Here at KPL we are passionate about making sure your knives are properly maintained so you can they’re ready to be used when you need them most! One of our top priorities is preventing harmful rust build up on your pocket knives, fixed blades, and kitchen knives. With very little exception, steel is susceptible to rust. While we know that high carbon steels are more prone to rust build up, even highly corrosion resistant super steels such as Magnacut can develop rust when exposed to the elements and during use. In this article, we will talk a little about some of the reasons why blades can rust as well as the products that we offer to help protect your knives from these rust build up!
What Causes Knives to Rust
Water
The most well known cause of rust is exposure to water, especially salt water. While in an ideal world we would ensure that our knife is always dried after use, but sometimes life happens. Getting stuck in the rain, falling off your boat while fishing, and crossing rivers and streams while hiking are just a few examples of how your knife can get very wet and you may not have anything available to dry your knife!
Humidity
While this is also water, it is not something we often think about. I can tell you from my personal experiences of living in humid environments the moisture in the air can absolutely cause rust build up on your knives especially in enclosed spaces like your pocket or leather belt sheath. Unlike other sources of water, humidity is pretty unavoidable outside and can even be a major issue in buildings if they lack the proper climate controls.
Sweat
If you live, work, or play in hot environments you know all about sweat. While it is an important biological defense we have to overheating, it is also really bad for steel. Our sweat contains water, assorted salts, and chemicals that can cause rapid oxidation of steel and create damaging rust.
Hunting and Fishing
If you use your knife while cleaning game or fish, you are getting all kinds of potentially corrosive substances all over your knife and if not quickly cleaned you will see staining and eventual rust to develop fairly quickly.
Food Prep
Many foods, both plant and animal based can be highly acidic which will quickly stain your steel and lead to rust build up. While cutlery can often be found in stainless steel some foods are so acidic that they can still damage the blade steel.
How KPL Protects Knives from Rust
We have several options to help prevent staining and damaging rust from impacting your favorite knives. From a time tested classic to innovative formulations, each of our rust protectants is specifically designed to keep your knives rust free no matter how hard you use them!
Camellia Oil
Our Camellia Oil is food grade and 100% organic! This time tested classic has been favored in Japan for use with chef knives, swords, and cast iron cookware. Camellia Oil does not impart any taste on your food which is why it is a fan favorite of chefs around the world. Like all oils all you need is enough to leave a thin layer on your blade and can be easily reapplied after use to keep the rust protection going when not in use.
KPL Knife Shield
Knife Shield is a custom formulation designed specifically for knives! Not only does it leave behind a completely dry invisible barrier to prevent harmful rust from building up, it is also an excellent cleaner! Knife Shield is incredibly effective at removing gunky residue from tape, sticky food stuff, and even persistent sap from wood and plants. Knife Shield is food safe, so it can be used on everything from your EDC folding knife to your favorite camp cooking fixed blade.
Pivot Lube
Your internal parts are made from steel too, and can be subject to rust build up. Not only do our pivot lubricants keep your knives internal parts working well, they also help prevent rust from harming your bearings, cages, and springs!
Rust Prevention Tabs
Our Rust Prevention Tabs are specifically designed to prevent rust build up on your knives in storage boxes. These non-toxic tabs release a harmless vapor into your knife box or case that will help prevent rust build up from air moisture that gets trapped inside the box. Each tab will last for two years, giving your peace of mind that your stored knives are protected.
