How best to clean rusty knives?

[ADz-1983]

Hi,

Hoping somebody can give me some advice as I did something really stupid

I was really lazy and didnt unpack from my last trip a month ago until today and stupidly forgot to clean my knives properley at camp so have just taken them out of sheaths and they're a mess with rust. They're only cheap Mora and a Bushlore but still want to take care of them.

Can anybody give some pro advice on how best to clean up the rust now, do I treat them first with something and then rub with wire wool etc?

Also advice on what with/how to clean at camp best would also be appreciated.

TIA,
Adam.

:notworthy

 

[Two Socks]

How bad are they? I succesfully stropped off rust from a mora the other day, but that was only light surface rust that came of easily. If it is really bad you could treat them with an acid (Think Coke or vinegar) and then go at them with wire wool and elbow grease.

Finding a rusty knife always makes me gringe a bit, even if it is only one of my moras...

 

[StuMsg]

I heard somewhere something about rubbing a potato, cut in half, to remove rust - but it could be used for something completely different, can't quite remember.

 

[ADz-1983]

Have added some pics of the Condore Bushlore. The mora is actually ok, assumed it would be same after seeing bushlore so must have cleaned it up ok at camp.

 

[pauljm116]

Try WD40 and a cloth first, that usually shifts surface rust.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Strop it and use it....

 

[huntergathereralex]

How bad are they? I succesfully stropped off rust from a mora the other day, but that was only light surface rust that came of easily. If it is really bad you could treat them with an acid (Think Coke or vinegar) and then go at them with wire wool and elbow grease.

Finding a rusty knife always makes me gringe a bit, even if it is only one of my moras...

+1 to what Two Socks says about Coke. Used it as a kid to get rust off everything from out bikes to our pocket knives, and if there was any left over, we had something refreshing to drink...
Cheers
Alex

 

[Two Socks]

This looks like a good stropping will get it shiney again.

 

[Two Socks]

Oh, and at camp I wipe my blades clean with whatever is available (moss, leaves, grass, paper, trousers, socks) and always make sure they are dry before putting them in the sheath. If the sheath gets moisture in it your knife will rust from this when you store it.

 

[dwardo]

Thin oil and wire wool for the blade face and spine. A good go on the stones will sort out the bevel. If you have whet stones then use the slurry on your finger tip and polish the rest of the blade. Easy enough that, its only surface rust.

 

[British Red]

Yep - no harm done there - wire wool and mineral oil.

In camp I use a lump of cotton wool soaked in oil (kept in a film container) to wipe down my knife. Then I light a fire with the dirty bit

 

[ADz-1983]

Thanks for the advice/tips guys

 

[Laurentius]

My dad used to use hydrochloric acid, but no idea where he got it from, probably nicked it from work. I have to make do with vinegar. I use distilled vinegar for pickling, and it is also useful for a multitude of cleaning tasks. You can get it in gallon containers, Indian supermarkets are a good source.

 

[ozzy1977]

Balistol is good for protection, I use it on all my axe's