Storing blades

[WoodsideDr]

I've now accumulated about 6 foils of various sorts only two of which I carry with me to practice regularly. I have a tool rack for storing the rest in my garage. My question is this: does anyone have any tips for keeping the less used blade from rusting quickly. (Some of the blade are better quality than others, and as such develop rust much more slowly). Is it worth buying those little blade slip on things? Is there anything I should treat the blades with.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[mmcelwain]

I (and many, many other I'm guessing) store blades in lengths of 1/2 or 3/4 inch PVC pipe; won't stop the rust, but will slow it down. I don't cap the ends in the hopes that circulation will hold down the condensation within the tube.

[Dar Tanyon]

One method of preventing rust on the blade is to first clean it with a fine steelwool. Then lightly apply a thin coat of machine or gun oil on the blade and wipe off the excess. I store mine in copperpipe insulation. It even is available precut. This will keep the rust off the blade. Just make sure you wipe down the blade before you use it again. No one likes oil on their jacket.

[fencinman89]

WD-40 also works, its what i use.
-Tre

[The0ne]

i put mine in 1/2 inch pvc piping, it keeps them safe from damage, and cuts down on rust.

[tiger fencer]

I would recommend light oil or a very slim coat of white lithium grease. I usually keep it away from the glue and wire just in case.

wd-40 really isn't designed for preventing rust.

[Delmont]

So something like linseed oil (I think thats what its called anyway...)

[Inquartata]

No, unless you can find raw linseed oil. The stuff you can buy is, to all intents and purposes, paint. And a very tough and tenacious paint at that. If you must use oil, either use mineral oil from the drugstore or some sort of gun oil.

If you're going to be storing them for a while, use a paste wax instead of oil. I use neutral ( clear ) shoe polish---it's what the Metropolitan Museum of Art used to use on their arms and armour collections.

Oil, if not diligently and frequently reapplied, will collect dust. Each mote of dust will pierce the oil barrier and wick air moisture to the metal. Eventually you get a distinctive patina composed of myriad tiny rust pits. ( This is one of the things armour conservators use to appraise and source pieces: swords and armour preserved in churches often have this distinctive patina. )

Wax will not have to be reapplied, it won't evaporate, and it will not be pierced by dust motes.

PS Don't use WD-40 if the blades are wired. It contains solvents as well as oil, and it's not designed as a preservative but rather to penetrate and free up rusted parts. ( In fact, I wouldn't use the stuff even on UNwired blades, but that's just me... )

[pkt]

Simplest solution:
Find a dryer place to live...

Happy New Year.
PK

[Lee Yue Yang]

I put a little oil on mine then I keep it in a PVC pipe and stick it into a weapon bag.Helps a little.It's damn humid here in Singapore that if I leave it out,it's rust in a day!

[fencer7172003]

i useally lightly sand the rusty areas of my blade. as for storing my blade i made a nice little cover wich has greatly helped with rusting

[Strytllr]

to completely disagree with tiger fencer, I've found that wd-40 works wonderfully in preventing rust. But ultimately, it depends on the humidity where you store them, and the frequency of their handling. I have had various swords, knives, and general all around blades hanging throughout my house for nearly 5 years. I wiped a thin coat of wd-40 on each of them, and handle them rarely (i.e. touching the blades). The ones I handle more regularly get wiped down more regularly. The humidity in my house is kept fairly constant, and in those 5 years, i haven't noticed a single blade rust, even the common, generic quality fencing blades.