rust & corrosion protection

[zhenqing]

The best rust & corrosion protection I've found is Boeshield T-9, which was developed by the Boeing Company and is available at marine supplies stores. Basically you spray the stuff on a rag and apply it to the blade. It will not leave any residue, just a very thin and imperceptible film. I live in probably one of the most corrosive & humid environments near the ocean and I've tried just about everyting else. This stuff does seem to work! Thought some of you might want to know. Thanks for all the help you have given me by replying to my previous postings!

[sabreuse]

Speaking of rust prevention...A guy in my club suggested tossing those silica packs that are used in packaging to keep things dry (they usually say "DO NOT EAT" on them) into your fencing bag to counteract the effects of sweaty fencing duds. I just started doing that a couple weeks ago so I can't really endorse it yet. However, it does appeal to my German heritage to recycle these things instead of just throwing them away

[MikeHarm]

I wonder if its the same chemical as those used in the silica gun cleaning clothes they sell at firearm places, I got some free with a revolver I purchased a few years ago, it seemed to work pretty good with that. I never thought of trying it out on my blades before.

Mike

[Link14]

For foils and epees something like that would be fine, but I'd avoid it with sabres. Anything that could effect the connection between the lame and the sabre should be avoided (including rust)

[zhenqing]

Originally posted by zhenqing:
Hi MikeHarm:

The can does not list the ingredients the product contains, other than say it contains petroleum distillates, which means any one (or more) of the alkane or alkene series of straight-chain hydrocarbons There is a toll free phone number on the can 800-962-1732. I'm pretty sure you can get a material safety data sheet (MSDS), which would list any hazardous ingredients present (> 1%). That should give you an idea of what the product contains. SiO2 (silica), either amorphous or crystalline, does not have any anti-oxidant properties that I'm aware of, other than the fact that it absorbs moisture, as does Na2CO3 by actins as a dessicant. The fact that the applications for which the product has been deemed suitable include "electric & batteries" would suggest that it enhances, rather than impede, conductivity.

[This message has been edited by zhenqing (edited 09-15-2000).]