is removed from the sheath.
4. if you use your knife, wipe the blade clean before butting it back in its sheath.
5. allow the blade to "air dry" before putting the knife away.
6. shove a pencil into the sheath far enough to open it so that the leather can dry from both sides.
7. if storing your knife for a long time, oil the blade and wrap it in cling film.
8. never store your knife in it's sheath.

**Ryan Ross** · 8th October 11, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Gael Ridire

Thanks all for the tips!

GPMEAKIN : Had a major head injury 18 yrs ago which did a number on chemical balance & hard wiring in the brain. Can't change what happened, just have to adjust.

In that case, in addition to protecting the blades themselves, you might consider making (or having made) some sheaths for your sgians from thicker, stiffer leather; also, consider having them come about half way up the handle, as well. This will provide more of a barrier between the blade and your corrosive juices.