Knife protection.

[JohnL]

Hi,
To keep my knives clean/rust free I generaly put on squirt os wd-40. If I don't have any I rub it on the end of a candle to stop it rusting. My question is, if you where living in the wilderness for an extended pereod of time, with no candle or wd-40, what could you put on your knife to protect it?
Thanks,
JohnL

 

[spamel]

I wouldn't use WD 40 for starters. I often use my knife for food prep, so that is the main reason, but I also heard that WD 40, which was designed to displace water, can actually have a corrosive effect on some steels.

Keeping the blade dry and clean would certainly help matters. If rust starts to develop, you could scour it with some sand, but a small camera pot with some olive oil and cotton wool in is a perfect little lightweight answer.

 

[andy_e]

Not discounting that tip at all, but one problem with many vegetable oils is that they can gel and get sticky at low temperatures. Olive oil is particularly bad for this I think, having left a bottle in the fridge once by mistake, it goes cloudy first then gloopy.

 

[spamel]

I've not had any problems with it myself, but to be fair I would use my knife several times a day and maybe only oil it at the end of the day if I remember. I've never had a knife go rusty on me so far, and the oil isn't on for long enough to go rancid.

 

[SOAR]

If it does go sticky just wipe it off and re oil, thats what I do, if you are not going to use your knife for food prep gun oil is quite good.

 

[John Fenna]

Fat from your kill if you are realy in the wilderness....or rub a sheeps fleece over the steel - lots of grease in there.....rub a hazel nut or similar over the steel for its oils....
Lots of options realy...

 

[JohnL]

Thanks, I will try olive oil, & sheeps wool is a good idea, hadn't thought of that.

I don't put WD-40 on my food prep knife, but I find it works well for cleaning after mucky tasks, & I have never noticed it corroding the metal. It says on the tin it will help protect.

Thanks for the tips guys.:You_Rock_

 

[British Red]

Mineral oil (pure) rather than olive oil is both food safe and will not go rancid (but I use olive oil too). I do use ren wax for longer term storage and its fantastic stuff - but I doubt it would be good mixed in food!

 

[mariobab]

On machetes I use oil for chainsaw chain,and knives treat with lanolin.Heat it and then apply in thin layer,after cold,rub extend off.Very good water repellent.In extreme situation I would keep my knife dry and clean all the time.