whats a good all around knife oil?

**Bladen** · 11-28-2009, 04:10 PM

whats a good all around knife oil?
can i use gun oil?

is it bad to use oil on some knives?

how often should i oil them?

almost all of my knives will be on display or left in a box. i want to make sure they are left in good condition.

any thoughts how often i should oil the knives i use are welcome as well.

thanks guys and gals,

**Boker** · 11-28-2009, 04:41 PM

Not trying to thread jack, but along those lines of questioning....Could a light weight motor oil be used when sharpening?

**scabbyota** · 11-28-2009, 05:48 PM

I use my better half's baby oil it's usually what I can find first. I have used gun oil and it worked fine.

**Rick** · 11-28-2009, 05:59 PM

Bladen - I use food grade mineral oil on my knives. That way, if the knife is used on any kind of meat - from field dressing to butchering to slicing off some SPAM (Mmmm) for dinner - it won't be ruined by the oil on your knife. Motor oil or other petroleum based lubricants can taint the meat.

As to how often, I clean, resharpen and lubricate the blade every time I come in from the field. That way it's ready to go any time I need it and I won't have to worry about a carbon blade rusting (well, not as much anyway).

**Camp10** · 11-28-2009, 06:05 PM

Rick beat me to it..a food grade mineral oil is best. For a knife that is going to be displayed I would be fine using a gun oil like Rem oil. It will keep things clean and rust free longer but if it might see usage, use mineral oil!

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 11-28-2009, 06:12 PM

Well if it is going to be stored for a long time, I would use a light coat of Petroleum Jelly. It will last a lot longer than the oils,and less likely to be rubbed off allowing rust to set in. Otherwise I would go with what the others have said. When you pull it out of storage alcohol would be able to remove the PJ, followed by re-lubricating it with the food grade mineral oil. But PJ is safe to use as well around food.

**crashdive123** · 11-28-2009, 06:42 PM

Mineral oil for me as well. If you are not going to use them and only display them, once is probably enough. For my carbon steel knives that I'm using when camping/hiking I usually put a light coat on after the trip. If I need to oil them during the trip I usually have a little olive oil with me for cooking.

**Bladen** · 11-28-2009, 07:20 PM

outstanding advice everybody.

thanks a ton.
this site always amazes me.

**Rick** · 11-28-2009, 08:05 PM

Poco offered up a really good alternative. You may or may not know this but petroleum jelly can also be ingested with no harm. It's inert.

The inventor of Vaseline lived to be 101 years old and was such a believer in Vaseline that he claimed to have eaten a spoonful of it every day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Chesebrough

**Boker** · 11-28-2009, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Poco offered up a really good alternative. You may or may not know this but petroleum jelly can also be ingested with no harm. It's inert.

The inventor of Vaseline lived to be 101 years old and was such a believer in Vaseline that he claimed to have eaten a spoonful of it every day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Chesebrough

I'm pretty sure the comment I have for that will get me banned forever. Perhaps I'll consult legal council first.

**Chrs** · 11-28-2009, 10:23 PM

I use Mineral Oil know because of Rick's suggestion a while back

works great

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 11-28-2009, 11:01 PM

The only caution I would offer is that both Mineral Oil and Petroleum Jelly, can loosen the bowels in large enough quantities. That's a good thing ONLY if you are constipated. Mineral Oil is used in Horses to treat "Impaction Colic"... basically it's constipation in horses, but can kill them. Just a little FYI in case you ever need to know.... Or decide to eat a container of PJ to prolong lifespan.

**panch0** · 11-29-2009, 01:26 AM

I am a mineral oil user too.

**Bladen** · 11-29-2009, 01:44 AM

i just noticed how my title reads on the main page.

"whats a good all around knife..." and it left out the "oil" part.

i just wanted to say thanks for reading this thread even though it might have looked like another-whats the best knife?-thread!

i dunno.
it made me chuckle when i noticed it.

**your_comforting_company** · 11-29-2009, 09:08 AM

Poco hit the nail on the head. Display knives get Vaseline. I also use it on my gun for rainy days. Knives you use get mineral oil or food grade machine oil. For sharpening and honing, I use Smiths oil, Hoppes gun oil, 3-in-1 oil, and in a pinch have used vegetable cooking oil. be sure to clean off the oil after sharpening if you intend to use it on game.

**Rick** · 11-29-2009, 09:44 AM

On my guns, I use car wax. I happen to use Turtle Wax ICE but any car wax will work. It helps seal the metal and wood against oxidation and water penetration. I had an old gunsmith suggest it to me and I've been using it ever since. I would think you could do similar for display knives if you know you'll never actually use them.

**rwc1969** · 11-29-2009, 11:57 PM

yuo know, I'm very picky about ingesting chemicals, but have always just used a thin layer of 3 in 1 oil on all my metal stuff, knives included. Never really considered that I might be poisoning myself. I will have to get me some mieral oil.

**mcgyver** · 11-30-2009, 09:32 PM

I learned this little trick from a Tracking school I attended.
The oil from the base of your nose, right there by your nostril. Enough from each side for each side of your blade. Not Vaseline, but you will always have it with you in the field.
Kind of gross, but ear wax protects steel pretty good.