What to use to protect tool steel blades

[RustyIron]

the PC folk would wet their underwear about possible contamination!

Easy there, Hoss. Don't want to send anyone off to their safe space. Half the folks here go tromping around in the forest digging holes, chopping down trees, dismembering game, peeing off a cliff, and eating fish eyeballs, all without the benefit of soap and water. The other half of the folks get a case of the wobblies if they need to cut up their Happy Meal and their knife pivot is lubricated with anything other than non-GMO, free-trade, food-safe, petroleum-based mineral oil. Personally, I'm somewhere in the middle. I use Ballistol. It's only a little poisonous.

[Stuart Ackerman]

Well said Rusty Iron. I use Ballistol every now and then and the fact that it is water soluble is a good thing, for when water wet knives dry off, the Ballistol is back to its usual consistency. There not many oils like Ballistol that you can gargle with to relieve a sore throat.

[bdblue]

The other half of the folks get a case of the wobblies if they need to cut up their Happy Meal and their knife pivot is lubricated with anything other than non-GMO, free-trade, food-safe, petroleum-based mineral oil. Personally, I'm somewhere in the middle. I use Ballistol. It's only a little poisonous.

My father worked in an automotive garage until well into his 80s. He also did a lot of cooking in the garage. I also worked in the garage for a number of years. I'm sure we all ingested more than our share of all kinds of petroleum products without any obvious problems.

Years ago I did my own informal test of a few various protectants that I had. I don't remember much about the test but I did have some of the A.G. Russell stuff that looks a bit like glycerine, and I had Renaissance Wax, neither of which did very well in the test.

When I worked as a mechanic I had a set of steel feeler gauges in my toolbox. Working in a fairly dry climate I noticed that the feeler gauges were developing patina so I rubbed some motor oil on them. They still developed patina so I basically soaked them in motor oil. They still developed patina. That told me that just any old oil or grease may not provide protection, you need a product with appropriate chemical additives that is made to provide protection against corrosion.

[Cletus]

Like Stuart says, Ballistol is a great lubricant and as close to an all around oil made. I have used it for many years on knives and guns. In fact, I am working on my second gallon right now. I also like Renaissance wax, mainly because I like to putter around and polish my blades,(makes 'em right purty) and I live in Nevada so rust isn't much of an issue, but dust is. (Soo much dust)

[Stuart Ackerman]

In South Africa years ago when Ballistol was released, the label was marked that is could be used for mild burns and cuts to help to heal. And of course my reference to gargling for sore throats. Folk were buying oils for firearm cleaning and suchlike and one fella went into a Gun shop and explained that he had just been released from hospital having his stomach pumped after gargling and swallowing some gun oil, which the gunship told him was okay. The answer? “Yup. Ballistol is good for that, but NOT Hoppes # 9. “

[Naperville]

Hoppes # 9 may not be digestible but it sure smells good.

[JoviAl]

Hoppes # 9 may not be digestible but it sure smells good.

well said buddy!

For work where I have to use a declared food safe option I use Frog Lube and it’s ok. Interesting to see how it outperforms Tuf-Glide on that chart as I’d always assumed Tuf was better but stinkier.

[RustyIron]

In South Africa years ago when Ballistol was released, the label was marked that is could be used for mild burns and cuts to help to heal.

This reminds me of a true story about how the first people to pump oil out of the ground used it for medicinal purposes. I'm going to bounce on over to the "off topic" forum and write you a little story. Look for it shortly.

[GT99]

This is a good read.

https://dayattherange.com/gun-care-product-evaluation/

Soiler alert, but you really should give that page a read it's a really thorough test.

Amazing article, thanks for sharing this, good info for my knives and pew pews too

[Bolster]

Lately I've just been treating my tool steel blades to dabbed-on mustard for a quarter hour, and admiring the patina with its pastel blue & yellow highlights. It's sort of the "poor man's bluing" and gives some resistance to further corrosion.

[OnEdge]

I just wipe my blade with rubbing alcohol then stick it in a potato over night. In the morning wash it off and carry on. Great patina and no worries

[termite]

I just wipe my blade with rubbing alcohol then stick it in a potato over night. In the morning wash it off and carry on. Great patina and no worries

So, actually your knives have 'patito'.

[Cletus]

Patito. Good one! Ma, ya gots any more patito chips?

[MOPs_Overlord]

I live right on the water in FL, and wipe down with Boeshield T-9 once every few weeks. I haven't had any issues or encountered any rust/oxidation.

[Evil D]

Lately I've just been treating my tool steel blades to dabbed-on mustard for a quarter hour, and admiring the patina with its pastel blue & yellow highlights. It's sort of the "poor man's bluing" and gives some resistance to further corrosion.

I'm kinda surprised more guys haven't used actually gun bluing on knives but I guess maybe it just doesn't hold up to wear well enough.

[JBoone]

I just purchased some wd specialist corosion based on the reviews (earlier in this thread and in another video review I watched). I have been using on my K390 folders as these have been giving me a harder time than most regarding corrosion. I don’t cut food with my folders so not worried about food safe.

A bit early to review but so far so good.