Will it hurt to leave a Spydie in your car in the heat?

[Fred Sanford]

So, will it hurt the heat treat (or anything else) on your Spyderco if you leave it in your car on hot days?

I have a Delica 4 that I keep in my car. It is clipped to a spot above the drivers side sun visor. That would probably be one of the hotter spots in the car (other than lying on the dash) on a hot day with the windows up.

Today it was about 92 degrees here. As I got in my car I pulled down the visor and for kicks touched the blade of the D4. I couldn't keep my finger on it as it started to burn me after about 1 second. I have no idea how hot that might be.

Any suggestions or thoughts? I would think it would be OK but I don't know what it takes to ruin heat treat on a blade.

[RLR]

An autoclave won't ruin heat treat, and I don't think your car will either. Don't worry about it in the least.

[Agent Starling]

So, will it hurt the heat treat (or anything else) on your Spyderco if you leave it in your car on hot days?

Hmmm...I've often wondered the same thing myself. I was using my Native as a car knife for a time, keeping it in the glove compartment...but come summer I haven't left any knife in the car for fear of ruining it. The Native also seemed to need lubricating more often, when kept in my car.

Lately I've been thinking of getting an Assist or Rescue as a permanent car knife, but again, that heat issue comes up. Also, I'm trying to find something not so expensive but serrated, so I've been looking at alternatives to the Assist and Rescue.

Starling

[tonydahose]

the only thing you would hurt is your hand if it was a stainless model and it was in the sun and you grabbed it. i havent had a problem with frn left in the car all summer long.

[Fred Sanford]

The one I have in there is a Foliage Green fully serrated D4. It's currently my "car" knife. I also however have a blue "Res-Q-Me" on my Keychain. Got one for my wife, and in-laws, and parents.

http://www.resqme.com/ for any curious members. :)

[yablanowitz]

If you leave a cup of water in your car and it boils, it might be time to start worrying about your knives. If the plastic coating on the steering wheel melts off and leaves only the steel core, it is definitely time to worry about FRN handles. Otherwise, the heat in your car is not going to hurt your knives. According to my recording thermometer, my car has gotten as high as 138 degrees in the glovebox, which isn't hot enough to damage the heat treatment or even warp Spyderco FRN (I wouldn't make any promises about some other brands )

[J Smith]

If it got hot enough to hurt it the inside of your car would burst into flames.
I have heard of it getting hot enough to set off a shotgun shell left on the dash.Knew a guy that had it happen,blew out the windshield.

[chris777]

I wouldnt worry about the blade at all, but could the heat warp the FRN handle?

I have had mechanical pencils ruined for leaving them in the car.

But I know nothing about how FRN reacts to the heat.

[spydutch]

Well David, I've had a Delica 3/SE clipped to the sunvisor for about a year now. No problems whatsoever

[peacefuljeffrey]

Anyone else think it sounds a bit dangerous to have a sharp knife--even a closed folder--clipped to the visor in the car?

The forces at work in a crash are stupendous. No telling where that thing might end up richocheting, or whether it might even be forced to somehow open. Even closed, it could get nasty.

Everyone is free to make his own choice, but I would opt not to do that.

-PJ

[The Deacon]

Aside from bleaching the handle if it's left where the sun can hit it, don't think it can cause any real damage.

As far as the danger of a knife clipped somewhere becoming a projectile in a crash, yes, there's always that possibility. To my mind, the bigger problem is that it might wind up somewhere out of reach at the moment you need it the most. Trick is finding a location and a method of attachment that is safe, secure, and readily accessible to either hand. If you leave your car unlocked at times, a location that is inconspicuous is also very desirable. If you're like me and drive a convertible, inconspicuous becomes even more important.

[Dr. Snubnose]

Don't think I would clip anything to a visor above my head let alone a folding knife....there's got to be a better place to put a knife if you want one as a permanent fixture in your car.....The heat...won't hurt your knife....Doc :D

[Fred Sanford]

Anyone else think it sounds a bit dangerous to have a sharp knife--even a closed folder--clipped to the visor in the car?

The forces at work in a crash are stupendous. No telling where that thing might end up richocheting, or whether it might even be forced to somehow open. Even closed, it could get nasty.

Everyone is free to make his own choice, but I would opt not to do that.

-PJ

Let me explain further.

I have 550 Paracord wrapped around my 2nd sun visor. My Ford Taurus is an SES model and has 2 sun visors on each side. One normal one and another one above that one. The top most visor is where mine is at. I have blue 550 paracord wrapped around the visor about 5 times. It's tight as ****. I then have my D4 slid underneath the paracord and also clipped to the paracord. Believe me this is not coming off of my visor.

This was done on purpose, so that I would have a spare knife and also about 4 feet of paracord on my visor if I ever needed it.

It's not just lightly clipped to my visor as would seem. It's clipped to paracord and then is slid under about 5 more strands of paracord that are tightly wrapped around the visor.

I thought I should clarify that I did put a tad bit of thought into this. :D

I didn't want it in my glove box because in a crash I may not have access to the glove box. I am hoping that I will be able to reach my visor most of the time.

[The Deacon]

David, most things in life involve trade offs of one kind or another. The arrangement you have seems to strike a reasonable compromise between absolute "safety" and absolute "accessibility" without requiring modifications to the car which may be undesirable, especially if it is leased. "In theory" the ballpoint pen in your pocket could become a lethal projectile, same for your cell phone, travel mug, and half a hundered other odd items that most folks have several of in their cars. There's a fine line between preparedness and paranoia.

As an aside, I wonder how many of the "steelheads" here know the composition of their seat belt buckles, or have replaced them with "super duty" ones. Willing to bet more of us will someday owe our lives to that piece of hardware than will ever need to use a blade defensively.

[Fred Sanford]

Paul, you have a good point. It's actually made me re-think the stuff I have just lying around my car loose. I have a heavy Maglite that I would think sholdn't be there. I will put it in my trunk and I think other stuff I don't need will go in my glove box.

Good idea. :)

Yeah, and about the seat belt buckle, I think you are right. I didn't used to wear mine when I was younger but I wear it every time now.

[Fred Sanford]

Here is what I mean for those who are concerned.



You can see just a little bit of the paracord here with the lower visor in the up position.


So now back to the "heat" thing. :)

[BillyJoeBobJim]

Projectiles????

One car was sitting dead still with lights off on a rural highway facing downhill.

Another car topped the hill and hit it after skidding aprroximately 30 ft. (This was before ABS was common.)

Many items of the moving car which were formerly on the rear "dash" were now located on the front dash, including:

a full length umbrella
a magazine (you know, like Field & Stream, maybe)
a large Bible.

The teddy bear either did not make it all the way to the front dash or bounced off and landed in the front seat.

No "serious" injuries were encountered by the occupants of the car - no visible contusions, lacerations, or abrasions.

[Fred Sanford]

So does anyone have any idea at what temperature you start to ruin the heat treat on a knife?

I've seen that cars that have been out in Arizona sitting outside in the sun get to 150+ degrees inside when the temp is 110 degrees outside.

[STR]

About the worst of what you can expect is to hurt your bare hand when you grab that hot black handle. :eek: Seriously, the knife should be fine though.

STR

[Bassman]

You only start to affect heat treat at 350-400F for cpms30v, Im pretty sure you dont need to worry about your heat treat until the apocalypse, or a volcano attacks :-)