How to Get Rust Off a Pocket Knife: Your Guide
- White vinegar is the best cleaning solution for light rust
- Any rust remover solution will work
- Steel wool has a risk of causing more rust after it is used
At some point, a pocket knife is going to get rusty. If you know how to get rust off knives, this becomes a minor inconvenience rather than a significant issue. Some people think getting rust off a knife is extremely hard, but it isn’t. It just takes a little “know-how.”
We will review several common methods for how to remove rust from a pocket knife, as well as a high-tech option, to provide you with as many options as possible.
How To Get Rust Off A Pocket Knife
Rust is the oxidation of iron or steel that forms on the surface of the metal. Any method that removes it from the surface will work, but you do have to worry about micro-abrasions, as these can be ideal locations for rust to form.
We will cover various methods for removing rust from a pocket knife.
White Vinegar
When it comes to how to get rust off knives, white vinegar is the most effective method for removing rust from your pocket knife. A long soak in white vinegar will loosen up a lot of the rust on your knife, just be sure whatever you’re soaking it in can handle the vinegar.
Once the soaking is done, wash the knife and give it a gentle scrub to remove any remaining bits. If there’s still rust on the knife, repeat the process until it returns to its clean state.
Powder Cleaner / Rust Remover
Maybe you don’t want to use vinegar. Things like Bar Keeper’s Friend or other powdered cleaners and rust removers will help you remove rust easily. This method will require a little more effort in the form of scrubbing, but it is a good alternative if you do not have any white vinegar on hand.
When it comes to liquid rust removers, be cautious about leaving the knife submerged in them, especially if the knife is extremely rusty. This could remove too much of the rust and weaken the knife. But this is only in extreme cases.
Steel Wool & Elbow Grease
If you have no other easy option available, you can use steel wool to get rust off knives. However, if the wool is rusty or if you scrub too hard, steel wool can increase the likelihood of your knife becoming rusty. This is because rust transfers. Think of it a little like mold. It starts to grow on things and makes everything worse. But it can’t grow unless that first bit of it is present. Scouring a knife blade can make micro-depressions where rust can gather and form. This is why using steel wool is a difficult approach, as it is only a short-term solution.
Tinfoil or Some Other Abrasive Material
Maybe you have none of these other options, and you still have a rusty knife. There are several alternative methods for removing rust. And they all come down to some form of abrasion.
Tinfoil Or Cardboard
Tinfoil balled up and rubbed or scraped against the rust can remove light forms of surface rust. If you are really desperate, you can even use something like cardboard or rough paper to rub the rust off. Anything with a grain will do. The fineness or coarseness of the grain will determine how easily the rust can be removed.
Salt With a Sponge
If you really want to scour off some rust, you can use some classic salt on a sponge. Just like sanding or sand blasting, the salt helps scrape off the rust. Once you’re done, be sure to wash it off and dry it; otherwise, the water and salt will accelerate the development of rust.
This is because salt and water (think the ocean) increase oxidation if they are left unattended. If you’ve ever been in an area by the ocean or a place that uses salt in the winter, all of the vehicles have some rust on them. Your knife will be no different if it isn’t properly dried off.
How To Clean a Rusty Pocket Knife: The High-Tech Way
All those other methods for removing rust from knives are great if you want to soak and scrub them manually. But how to get rust off knives without all that hassle? Well, the answer is a sonic cleaner.
Sonic cleaners are relatively affordable for a unit that is large enough to fit most pocket knives. All you have to do is put in your preferred rust remover or some isopropyl alcohol and let it run to remove most of the rust.
Keep in mind that you may need to do some touch-up cleaning for the more ingrained rust. But it can save you time if you just leave it for a while and do something else. It will be significantly faster than trying to hand scrub all the rust off.
Which Option is Best for Me?
When it comes to how to get rust off knives, it ultimately comes down to preference. Perhaps you already have vinegar on hand, or maybe you enjoy the process of hand scrubbing rust off your favorite knife. Or you might just want to get the job done.
Soaking in white vinegar is the best and most affordable option overall because it is readily available and can be used for other purposes. The sonic cleaner is a great addition, but it’s loud and occupies a significant amount of space. Everything else is just an attempt to match the same level of success as the vinegar trick.
Remember, don’t scrub your knives too often. This can result in you taking off too much material and damaging the knife. Remove the rust, store it properly, and you will increase the longevity of your favorite blade.
