Page 1 of 3
K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:41 pm
by kennethsime
Hi all,
Long hiatus from the knife game, but I'm back in with a K390 PM2 from BBS (and now a Para3 on the way). It's a fantastic knife, and I couldn't be happier.
I've carried knives in VG-10, ZDP-189, and S30V (ok and cheap stuff), never a tool steel. I know that K390 is a powdered tool steel, and that it's more likely to corrode than anything I've carried before. I also know that some people go out of their way to "force" a patina on their M4 knives. I should mention that I'm a user - I don't own a safe, and hold no safe queens.
My question is: How many of you are actually oiling your K390 blades, or doing something else to inhibit corrosion? I've been carrying & using mine every day for the better part of a month now and there's no sign of any corrosion yet.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:46 pm
by TomAiello
I use marine grade Tuff-Glide, applied via their Tuff-Cloth application.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:00 pm
by CXXX
TomAiello wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:46 pm
I use marine grade Tuff-Glide, applied via their Tuff-Cloth application.
+1 I use the regular Tuff-Glide on every new knife. I use the small applicator bottle and let is soak in good, then use the Tuff-Cloth regularly
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:23 pm
by SteveMidwest
Welcome back to the game, Kenneth!
It's a great time to be back. :)
For some reason. K390, keeps me on my toes, more than any other steel.
After a few times, of it showing me it's need for EXTRA care. I've been much better, with wiping it down with pure silicone oil. After a days use, and then putting it up. For the next knife to takes its place, in my EDC rotation. :spyder:
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:37 pm
by Haunted House
I don’t have k390 but I do have a 52100 Para 3, and I believe 52100 is the most corrosive of all the Spydercos steels so far?
I live in the south (Georgia) where the humidity is wretched and carry this knife as a daily user, and I’ve had no corrosion issues so far.
I just keep a little Daiwa reel oil or gun oil(or whatever oil I have handy) on the blade and make sure to wipe it off after using it on anything liquid/corrosive. Easy money.
I also rotate between Cruwear and hap40 (which are also corrosion prone) and no issues with them either.
Just keep some sort of oil on the blade and wipe it off after use and you’ll be good.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:40 pm
by Doc Dan
I use Vaseline, which is paraffin wax and mineral oil, basically, and it is food safe. I have yet to have an issue, at all, with any tool steels or plain carbon steels. I just put it on and wipe it off. A thin unseen coat remains.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:52 pm
by Slash
Bear fat
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 1:15 am
by JonLeBlanc
Haunted House wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:37 pm
I don’t have k390 but I do have a 52100 Para 3, and I believe 52100 is the most corrosive of all the Spydercos steels so far?
I live in the south (Georgia) where the humidity is wretched and carry this knife as a daily user, and I’ve had no corrosion issues so far.
I just keep a little Daiwa reel oil or gun oil(or whatever oil I have handy) on the blade and make sure to wipe it off after using it on anything liquid/corrosive. Easy money.
I also rotate between Cruwear and hap40 (which are also corrosion prone) and no issues with them either.
Just keep some sort of oil on the blade and wipe it off after use and you’ll be good.
I'm like you, I use both my Police4 and (lots of) 52100 in south Louisiana, and if I keep on top of it I have no serious corrosion issues. You're right, 52100 is definitely Spyderco's hottest steel, but any ol' oil will do the trick!
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:01 am
by Cambertree
Yeah I use a bit of mineral oil on my Police 4 G10 and Urban blades after I've been using them in wet or mildly acidic environments.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:28 am
by Ruudr
If you also use it for food prep use Ballistol. Ballistol is food safe in contrast to al lot of other blade lubricants/protective oils.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 9:27 am
by vivi
I haven't been oiling my K390. My blade shows a very mild patina and no rust. I'm happy with the level of corrosion resistance it offers.
However the liners on my Police 4 rusted pretty bad. I don't know if that issue is unique to the Police 4 or if its something to look out for in other K390 Spydercos with liners. Keep an eye on yours either way.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 10:03 am
by abbazaba
I never oil my blades, and my P4 took on a patina almost immediately, which I think is somewhat related to the deep grind lines making it harder to casually wipe clean. However, I don't mind a patina. If you take decent care of your blades I wouldn't worry about it and just let it form a natural patina in use.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 11:27 am
by bbturbodad
K390 and my sweat don't play well together...a few hours of IWB carry and the steel that's up against my skin and spine get spotted up pretty good.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 11:35 am
by Hopweaver
Slash wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:52 pm
Bear fat
This actually made me laugh, sitting at my desk at work. :D
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 11:50 am
by wrdwrght
I’m certainly wary of actual iron oxides but will let my K390 (and other tool steels) patina naturally as a way of retarding this rust. The only oil I apply routinely is for the sake of moving parts.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:39 pm
by Bloke
Doc Dan wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:40 pm
I just put it on and ...
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:53 pm
by KnOeFz
I wipe my M4 Mantras with olive oil as I use the knife on food regularly.
Guess that will work on K390 too.
Should be a fantastic steel, curious to try it out sometime.
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 9:11 pm
by The Mastiff
I do not force patinas and I keep mine rust free. When I get new knives in non stainless I clean them, apply tuff glide and let dry for a day. I wipe everything off then wax the blade with a paste wax. I use Renaissance wax in particular. This pretty much keeps the blade oxygen free so rust will not build up. The wax also micro polishes the blade when applying so it helps clean the blade and really makes it look good. If I scratch or scrape the blade I reapply as needed. If I get salts/blood/acids etc on my knife I wash it off with soap and water and reapply. I also use dry aerosol teflon lubes on the pivot and bearing surfaces. It takes a lot longer to write about it than do it and this care keeps much rustier steel than K390 looking rust free and shiny.
Joe
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:55 am
by GarageBoy
When people carried 1095 knives, how did they deal?
Re: K390 & Corrosion
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:36 am
by sok
The Mastiff wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2019 9:11 pm
I do not force patinas and I keep mine rust free. When I get new knives in non stainless I clean them, apply tuff glide and let dry for a day. I wipe everything off then wax the blade with a paste wax. I use Renaissance wax in particular. This pretty much keeps the blade oxygen free so rust will not build up. The wax also micro polishes the blade when applying so it helps clean the blade and really makes it look good. If I scratch or scrape the blade I reapply as needed. If I get salts/blood/acids etc on my knife I wash it off with soap and water and reapply. I also use dry aerosol teflon lubes on the pivot and bearing surfaces. It takes a lot longer to write about it than do it and this care keeps much rustier steel than K390 looking rust free and shiny.
Joe
Hmm, I have always wondered about putting wax on a blade. Whilst I had my new Para 3 K390 apart, I decided to put some Liquid Glass on the blade. None went on the pivot area. I should have about Five coats on before the end of the day.
