The Truth About Knife & Multi-Tool Oil
A pocket knife or multi-tool does not do much good if it is not fully functional when you need it. You want it to be easy to open, but not so easy that it just kind of flops around. Also, you want it sharpened so that it can easily cut through ropes and many other tough materials. The first step in all of this is understanding what tools you need to work with when it comes to caring for your pocket knife. Do you really need oils and stones to keep your knife in working order? Here is the truth about knife oil and all of those other “necessities”.
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What is Knife Oil?
Knife oil is designed to lubricate a pocket knife or a multi-tool in its joints so that you can open it easily. However, it serves other purposes as well.
When you open and close your pocket knife, you can cause even the toughest steel to break down. Your knife will become worn and perhaps even harder to open. In the joints, you may also notice that it becomes rusty if not properly cared for, especially if you live in an area that is prone to dampness or you use it near water. Knife oils prevent rust and damage to the blade by keeping the pocket knife joints functioning more smoothly and your pocket knives last even longer.
This type of oil can also work well on 440HC Stainless Steel blades, which, according to some are very difficult to care for.
Is Knife Oil Different from Sharpening Oil?
When sharpening a pocket knife or other knives, you also need to add a lubricant. If you try to sharpen with a dry sharpening stone, you could potentially cause too much friction. Friction causes heat and heat can damage the steel. Too much heat may even cause the blade to bend slightly so that it is no longer a straight edge. In fact, when you look up how to sharpen a pocket knife, you will see that avoiding any type of lube is bad for blades.
Some people try to avoid buying several different types of knife oil, thinking that sharpening oils and knife oils are the same. This could be a big mistake unless you buy oil that is designed for that. The oil that you need for lubrication on pocket knife joints is going to be thicker than the oil used for sharpening. Some say that for sharpening, all you really need is water.
If you are trying to figure out how to sharpen a serrated knife, the oils are still necessary, especially because you will need to sharpen each individual serration. Using a special tool is a requirement and so are the oils if you want to keep it sharp.
To understand the differences between oils, you should see what is available. Here are a few products that you may want to consider.
Hoppe’s No. 9
This precision tipped bottle has high viscosity oil to provide ultimate protection for your guns, fishing reels, and pocket knives. It will never harden or gum up the inner workings and it lasts for an extremely long time, even if you use your tools in bad weather or wet environments. The tip is also much longer than normal bottles, which allows you to reach all of those hard to reach areas.
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Lansky Nathan’s Natural Honing Oil
Honing oil is the best oil for lubricating sharpening stones. It is a petroleum product and you should keep it away from children. It is usable on all types of stones and promises to keep all of your blades very sharp. It works on both the fine grade and the rougher sides of a stone to ensure the blade glides over it, causing zero damage. Read More About Honing Oil Here⇒
