Spyderco Forums

I live by the ocean and with high edge retention tool steels after a week what was a hair popping sharp blade becomes an edge that shaves, but not like before and that is without use. My solution has become zip lock sandwich bags to keep the knives and chap stick to cover the edge. Beeswax works too.

Can we have some more details here?

Do you keep a quart-sized ziploc in your pocket with a knife in it? Or is just for nighttime storage?

Do you ever get chapstick on something you didn’t want to? Or do you wipe the edge off first before cutting food items?

I guess I’m not the only one. I also live close to the ocean. I keep my unused (gasp) Spydercos in their original boxes, individually packed in quart sized zip lock bags with a desiccant. I then place those inside my safe or a plastic container. I also do the same thing with my GEC tubes.

I always oil my edges after sharpening. The product ballistol which is sold as a gun oil is my go to. Its food grade, antiseptic, light oil but stays put like a wax. And has a sweet smell. Made a difference for me when I lived in a humid place. Still do it here in the desert

Look at a product from Zerust. Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI). These are available in variety of forms including little plastic tabs you can pop into the bag.

This isn't the first time I've heard of coating an edge with a wax type substance on in this case a "Chap Stick". But it makes sense because whatever Chap Stick is made from it sure sticks to the surface rather well.

I'm also sure that in a Salt Water type environment all the protection you can give would be much to your advantage.

I've also found the FLITZ products to be quite helpful in the prevention of corrosion or just to shield your knife from anything that would impede it's performance.

Especially the metal wax product that FLITZ makes is sure handy for a lot of applications.

FLITZ Ceramic Sealant is great. And if you want to go food safe, I find EDCi formula is nice.

Also, have you guys seen KPL just recently introdiced Knife Shield, Corrosion preventive knife cleaner, which is food safe and look promising. I got one, but haven't used yet.

There's a company called Eagle Tears (motto: E Pluribus Lube 'em, I swear I'm not making this up) that does gun lube and knife oils, but they also sell a food safe 'blade guard paste' that I like. Larger sizes come in tubs and tins but the smallest option is packaged in a chapstick tube, very handy for a quick swipe down the edge without getting your hands dirty.

i've been using frog lube paste and i like it. just rub it into the blade really well and put it away. it's food safe and smells nice and minty too.

I have had good luck with chapstick, I got that tip from reading someone’s post on it and it works great and it is obviously food safe. The chapstick adds an extra chance to prevent corrosion on knives that I want to keep looking nice that seems to me last longer than some oil coatings. I just touch up the edge with a coat after knife rotation and put in sandwich size ziplock bags. I roll them up to get out the extra air and put them in my sock drawer or my storage box. I like the Tupperware idea with the little dehumidifier packs I get in shipping boxes. Before, I was stropping the knives, but too much stropping changes the edge feel. I could go “next level” and use a Foodsaver vacuum sealer bags or containers but I don’t want to go crazy . I could go super crazy and store in a container displaced with an inert gas like Co2 or argon to be “Extra”

plus, who wants a chapped edge?

The chapstick was my idea. But I'm glad to hear it's working out for you. Most lip balm products have mineral oil from what I understand. And having knives that smell like cherry is never a bad thing.

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 3:00 pm

plus, who wants a chapped edge?

LOL

Chapstick is easy to pack for backpacking and has multiple uses. You could also use chapstick loaded leather to strop a fine layer just on the edge

Fireman wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:18 pm

Chapstick is easy to pack for backpacking and has multiple uses. You could also use chapstick loaded leather to strop a fine layer just on the edge

i put it on my lips first and then wipe the excess off my lips with my blade.



in all seriousness though, it does seem like a good idea, especially if you're in the field for an extended period or have a steel that rusts fairly quickly.

Anyone use chapstick as a fire starter? Rub some on your tinder or wood of choice

Fireman wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:35 pm

Anyone use chapstick as a fire starter? Rub some on your tinder or wood of choice

i've never tried it with chapstick, but i've seen it done. scrape some lint from your socks and rub some chapstick in it and you'll have a nice little fire starter. i usually make the vaseline cotton balls in straws and carry them in a small fire kit for emergencies though.

WyoJon wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 6:06 am

I always oil my edges after sharpening. The product ballistol which is sold as a gun oil is my go to. Its food grade, antiseptic, light oil but stays put like a wax. And has a sweet smell. Made a difference for me when I lived in a humid place. Still do it here in the desert

Another Ballistol fan here! I use it on all my tool steel blades… it’s amazing stuff!

Ballistol is good for air rifles as well because it will not detonate in a barrel like some petroleum based products. After time with a generous application, Ballistol can get thick but I don’t think in a bad way.