Everything that is close to our heart deserves our increased attention and care. A warm hug for a wife/husband, time devoted to children, endless minutes of scratching behind the ears for our furry companions. It's no different with objects. Specifically, I have in mind our steel companions - EDC knives, that is, knives for everyday carry (EDC - every day carry).
Every knife enthusiast should know the basics of proper knife care. I don't just mean sharpening itself, but comprehensive care, so that your knife lasts for many years and remains a reliable companion in everyday adventures or at work.
Let's go over a few basics, how to take good care of your knives.
Regular sharpening
Never let your knife get so dull that you have to fully sharpen it. Whenever it loses a bit of its sharpness, hone it with a honing steel or on a leather strop with a bit of polishing paste. Reputable manufacturers deliver their knives in top sharpened condition. If you don't interfere too much with the grind and geometry, the knife will always be in great condition as on the day you bought it.
Cleanliness is essential
Most of us probably take keeping our knife clean for granted. However, just wiping it after food or bark residue is not enough. Ordinary bar soap is ideal. Lather your hands well and run all important surfaces under warm water. The stream of water with soap will thus reach even smaller nooks and flush out dirt, even from under the blade liner and pivot. Soap does not damage the wood on the handle, and no aftertaste remains on the blade. The knife dries faster.
To make the wood shine as long as possible, use oil and wax
Wood is a creation of nature that is constantly in motion. So how do you prevent it from drying out or cracking? There are two ideal methods. Oil and wax.
Avoid kitchen oils or fats. Advice from old grandmothers may be nice, but in this case it will do you a disservice in the form of ruined wood and blade.
Oil enhances the colors and grain of the wood. Natural colored oils, such as linseed or tung oil, have a yellow and brown tint. Paraffin oil has a neutral color. It penetrates deep into the wood, making it more beautiful, but it never dries. The handle temporarily becomes a reservoir of transparent oil, which slowly seeps into your hands, the sheath, and the pockets of your trousers.
If you wrap the handle in paper towels for a few hours after a 30-minute soak, the result will be perfect. Drying oils strengthen the strength of the wood fibers.
Regarding wax, it doesn't matter which one you use to treat wooden handles and bolsters. It is important to apply it at room temperature and give it enough time to dry. Polish it with a cloth only after it has completely dried. Wax is well applied when you don't feel stickiness, but firmness.
The best chemical cleaner - ordinary Zippo
Forget thinners, technical gasoline, or alcohol. Paradoxically, the best cleaner for knives is lighter fuel Zippo Fluid. Its gentleness and cleaning abilities are well known. It cleans everything and damages nothing. Thanks to this, it is also used for cleaning optics, which is very well known to photographers or shooters using MOS or a rifle scope.
Nothing lasts forever, not even screws
Among the details that deserve attention are certainly the screws. Whether they hold the clip or the handle scales, losing them is unpleasant. Replacement screws from the original supplier are harder to find. A missing screw reduces the functionality and safety of your knife. Their loosening makes it easier for dirt to settle or moisture to get trapped in crevices.
Therefore, carefully check the screws every time you take the knife with you, and ideally also when storing it in a sheath. It is better not to tighten the screws all the way with force. You could damage the threads and the screw head.
Use a drop of the weakest thread adhesive. Within a few seconds it locks the screw firmly in place, but the bond will be weak enough to be released with an Allen key or a screwdriver.
How to deal with stains?
Every fan of tool steels knows this. Over time, spots resembling limited rust appear, and you rack your brain over what to do about it. The culprits can be acids from fruits and vegetables, but also steel particles. What to do about them? Take an ordinary office eraser and clean in the direction of grinding. There is a good chance that with this simple and cheap tool you will get rid of most defects. For more stubborn defects, use abrasive steel wool in grit 000. Do not be afraid of scratches. The surface will remain smooth and shiny.
Not all rust is the same
Carbon steel has its advantages. The blade sharpens well and retains excellent cutting ability for a long time. However, it also has its disadvantages. When exposed to greater moisture or when working with food, it forms a coating without immediate cleaning. This is a chemical reaction with acids, which takes the form of red rust and leaves an unpleasant aftertaste on food.
The recipe for correction is simple. It is called passivation. During this process you turn a piece of shiny steel into matte gray. Soak the clean knife blade for an hour in citric acid or vinegar, where it naturally darkens. Wipe the outer part of the coating with a paper towel, rinse the knife under water and dry it.
It is ideal to coat the blade with a thin layer of preservative oil. Lubrication with preservative oil is more suitable for working knives. If you wanted to use it to process food, you would have to clean the knife again before use, so that the oil does not come into contact with the food.
Carry your knife in a quality sheath
As part of knife care, we must not forget about using quality sheaths. It is not irrelevant how you carry the knife. Carrying the knife loose in a bag or pants can result in damage or dirt contamination. That is why it is important to use sheaths. Investing in them really pays off. A quality leather sheath will last you forever. Your steel companion will also “thank you”.
With knives, the deal is simple. You take care of them, and in return, they take care of you. At the same time, their maintenance does not have to be demanding. You can find pleasant relaxation in it, which I would calmly compare to a certain form of meditation. This will also create positive habits in you, such as a feel for detail, and you are forced to slow down for a moment and pay attention to details, which takes your mind off stress and a hectic environment.
