Can I Save My Rust Spotted Knife?

Dear Home-Ec 101,

This morning I stumbled out to the kitchen to discover whoever (I have my suspects on a short list) had done the dishes last left my good knife in a sink full of water overnight.

This is what it looks like now.

Can it be saved? Are these rust spots harmful? Will the rust ruin my knife blade? Will the culprit live to see another day?

Signed,
Spotted in Spateford

Heather says:

While the blade looks a little worse for wear, it's only surface rust. Check out the comments of Why Is There Rust on My Stainless? If you want the lowdown on how rust can occur on stainless steel.

To fix your knife it's time to break out our good friend Bar Keepers Friend¹. Wet the blade of your knife, sprinkle with Bar Keepers Friend and use a soft cloth to buff until all of the rust has been removed. You need to do this as soon as possible. Stainless steel, like all steel, can rust, it just occurs at a much slower rate than other formulas. Removing the rust will prevent it the corrosion from spreading.

Once you've cleaned up the blade go ahead and sharpen your knife.

In all honesty, I'm more concerned about the handle which is not pictured.

If it your knife has a wooden handle, has the wood swollen and warped? How is the handle secured to the tang of the blade? Can you see the bolts that secure the blade to the handle? A wooden handle may split after soaking in water. Keep an eye on it. If the wood does split, a knife repair shop can replace the handle. You'll need to decide if it would be more cost effective to just replace the knife. If the handle is made of man-made materials you may be fine.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

¹There's no disclosure, they don't sponsor the site in any way, it's just a wonderful product I've used for years and recommend highly. You can find it near the abrasive cleaners at most big box (Target / Walmart style stores). It's in a gold can and very cheap.

Can I Save My Rust Spotted Knife? is a post from: Home Ec 101 ©Home Ec 101.com 2007 - 2011

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