Valuable recommendations on how and with what to remove rust from a knife
The appearance of rust on the surface of a knife blade or in its folding mechanism is not only an aesthetic defect. The oxide makes the tool unusable.
Therefore, timely removal of rusty deposits and the use of preventive measures are mandatory elements of knife care. For these purposes, home methods or ready-made chemical solutions are used.
Read the article about how and with what to remove rust from a knife at home and restore its original appearance.
Content
How to restore the original appearance of a product using folk remedies?
Iron oxides and hydroxides that appear on the surface of a steel blade can be easily removed using homemade “reagents.” Such products are valued for their ease of use and affordable price..
Vinegar and lemon juice
These products contain organic acids (acetic and citric), which actively interact with iron oxides. The resulting salts are easily washed off the metal surface, restoring its cleanliness and shine. Chemical cleaning is considered one of the most effective ways to combat rust.
The instructions for using the lemon-vinegar mixture are simple:
Vinegar (6-9%) is mixed with lemon juice in a volume ratio of 1:1.- Generously moisten a cloth in the resulting solution.
- Wrap the knife blade in a cloth soaked in liquid.
- Leave the product for one hour for the reaction to occur.
- Wipe the blade with a sponge, rinse and wipe dry.
When cleaning at home, it is not recommended to use vinegar essence. The entire procedure using vinegar must be carried out with the window open or under a hood.
Read about using vinegar against rust in this article.
How to get rid of it with tomato paste?
A natural tomato product has a mild anti-corrosion effect. The effect is also based on the content of acidic substances in the product.
If you don't have tomato paste, you can replace it:
- fresh tomatoes,
- tomato juice,
- ketchup.
This home remedy compares favorably with analogues in its safety and ease of use. However, it only helps get rid of small rust stains that have recently appeared. To remove thick deposits, it is recommended to use a stronger cleaner.
Coca Cola
The carbonated drink is a popular cleanser metal surfaces from rust.
Phosphoric acid contained in drinking liquid is an active rust converter.
The method using Coca-Cola (Pepsi, Fanta or other similar drinks) is in demand due to its high efficiency and availability.
Coca-Cola is poured into a low container, the product is placed in it and left for 30-40 minutes.. After the specified time, check the result by lightly rubbing the blade with a sponge. If orange traces remain on it, the exposure time is extended by another 15-20 minutes.
Read about the use of Coca-Cola against rust in this article.
How to remove plaque with Vaseline and lactic acid?
The combined product helps clean the blade from rust and at the same time protect it from re-corrosion. Lactic acid acts as a purifier, which neutralizes the oxide by forming it into iron lactate, soluble in liquid paraffin.
The method is considered effective, but its use is somewhat limited due to the fact that pure lactic acid is not available in every home. To prepare an anti-corrosion agent Instead of Vaseline paste, you can use wax or paraffin.
Vegetables
This category of cleansers includes potatoes and onions. The juice that tubers and bulbs secrete contains organic substances of an acidic nature. They are the ones who determine the high efficiency of this method. To make cleaning easier, use salt, baking soda or laundry soap as additional ingredients.
The cleaning procedure is as follows:
- Cut the potato or onion in half.
- Sprinkle the cut with salt, soda or planed soap.
- When juice appears on the cut, wipe the knife with a vegetable slice.
- Leave the product on the blade for 30-40 minutes.
- Wipe the knife with a sponge, removing any remaining marks.
If necessary, during cleaning, the blade is re-moistened with potato or onion juice to prevent the surface from drying out.
How to clean with special compounds?
Knife owners who do not trust folk recipes or, for subjective reasons, prefer to use household chemicals, can choose a product from the store. The range of ready-made rust converters is quite wide. The most popular are time-tested liquids and concentrates.
Adrilan
Russian product positioned as a fruit gel, designed to remove rust marks from the surface:
- metal utensils,
- tool,
- plumbers.
The gel is evenly applied to the surface of the blade and left for a short time. Then the brown mass is removed from the blade with a brush and washed with water. A bottle weighing 0.664 kg sells for an average of 80 rubles.
AVS AVK
A liquid product containing active zinc ions, inorganic acids and functional additives in the formula. Zinkach is suitable for cleaning steel and cast iron products from a layer of rust up to 80 microns thick. The zinc converter further protects the metal from repeated corrosion.
Shake the contents of the bottle before use. If necessary, remove the loose layer of rust. Next, apply the product evenly to the blade. Leave for 30 minutes and apply a second layer. The cost of a small 60 ml bottle is on average 50 rubles.
RUNWAY
Professional rust remover and converter made in America. Suitable for all metal surfaces, except galvanic ones. RUNWAY is used for domestic and industrial purposes.
The product is applied to the metal surface for several minutes. Remove any deposits that have formed and dry the surface. A small bottle (30 ml) sells for 90-110 rubles. A larger bottle (120 ml) is estimated at 220-250 rubles.
What can't be used and why?
For cleaning the blade and mechanism of the knife Do not use too aggressive drugs. If you have doubts about the product, before use it is recommended to apply one drop to the edge of the product to track the reaction and see the result.
This is especially true for antique knives that have carved steel handles. It is better to entrust the cleaning of such items to specialists.
How to protect the blade from corrosion?
So that the problem of the appearance of a rusty coating on the knife blade does not bother you, it is necessary to protect steel from exposure to adverse factors.
First of all, they include moisture. Immediately after use, knives should be washed and dried with a towel.
Prevention requires compliance with storage rules. Sharp instruments are stored in oiled paper or special stands. This must be done for safety reasons, as well as to protect the blade from moisture.
If the knife is used for technical purposes, it can be wiped with kerosene. If it is not possible to use this substance, the blade is covered with a thin layer of wax.
To prevent the onset of corrosion and apply the cleaning agent in time, it is recommended to use the knife as often as possible. Even for decorative items hidden in sheaths, it is necessary to periodically inspect.
Additional Tips
You can use any suitable method to remove rust marks from a knife. When choosing a product, you should focus on the degree of contamination, financial costs and the possibility of using the method.
Anyway, It is advisable to consider additional recommendations that will facilitate the cleaning process and help speed it up:
If the rusty coating is significant and has not disappeared completely after the first treatment, it is necessary to repeat the cleansing with the same product or choose a different one.- If the corrosion process has gone far and a solid, dense coating of rust has formed on the knife, then it is advisable to first remove it mechanically (with sandpaper), and then complete the cleaning with any liquid agent.
- When using any chemical reagents, it is necessary to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin.
- After complete removal of rusty traces, the blade is thoroughly washed with water and dried well. The presence of moisture can reinitiate corrosion.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will show you how to remove rust from a knife:
Conclusion
To protect kitchen, hunting and other knives from corrosion, it is necessary to use anti-rust products on time. Both traditional cleaners and special converters are suitable for cleansing. When using the blade further, you should remember about preventive measures and follow them regularly.
