RE: [Paddlewise] Rust - Leatherman - Swiss Army knife

<From: "Derek Wakeling" <depawake_at_ihug.co.nz
<Subject: [Paddlewise] Rust - Leatherman - Swiss Army knife

<Hi Ferdinand
< I have the same experience with my leatherman "Wave" but have also had
<corrosion in my Swiss Army Knife.  The Leatherman had some spots of rust
<after one outing on the sea. The rust only occurred where various parts
<pressed closely together suggesting that the rust only occurred where there
<was little or no oxygen.  The Swiss A K did not rust but corrosion seemed
to
<be between the dividers and the blades. I suspect its electronic corrosion.
<I am taking more care now rinsing in fresh water and dosing with WD 40.

The rusting cannot occur without oxygen--rust is iron oxide. However,
wherever there are two areas with different concentrations of oxygen, you
will get differential oxygen cell corrosion. All forms of corrosion are
"electrical" in nature. Corrosion is an electro-chemical reaction and always
involves the transfer of electrons.

Ralph's suggestion about WD40 is an excellent one. That is the method that I
use. If you can keep a coating on the metal so that it cannot be in contact
with water, you can prevent the corrosion from starting.

Once the metal has become stained with rust, not only is it difficult to
clean, but it will be more susceptible to future rusting because of
differences in the smoothness of the finish. Rougher vs. smoother areas will
become cathodic and anodic to each other and you will get corrosion.

So prevention is the key and we just have to learn to live with the staining
we are going to get.

Steve Holtzman

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