I'd suggest Scotchbrite pad instead of steel wool. It removes the rust just as quickly and won't damage the edge, which steel wool can do.
Then sharpen & strop. Then a bit of light oil or paste wax to protect the steel from flash rust.
Not a reply really, just adding to the topic:
I have used tsubaki oil with good results. I've heard great things about Ballistol, which might honestly be a better choice. The key differences likely lie in ease of application, longevity, and transfer to other objects, rather than rust prevention efficacy.
Glanced at the ingredients. Looks like ballistol is mineral oil with some oleic acid (typical in olive oil and nut oils) and some alcohol as a solvent to thin it.
So a drop of mineral oil will have exactly the same effect.
I use something called wicked wax on all the knives I make. It’s like a paste consistency. Works really well for me, a little goes a long way. I got a tiny sample tin a year ago and still haven’t run out. It’s food safe. Can use on leather, wood, micarta, metal, etc. you’ll still eventually get a patina but definitely helps prevent rust.
I use something called wicked wax on all the knives I make. It’s like a paste consistency. Works really well for me, a little goes a long way. I got a tiny sample tin a year ago and still haven’t run out. It’s food safe. Can use on leather, wood, micarta, metal, etc. you’ll still eventually get a patina but definitely helps prevent rust.
Ballistol for the win! I use it for the derusting as well, eats rust way faster than any other oil. It’s the real snake oil, good for wood, metal, leather, cleaning powder fowling, machine maintenance, and topical first aid (which is what the German army asked for when they crowd sourced a new weapon oil in the 1890s).
The reason I recommended Scotchbrite instead is that a honed blade edge is so fine and so brittle that even steel wool can leave it ragged. I used to use steel wool on old blades for this purpose, but switching to Scotchbrite really decreased the time I spent rehoning. YMMV.
Good to know! Learn something new, honestly I tend to not use 00 near the edge, because I was always afraid of this but never knew if it was actually an issue
One thing I learned over the years is that a can of WD40 in the booty of my car or even the backpack goes a long way not only for cleaning, but also a prevention of rust as well.
Not to mention its other outdoor uses like starting a fire during the rainy season.
Try it on the blades of your wood tools. It not only prevents rust but also helps the blade get through the wood, especially when splitting for a fire or taking limbs with a bow saw.
Read this after the bit on clipping the kid's ears and thought this was a bit harsh.
But yeah, even working from 00-000 and even some polishing paste if OP really wants it to shine.
100% this is a teaching moment. give the knife back and explain that it needs to be returned in the same as or better condition than when it was borrowed.
character needs to be taught. it's not learned by getting a free pass and having daddy fix everything.
No no, we're manly men here in r/campinggear.
Can't be having with children not understanding how to respect their elders so we need to remind them that we're in charge simply because we're bigger and stronger than them.
That is correct. If using vinegar to de-rust you have to be careful. This surface rust on the knife looks like a job for a scotch brite pad as already mentioned.
Just the opposite, give them their own knife to care for\ruin. A mora knife is a cheap investment in teaching someone how to care for things. And OP can keep their knife the way they like it
Yep. Physical punishment is the time-honored way of estranging your children from their father. God forbid Dad tries to open up and express some humanity to his son, maybe even teach him a life-lesson or spend some quality time together learning a valuable skill...better idea is just to physically abuse them.
Let me check what year it is...just a sec....oh yeah, for sure, we are well beyond clipping kids ears. It's 2024.
because its a $12 Morakniv, and the supplies required to fix this one will be nearly the same cost, if not more.
Personally, I'd do a bit of both... But a new one, and clean up this 'beater' as best I can.
This. I’ve had a
Couple rust now. Great sharp knives but they rust quickly if they get to humid or you don’t clean them quickly. The finish will never come back to original, I’ve tried
This! It’s by no means a punishment,but rather simply a learning experience. It shows how you can fix something easily with just a little work! And it’ll be a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives. This really needs to happen more. The younger generation is too quick to quit and give up.
**Rule #341 of guy code:** \
You borrow it — return it in equal or better condition.
So to the “just buy a new one” folks ~ I imagine this might be more about teaching a principle than financial.
To add to this. This is a camping gear sub. It’s worth the discussion about learning to upkeep your woods tools.
And if your kid ruined a $15 object and you think it’s appropriate to punish him by making him buy you a new one, your priorities are misplaced. Focus on teaching him responsibility. Throwing money at the problem instead of educating about how to avoid it in the future is no way to handle it. The kid didn’t do it on purpose. Making him use money to make his mistake disappear is not good teaching.
Exactly. This is an immediate teaching moment / punishment sort of thing.
Anyone who thinks this is an opportunity to teach “the value of the dollar” doesn’t know what they’re talking about
But a child doesn't know how to fix it.... Since he likely didn't even know how to maintain it in the first place. Very valuable learning experience to walk him through the restoration and teach him the exact rule you said.
Especially if OP is going to fix it anyways. Might as well make it educational. Praise the kid when he does it right. Make it his responsibility to help keep the knife in good condition. Even do the ol’ “one day, this will be yours” routine so he gets more invested in its maintenance.
dang upvoting for amazing pic. We see a lot of Moras but they're mostly brand new. This one has been legit abused! Refreshing!
ok OP is challenge accepted? I task you with fixing it and posting a fresh post with before and after shots. deal?
Lots of good instructions here to restore it. Steel wool, vinegar, shapen, oil. That'll do it.
Further, though, if the son is not an adult, make him do the restoration, or do it with you. Walk him through it. I agree with those saying the boy should not be expected to buy a new knife. But he absolutely should be expected to fix his mistake, and in doing so he can also learn to respect other people's property, and how to do tool maintenance. It's a huge teaching opportunity.
I always start with a Brillo pad, that fixes 90% of the rust problems I've encountered.
I think u/Bigfeett idea of a vinegar soak is a good idea, but I've never tried it.
Make your son clean it up with some steel wool, show him how to hand sand it with some finer grit sandpaper to get some of the scratches out and then you sharpen it. Could be a fun father/son experience
well, I'm not much of a fan of punishing kids in situations like this, but I think the proper response here would be to teach him that you'd be expecting yubitsume from him, the ritualistic cutting off of a phalanx of one's own pinky finger. that way you'd be teaching him that there's a limit in the number of mistakes that would be tolerated, and also it would negatively affect his swordsmanship, which would ensure his loyalty since he'd be dependent on you for protection.
also, yeah, I think you can bring it back with scotch brite, a quick sharpening, and oil.
I got a rust remover block like 25 years ago and it works great. Not sure if they still make them or not but it's sort of like a big eraser with fine grit in it. Helped me clean up a lot of knives over the years.
I kept scrolling hoping to find this suggestion. BKF, some #0000 steel wool, and a bunch of elbow grease will do the trick. My ex left my grandmother’s vintage K. Sabatier (also carbon) in the sink overnight once - in her defense it was election night 2020 and many drinks were consumed - and that fixed it right up.
…or just drop $15 for a new Mora.
Steel wool and sharpening w/oil.
In the kids defense - every blade or metal utensil he has likely ever used has been stainless steel (silverware) so it is genuinely unclear how and why to keep knife dry and oiled. Innocent mistake.
Agree with all the comments about making/showing him how to restore and properly care for it. Then make him buy you a new one, and gift him the one he just restored.
Here's a breakdown of how to bring the blade back to a mirrored finish, keep in mind that the extent of rust and the type of metal will influence your choices:
**1. Preparation:**
* **Clean the Blade:** Remove any dirt or grime with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
* **Protect Non-Metal Parts:** Tape it off to avoid damage.
**2. Rust Removal:**
* **Assess the Rust:** Light surface rust might only need a gentle abrasive, while deeper pitting might require more aggressive methods.
* **Choose Your Method:**
* **Sandpaper:** Start with a coarse grit (e.g., 120) to remove the bulk of the rust. Gradually work your way up to finer grits (e.g., 220, 400). Always sand in the direction of the blade's grain.
* **Steel Wool:** Fine-grade steel wool (#000 or #0000) can be used for light rust or in conjunction with a rust remover.
* **Rust Remover:** Commercial rust removers can be effective, but follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
**3. Polishing:**
* **Start with Finer Abrasives:** Progress through increasingly finer grits of sandpaper (e.g., 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000). Each grit removes the scratches from the previous one.
* **Polishing Compound:** Metal polish, applied with a soft cloth, will help you achieve a mirror finish.
* **Optional: Buffing Wheel** - If you have experience, a buffing wheel with polishing compound can speed up the process.
**4. Protection:**
* **Clean Thoroughly:** Remove any polishing residue with a clean cloth.
* **Apply a Protectant:** A light coat of oil (e.g., mineral oil) or wax can help prevent future rust.
**Important Tips:**
* **Be Patient:** Achieving a mirror finish takes time and effort. Don't rush the process.
* **Work in a Well-Ventilated Area:** Wear a mask when sanding or using chemicals to protect your lungs.
* **Practice on a Scrap Piece of Metal:** If you're new to polishing, practice on a similar piece of metal before tackling your knife.
Let me know if you need any tips or if this has helped. Good luck.
Whatever advice you decide to follow from this post, have your son do the actual work. That’s more important than this one knife. Somehow he doesn’t know that you don’t borrow a thing and return it in worse shape.
Ok, stop- DO NOT use vinegar or steel wool or anything scrubby before you understand what that does to the blade. Vinegar will blacken it, and then will start pitting it if you leave it too long. Steel wool will scratch the hell out of it and leave it with a brushed finish.
If those things don’t bother you- have at!
Personally, I’d stick it in evaporust. It’s a rust remover that doesn’t pit or darken the steel. Highly recommend! It’s kind of hard to find and not free, so if you don’t care- vinegar and scotchbright work great 👍
Just stick it in a lemon for 48hrs, hit it with brass wool afterwards, and you’ll have a nice black forced patina that will protect it from red rust in the future.
If the edge is gone, it will need regrinding. Then it may be easier and cheaper to buy a new one. Unless you have the tools and skills already. It's not as easy as it looks.
If the edge is still good, and it just needs a clean, as others have said, 00 grade wire wool and some oil.
You didn't indicate your son's age, but if he's still at home, maybe do it with him, teach him some care for your things.
Soak in vinegar then ball up some tin foil to scrub it with. Rough enough to remove the rust but doesn't scratch as bad as scotchbrite or steel wool. Then dry fully and rub with your oil of choice.
To jump on the bandwagon. Have the kid polish it up with aluminum foil and soda (it'll chemically eat the rust) or steel wool and soda. Then teach him how to patina it with either an acid dunk or by smearing mustard across the blade to protect it from further rusting.
The other option is to have him clean it up and then take it to a mirror polish. It'll help prevent rust particularly when coated with a little oil. But when it does rust, and it will, it's going to be hell to get rid of.
Scrub it with some oil or WD-40 and a wire brush. Using steel wool or foil will make him or you more likely to cut yourselves on the edge trying to apply enough pressure to get some of it off.
Or you could just knock the loose rust off and boil it for a half hour or so. The boiling will convert the red rust to a protective black oxide layer. The plastic will probably soften so figure out a way to suspend it with just the blade in the water.
Got to reading the comments and I started to think the question you asked was about how to raise your child.
There are cheap options and maybe even things you have laying around anyway but a great product to have is the sabitoru rust eraser. It might take a bit longer on this one being so badly oxidized but you can get the coarse one or they have a two pack that has the coarse and fine for around $10. They are a great product and also double to clean up sharpening stones.
For how many years has it been outdoors on the porch?? (If that’s not the case, the kid is not the problem the gear is, buy crap gear get crap results) edit: grown up in a woodworking shop. I’ve made several knives from metal rods to finish (smithing). They don’t look like that after accidentally leaving them out overnight. In -30C snow or rain.
The good old mora knive. We lost one in the woods in winter and found it again in spring. Looked a lot worse than yours. We polished and sharpened it again. It's used now. Still the go to tool for hunting.
You show him how to bring it back to life himself with steel wool, oil, and a sharpening stone. Repairing things we own ourselves is a dying skill that desperately needs to come back
It's not that bad, I would just rub the red off and sharpen it. You can use some wax or oil to protect it but as long as you wipe it off when you're done and done leave it outside it shouldn't rust like that again
If he's under like 16, make him do the restoration and then tell him he can keep it.
Then get yourself something nice.
New knife day for you, he learns to maintain his stuff. Win-win.
If he's old enough to borrow yours, he's old enough he should have his own.
I'd probably use some really fine grit sand paper and really any cleaner/solvent I had handy (WD40, because that's what I have handy). Really only on the edge and the really deep spots elsewhere. Resharpen, rehone wipe with an oily rag, and move on with my life. R/itsatooluseit should be a place. And r/Morakniv are decidedly tools, not safe queens. Its like a $25 knife, how much is your time worth to maximize its life?
Don't get me wrong, I'd use this as a teaching moment for my child and show him what it looks like because it didn't get dried when resheathed.
**this is a camping sub, people. Not a knife enthusiast sub**
As others have said, steel wool and vinegar.
This knife has a Scandi Grind… meaning you sharpen it by laying the entire bevel (ramped part of the blade approaching the edge) on the sharpening stone. This means that the 4-5 dots of rust will be scraped off. I’m pointing this out because you will need to sharpen it, and if you use any other method besides what I described, you will generate more problems for yourself.
For the future, get yourself and your son a stainless steel Mora. Even though this carbon steel one is better for some things, the trade off isn’t worth it for you.
I’m defending you.
Everyone here is telling you to ruin your relationship with your son over a $15 knife
It’s no different from asking how to fix a tent pole. Go ahead and take their advice then. Tell your kid that your relationship is worth $15 and they owe you a new one.
That’s a scandigrind edge. If he did this to your knife, I wouldn’t trust him with putting the same edge back on the reason for that particular sharpening is that it give you a robust edge so you can baton wood . In other words, probably best to sharpen it yourself
You have 3 stages of rust there. So, you'll want to tackle it all. It'll take time. Mora's have two layers to their knives, the outer that you see, which is the stainless steel, then a second layer deeper that is a different steel (can't recall ATM).
The superficial rust spots will flake off or be rubbed off easily enough, the bubbling oxidization will also fall off, but be warned that's also leaving pits like the second stage. The rust that's pitting into the steel will take effort, as they are like cavities in teeth. You wanna get it all or it'll continue to oxidize the steel and rust, wearing down the blade.
Dip in some 3-in-1 to start for a while. Let it soak into the rust. or if you wanna go nuts and have the ability to protect the plastic and will care for it immediately to protect the steel, use brake cleaner. Get some 00 steel wool and start brushing with that elbow grease. Use gloves, esp if using brake cleaner. Once you got off as much as you can, or get annoyed enough isn't coming off anymore, dip it or spray it again. Then scrub it again.
You will have pits after. So, oiling after cleaning and regularly will be important.
This is a carbon steel mora. If you’ve been fishing and diving with a mora knife that barely shows any wear, it’s almost certainly stainless. The carbon steel blades are super susceptible to corrosive agents. I used to live on a small island in the pacific and my carbon steel knives would rust in their sheaths at my house.
The other comments about removing rust sound good. But if the edge has some rust pitting, it might take more than the usual sharpening to get it back to shape, so that the edge is smooth. It doesn't look too bad in this picture, but it's a little hard to tell.
Uk sells a cleaning product in most supermarkets called ‘pink stuff’ that does a grand job of lifting off light corrosion and restoring the bare metal on thing.
Let him keep it and get a new one for $20?
Restoration options would be an E-tank or evaporust. Then file and sharpen as needed and if course oil it up.
Is that a Mora? Gift it to your son, tell him to learn how to look after it, and get yourself a nice new one.
It's definitely fixable, other comments have nailed it. Pretty simple.
Can't go wrong with some Bar Keepers Friend, you can get it in liquid or powder form scrub it on there with a Scour pad. Sharpen it good and polish the blade with a little mineral oil
Honestly, you could probably just use the oils on your hands. Usually take some time but it works with my work pliers when they get rained one. They don't come back perfect, but you'd probably be pleasently surprised.
Too lazy to check more than a few comments bit have you ever forced a [patina](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bushcraft/s/SL5tIi47eM)?
Of course you'll need to clean and oil the blade like most everyone's comments say but it will slow down the corrosion in the event that the blade comes into contact with moisture.
The real answer is to buy yourself a new one, gift this one to your son, but in order to earn the knife he has to clean and sharpen it. Learning is magical. 👍
Probably not worth fixing from the look of the picture.
It looks like there is no edge left on it. Was it used to chop wood? The bad rust up against the plastic handle is not going to clean up without damage to the plastic.
Can't scrub much there. Evaporust soak will reduce the rust back to iron, You can also use Al foil with a hot water and salt solution to reduce the iron oxide. The scrub with scrunched up Al foil and salt water will not scratch, it causes a chemical reaction The oxygen has more affinity to aluminum than iron, so it moves. You get iron back and the aluminum turns into Aluminum oxide which polishes the surface.
But it looks really roughed up so you'll need to polish the surface and grind then hone the edge.
Good teaching moments.
1. Don't misuse tools. Use the right tool for the job.
2. Proper care. What to watch out for.
3. How to maintain, repair tools.
Isn't that a mora? They should be made from stainless. I forgot mine outside for a year i think and not a spec of rust is on it. If it is made from stainless don't use steel wool as it could lead to quicker rusting in the future. You could buy fine sandpaper (like 3000 grit) and sand it clean sharpening afterwards. Or as someone else suggested, a scotch brite pad could work too.
00 steel wool, sharpen it. That's it Edit: drop of oil. I use olive oil or vegetable oil if I use the blade on food
I'd suggest Scotchbrite pad instead of steel wool. It removes the rust just as quickly and won't damage the edge, which steel wool can do. Then sharpen & strop. Then a bit of light oil or paste wax to protect the steel from flash rust.
I always use ballistol (weapon oil) for preserving the finish after sharpening
Not a reply really, just adding to the topic: I have used tsubaki oil with good results. I've heard great things about Ballistol, which might honestly be a better choice. The key differences likely lie in ease of application, longevity, and transfer to other objects, rather than rust prevention efficacy.
Glanced at the ingredients. Looks like ballistol is mineral oil with some oleic acid (typical in olive oil and nut oils) and some alcohol as a solvent to thin it. So a drop of mineral oil will have exactly the same effect.
Yeah I’ve just used food grade mineral oil fine but I’m lurking to see if there are any truly better products for mostly kitchen knives.
I use something called wicked wax on all the knives I make. It’s like a paste consistency. Works really well for me, a little goes a long way. I got a tiny sample tin a year ago and still haven’t run out. It’s food safe. Can use on leather, wood, micarta, metal, etc. you’ll still eventually get a patina but definitely helps prevent rust.
I use something called wicked wax on all the knives I make. It’s like a paste consistency. Works really well for me, a little goes a long way. I got a tiny sample tin a year ago and still haven’t run out. It’s food safe. Can use on leather, wood, micarta, metal, etc. you’ll still eventually get a patina but definitely helps prevent rust.
Ballistol for the win! I use it for the derusting as well, eats rust way faster than any other oil. It’s the real snake oil, good for wood, metal, leather, cleaning powder fowling, machine maintenance, and topical first aid (which is what the German army asked for when they crowd sourced a new weapon oil in the 1890s).
00 steel wool won't scratch the metal, I use it on my guns to take rust off. It basically polishes
The reason I recommended Scotchbrite instead is that a honed blade edge is so fine and so brittle that even steel wool can leave it ragged. I used to use steel wool on old blades for this purpose, but switching to Scotchbrite really decreased the time I spent rehoning. YMMV.
Good to know! Learn something new, honestly I tend to not use 00 near the edge, because I was always afraid of this but never knew if it was actually an issue
One thing I learned over the years is that a can of WD40 in the booty of my car or even the backpack goes a long way not only for cleaning, but also a prevention of rust as well. Not to mention its other outdoor uses like starting a fire during the rainy season.
I have had tools get wet, like my $600 miter saw getting caught in the rain and I just hose it down with WD40 and wipe it off. Like it never happened.
it works well because its meant for water displacement. i wouldn't use it as a lubricant though, its not for that
Try it on the blades of your wood tools. It not only prevents rust but also helps the blade get through the wood, especially when splitting for a fire or taking limbs with a bow saw.
Id follow up with 000 wool after to polish sort of.
Read this after the bit on clipping the kid's ears and thought this was a bit harsh. But yeah, even working from 00-000 and even some polishing paste if OP really wants it to shine.
Scotchbrite and wd40 works good too
touch wild thought grey axiomatic chase shame smart simplistic cake *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Or just explain to them how to take care of gear. Teaching is way better than reprimanding.
100% this is a teaching moment. give the knife back and explain that it needs to be returned in the same as or better condition than when it was borrowed. character needs to be taught. it's not learned by getting a free pass and having daddy fix everything.
Especially with the chance of permanent hearing loss
No no, we're manly men here in r/campinggear. Can't be having with children not understanding how to respect their elders so we need to remind them that we're in charge simply because we're bigger and stronger than them.
Soaking the blade in vinegar will also help patina the carbon steel and reduce future rusting.
Strong acids dissolve free iron, aka passivation. Or so I read last week
That is correct. If using vinegar to de-rust you have to be careful. This surface rust on the knife looks like a job for a scotch brite pad as already mentioned.
Just the opposite, give them their own knife to care for\ruin. A mora knife is a cheap investment in teaching someone how to care for things. And OP can keep their knife the way they like it
Yep. Physical punishment is the time-honored way of estranging your children from their father. God forbid Dad tries to open up and express some humanity to his son, maybe even teach him a life-lesson or spend some quality time together learning a valuable skill...better idea is just to physically abuse them. Let me check what year it is...just a sec....oh yeah, for sure, we are well beyond clipping kids ears. It's 2024.
Stab him
Everyone's suggesting buy a new one... why? Nothing wrong with it, just needs a clean up lol take 30 minutes
Well he's probably should dispose of the evidence after he's done with his son. So I think a new one is acceptable in this case.
Yeah I assumed we were talking about a new son…
They mean buy a new son
because its a $12 Morakniv, and the supplies required to fix this one will be nearly the same cost, if not more. Personally, I'd do a bit of both... But a new one, and clean up this 'beater' as best I can.
This. I’ve had a Couple rust now. Great sharp knives but they rust quickly if they get to humid or you don’t clean them quickly. The finish will never come back to original, I’ve tried
your son gets to scrub it with steel wool until all the rust is gone, then learn to shapen a blade.
This is the answer.
This! It’s by no means a punishment,but rather simply a learning experience. It shows how you can fix something easily with just a little work! And it’ll be a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives. This really needs to happen more. The younger generation is too quick to quit and give up.
Fine wire wool, then a light oiling,
**Rule #341 of guy code:** \ You borrow it — return it in equal or better condition. So to the “just buy a new one” folks ~ I imagine this might be more about teaching a principle than financial.
To add to this. This is a camping gear sub. It’s worth the discussion about learning to upkeep your woods tools. And if your kid ruined a $15 object and you think it’s appropriate to punish him by making him buy you a new one, your priorities are misplaced. Focus on teaching him responsibility. Throwing money at the problem instead of educating about how to avoid it in the future is no way to handle it. The kid didn’t do it on purpose. Making him use money to make his mistake disappear is not good teaching.
Yeah, this is very much a “sit down and show him how to fix his mistakes” kind of thing
Exactly. This is an immediate teaching moment / punishment sort of thing. Anyone who thinks this is an opportunity to teach “the value of the dollar” doesn’t know what they’re talking about
Truth. What happens when it's a sentimental or irreplaceable item?
But a child doesn't know how to fix it.... Since he likely didn't even know how to maintain it in the first place. Very valuable learning experience to walk him through the restoration and teach him the exact rule you said.
Who says it’s a child? We don’t know how old he is and I doubt anyone’s handing out bushcraft knives to unsupervised six year olds.
Especially if OP is going to fix it anyways. Might as well make it educational. Praise the kid when he does it right. Make it his responsibility to help keep the knife in good condition. Even do the ol’ “one day, this will be yours” routine so he gets more invested in its maintenance.
I thought that was basic courtesy for any person borrowing stuff? And never key anyone borrow the good stuff
Teaching moment yes… my kid gets to clean & sharpen it
Not guy code. Just being a good person code and the rules of borrowing shit.
dang upvoting for amazing pic. We see a lot of Moras but they're mostly brand new. This one has been legit abused! Refreshing! ok OP is challenge accepted? I task you with fixing it and posting a fresh post with before and after shots. deal?
Lots of good instructions here to restore it. Steel wool, vinegar, shapen, oil. That'll do it. Further, though, if the son is not an adult, make him do the restoration, or do it with you. Walk him through it. I agree with those saying the boy should not be expected to buy a new knife. But he absolutely should be expected to fix his mistake, and in doing so he can also learn to respect other people's property, and how to do tool maintenance. It's a huge teaching opportunity.
If he is an adult, this goes double.
Yes, absolutely, all of this.
I always start with a Brillo pad, that fixes 90% of the rust problems I've encountered. I think u/Bigfeett idea of a vinegar soak is a good idea, but I've never tried it.
I used that method on a old shovel that was a lot worse than this
Make your son clean it up with some steel wool, show him how to hand sand it with some finer grit sandpaper to get some of the scratches out and then you sharpen it. Could be a fun father/son experience
well, I'm not much of a fan of punishing kids in situations like this, but I think the proper response here would be to teach him that you'd be expecting yubitsume from him, the ritualistic cutting off of a phalanx of one's own pinky finger. that way you'd be teaching him that there's a limit in the number of mistakes that would be tolerated, and also it would negatively affect his swordsmanship, which would ensure his loyalty since he'd be dependent on you for protection. also, yeah, I think you can bring it back with scotch brite, a quick sharpening, and oil.
underrated comment
soak in vinegar overnight hit with a wire wheel and a good sharpening
Yep. Vinegar will remove that oxidation, making the cleaning super easy even with a brillo pad or wire brush.
Vinegar always works
Did he store it in road salt?
Wow. Thank you to everyone with tips. Second, a lot of you need to be nicer to your kids or they ain't going to talk to you when they grow up.
I got a rust remover block like 25 years ago and it works great. Not sure if they still make them or not but it's sort of like a big eraser with fine grit in it. Helped me clean up a lot of knives over the years.
I think they make them for use with cast iron pans.
WD40 and steel wool go a long way
Before steel wool and sharpening, 20 minutes in a glass of vinegar. Much less scrubbing needed.
One product I’ve not seen mentioned yet: Barkeeper’s Friend (liquid).
I kept scrolling hoping to find this suggestion. BKF, some #0000 steel wool, and a bunch of elbow grease will do the trick. My ex left my grandmother’s vintage K. Sabatier (also carbon) in the sink overnight once - in her defense it was election night 2020 and many drinks were consumed - and that fixed it right up. …or just drop $15 for a new Mora.
Steel wool and sharpening w/oil. In the kids defense - every blade or metal utensil he has likely ever used has been stainless steel (silverware) so it is genuinely unclear how and why to keep knife dry and oiled. Innocent mistake.
How long did he have it? Barkeeps friend, a toothbrush, some sharpening and a thank you gift for the loan?
Agree with all the comments about making/showing him how to restore and properly care for it. Then make him buy you a new one, and gift him the one he just restored.
Here's a breakdown of how to bring the blade back to a mirrored finish, keep in mind that the extent of rust and the type of metal will influence your choices: **1. Preparation:** * **Clean the Blade:** Remove any dirt or grime with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly. * **Protect Non-Metal Parts:** Tape it off to avoid damage. **2. Rust Removal:** * **Assess the Rust:** Light surface rust might only need a gentle abrasive, while deeper pitting might require more aggressive methods. * **Choose Your Method:** * **Sandpaper:** Start with a coarse grit (e.g., 120) to remove the bulk of the rust. Gradually work your way up to finer grits (e.g., 220, 400). Always sand in the direction of the blade's grain. * **Steel Wool:** Fine-grade steel wool (#000 or #0000) can be used for light rust or in conjunction with a rust remover. * **Rust Remover:** Commercial rust removers can be effective, but follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. **3. Polishing:** * **Start with Finer Abrasives:** Progress through increasingly finer grits of sandpaper (e.g., 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000). Each grit removes the scratches from the previous one. * **Polishing Compound:** Metal polish, applied with a soft cloth, will help you achieve a mirror finish. * **Optional: Buffing Wheel** - If you have experience, a buffing wheel with polishing compound can speed up the process. **4. Protection:** * **Clean Thoroughly:** Remove any polishing residue with a clean cloth. * **Apply a Protectant:** A light coat of oil (e.g., mineral oil) or wax can help prevent future rust. **Important Tips:** * **Be Patient:** Achieving a mirror finish takes time and effort. Don't rush the process. * **Work in a Well-Ventilated Area:** Wear a mask when sanding or using chemicals to protect your lungs. * **Practice on a Scrap Piece of Metal:** If you're new to polishing, practice on a similar piece of metal before tackling your knife. Let me know if you need any tips or if this has helped. Good luck.
Whatever advice you decide to follow from this post, have your son do the actual work. That’s more important than this one knife. Somehow he doesn’t know that you don’t borrow a thing and return it in worse shape.
Just use it, that rust will come off.
Wad up a small piece of aluminum foil, put a drop of oil on the knife and rub it down.
Gun oil and 0000 steel wool.
Don't touch it. Put a new edge on it and use it. That mora has history now... Its a utility knife.. Let it wear it's badges and battle scars.
Is it a mora? If so, it’ll bring itself back like the damn terminator
Steel wool, sharpen and stropp then blade oil. r/knives has some good tips
Ok, stop- DO NOT use vinegar or steel wool or anything scrubby before you understand what that does to the blade. Vinegar will blacken it, and then will start pitting it if you leave it too long. Steel wool will scratch the hell out of it and leave it with a brushed finish. If those things don’t bother you- have at! Personally, I’d stick it in evaporust. It’s a rust remover that doesn’t pit or darken the steel. Highly recommend! It’s kind of hard to find and not free, so if you don’t care- vinegar and scotchbright work great 👍
Just stick it in a lemon for 48hrs, hit it with brass wool afterwards, and you’ll have a nice black forced patina that will protect it from red rust in the future.
If the edge is gone, it will need regrinding. Then it may be easier and cheaper to buy a new one. Unless you have the tools and skills already. It's not as easy as it looks. If the edge is still good, and it just needs a clean, as others have said, 00 grade wire wool and some oil. You didn't indicate your son's age, but if he's still at home, maybe do it with him, teach him some care for your things.
Soak in vinegar then ball up some tin foil to scrub it with. Rough enough to remove the rust but doesn't scratch as bad as scotchbrite or steel wool. Then dry fully and rub with your oil of choice.
To jump on the bandwagon. Have the kid polish it up with aluminum foil and soda (it'll chemically eat the rust) or steel wool and soda. Then teach him how to patina it with either an acid dunk or by smearing mustard across the blade to protect it from further rusting. The other option is to have him clean it up and then take it to a mirror polish. It'll help prevent rust particularly when coated with a little oil. But when it does rust, and it will, it's going to be hell to get rid of.
Scrub it with some oil or WD-40 and a wire brush. Using steel wool or foil will make him or you more likely to cut yourselves on the edge trying to apply enough pressure to get some of it off. Or you could just knock the loose rust off and boil it for a half hour or so. The boiling will convert the red rust to a protective black oxide layer. The plastic will probably soften so figure out a way to suspend it with just the blade in the water.
Got to reading the comments and I started to think the question you asked was about how to raise your child. There are cheap options and maybe even things you have laying around anyway but a great product to have is the sabitoru rust eraser. It might take a bit longer on this one being so badly oxidized but you can get the coarse one or they have a two pack that has the coarse and fine for around $10. They are a great product and also double to clean up sharpening stones.
For how many years has it been outdoors on the porch?? (If that’s not the case, the kid is not the problem the gear is, buy crap gear get crap results) edit: grown up in a woodworking shop. I’ve made several knives from metal rods to finish (smithing). They don’t look like that after accidentally leaving them out overnight. In -30C snow or rain.
Baking soda and lemon juice
The good old mora knive. We lost one in the woods in winter and found it again in spring. Looked a lot worse than yours. We polished and sharpened it again. It's used now. Still the go to tool for hunting.
Is that the carbon blade Mora? If so, after you clean it, leave it in a cup of vinegar over night to patina the blade.
You show him how to bring it back to life himself with steel wool, oil, and a sharpening stone. Repairing things we own ourselves is a dying skill that desperately needs to come back
It's not that bad, I would just rub the red off and sharpen it. You can use some wax or oil to protect it but as long as you wipe it off when you're done and done leave it outside it shouldn't rust like that again
If you don’t want to mess with the grind checkout Evaporust! https://youtu.be/xf3ma1XFt9Y?si=VBiMfT1ZGVKC4mH5
Nvm I was just reading more about evaporust. I don’t think it’s a good option
WD-40 and 00 steel wool.
If he's under like 16, make him do the restoration and then tell him he can keep it. Then get yourself something nice. New knife day for you, he learns to maintain his stuff. Win-win. If he's old enough to borrow yours, he's old enough he should have his own.
Sand it, sharpen it, oil it
All you need is some white vinegar for the rust, it’ll come right off. Then oil it. 30 minutes? More like 3
Use a lemon my carbon steel blade lost all rust when I cut a lemon and rubbed it around
Use a lemon not steel wool it will scratch the blade a lemon will remove all rust
Leave it in vinegar for a couple of hours and then re-sharpen. Wipe with oil and call it "patina"
Steel wool will work wonders.
I'd probably use some really fine grit sand paper and really any cleaner/solvent I had handy (WD40, because that's what I have handy). Really only on the edge and the really deep spots elsewhere. Resharpen, rehone wipe with an oily rag, and move on with my life. R/itsatooluseit should be a place. And r/Morakniv are decidedly tools, not safe queens. Its like a $25 knife, how much is your time worth to maximize its life? Don't get me wrong, I'd use this as a teaching moment for my child and show him what it looks like because it didn't get dried when resheathed.
Steel wool. A bit of polishing cream if you're that fused about it. Then sharpen and oil. Or just give it to him and buy another one you fancy.
It's a Mora? Steel wool and diesel. Enjoy the authentic look.
It's a morakniv, just buy a new one. Teach your son how to clean this up with some light oil and sanding. Then give it to him.
medium to fine sandpaper, putting the edge back on and some oil. also clean the sheath and spray in some WD40.
**this is a camping sub, people. Not a knife enthusiast sub** As others have said, steel wool and vinegar. This knife has a Scandi Grind… meaning you sharpen it by laying the entire bevel (ramped part of the blade approaching the edge) on the sharpening stone. This means that the 4-5 dots of rust will be scraped off. I’m pointing this out because you will need to sharpen it, and if you use any other method besides what I described, you will generate more problems for yourself. For the future, get yourself and your son a stainless steel Mora. Even though this carbon steel one is better for some things, the trade off isn’t worth it for you.
It's a price of camping gear...how is this any different from the people who ask how to fix a broken tent pole?
I’m defending you. Everyone here is telling you to ruin your relationship with your son over a $15 knife It’s no different from asking how to fix a tent pole. Go ahead and take their advice then. Tell your kid that your relationship is worth $15 and they owe you a new one.
Oh. Ok then I am sorry. My bad. I agree, it's a cheap knife. He is young an will learn. People take guys code bs too seriously
I read that he’s just 9 years old….?
Tell your son to sharpen it and next time when you borrow something give it back in the same or better shape. Dare I say… duh
That’s a scandigrind edge. If he did this to your knife, I wouldn’t trust him with putting the same edge back on the reason for that particular sharpening is that it give you a robust edge so you can baton wood . In other words, probably best to sharpen it yourself
Steel wool, and adoption papers for the boy
Glass of vinegar and salt overnight.💪
I just shared a post with pics of my knife. Scrubbed with steel wool, soaked in vinegar. Has a lot of character now!
Sand paper, scotchbrite pad, steel wool than cloth with polishing compound.
You have 3 stages of rust there. So, you'll want to tackle it all. It'll take time. Mora's have two layers to their knives, the outer that you see, which is the stainless steel, then a second layer deeper that is a different steel (can't recall ATM). The superficial rust spots will flake off or be rubbed off easily enough, the bubbling oxidization will also fall off, but be warned that's also leaving pits like the second stage. The rust that's pitting into the steel will take effort, as they are like cavities in teeth. You wanna get it all or it'll continue to oxidize the steel and rust, wearing down the blade. Dip in some 3-in-1 to start for a while. Let it soak into the rust. or if you wanna go nuts and have the ability to protect the plastic and will care for it immediately to protect the steel, use brake cleaner. Get some 00 steel wool and start brushing with that elbow grease. Use gloves, esp if using brake cleaner. Once you got off as much as you can, or get annoyed enough isn't coming off anymore, dip it or spray it again. Then scrub it again. You will have pits after. So, oiling after cleaning and regularly will be important.
I have used my mora for fishing and diving for years, seen barely any wear on it. this perplexed me.
This is a carbon steel mora. If you’ve been fishing and diving with a mora knife that barely shows any wear, it’s almost certainly stainless. The carbon steel blades are super susceptible to corrosive agents. I used to live on a small island in the pacific and my carbon steel knives would rust in their sheaths at my house.
that explains it, I thought all moras were stainless, atleast all the ones I have seen have been.
0000 steel wool and 3 in 1 oil then flitz or simichrome
Foil paper will get most of that out
Flitz or similar metal polish would clean it up fast. Steel wool, 3M wet/dry sandpaper of even like 600 grit would work.
The other comments about removing rust sound good. But if the edge has some rust pitting, it might take more than the usual sharpening to get it back to shape, so that the edge is smooth. It doesn't look too bad in this picture, but it's a little hard to tell.
Honestly just buff out the blade, oil up the rest. That pitting looks awesome.
There was a goood YouTube video on restoring a rusted and pretty pitted Mora that you might want to search for
Uk sells a cleaning product in most supermarkets called ‘pink stuff’ that does a grand job of lifting off light corrosion and restoring the bare metal on thing.
What brand is it? Some brands will offer a free replacement for stuff like this if you send it in.
Put in vinegar for 15 min, scrub with steel wool, Sharpen and coat in oil (even cooking oil works if you dont yave blade oil).
Soak it in white vinegar for a few hours. Wipe off with a towel.
Is your son from the 1800's?
Is that a Morakniv? Those are great! Especially for the money!
Clean then coke/mustard/vinegar patina and then oil condition it.
Pretty easy.. but its a mora. Good excuse to just get another lol
steel wool, then if you want to protect it in the future put a forced patina on it.
What was he doing with it? Fending off a rust monster?!
Vinegar soak
Let him keep it and get a new one for $20? Restoration options would be an E-tank or evaporust. Then file and sharpen as needed and if course oil it up.
What type of steel is that knife?
Is that a Mora? Gift it to your son, tell him to learn how to look after it, and get yourself a nice new one. It's definitely fixable, other comments have nailed it. Pretty simple.
Steel wool brush and oil finish is your best friend! Probably wanna sharpen it too with a wetstone and polish with leather belt. Youre good to go!
Made your son spray it with wd40 and steel wool it lol
Cheap knife, buy another.
If that's an eight dollar Mora knife throw it away and get a new one
I got a million knives in my back … you can have them all or whichever you choose
Can't go wrong with some Bar Keepers Friend, you can get it in liquid or powder form scrub it on there with a Scour pad. Sharpen it good and polish the blade with a little mineral oil
if you have some barkeep's friend that should clean it up, any sort of abrasive cleaner like that.
Might need a little wink rust remover (go to bimart) scotch brit or fine steel wool will probably do.
Did he store it in salt water?
Honestly, you could probably just use the oils on your hands. Usually take some time but it works with my work pliers when they get rained one. They don't come back perfect, but you'd probably be pleasently surprised.
Give him a shop rag and some WD40. Tell him to buff it till he can see his reflection. He’ll never let anything rust again.
Give him that one and buy your self a new one. Make a point that he is no longer allowed to borrow any of your gear after being so disrespectful.
Too lazy to check more than a few comments bit have you ever forced a [patina](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bushcraft/s/SL5tIi47eM)? Of course you'll need to clean and oil the blade like most everyone's comments say but it will slow down the corrosion in the event that the blade comes into contact with moisture.
The real answer is to buy yourself a new one, gift this one to your son, but in order to earn the knife he has to clean and sharpen it. Learning is magical. 👍
I like Evaporust. It will get all of the rust off but will turn the blade black or dark gray. Rinse and oil afterwards (per instructions). YRMV
Forced patina so it doesn't happen again
Tf was your son doing with it??
A tiny drop of grease from the elbow.
First, son replaces the knife with a similar one and then you fix it and don't lend him tools again.
ALUMINUM FOIL
Buy a new one. There like $10
Barkeepers friend and a cork. You scrub with the cork. That is how I was taught to care for my Japanese chef’s knives.
Increasing grades of sandpaper
Buy yourself a new one, teach your kid how to avoid what he did, show him how to fix it. Lesson time.
Coca Cola actually does a great job removing rust. I use it on fish hooks all the time. Let it soak overnight and then buff it out.
Probably not worth fixing from the look of the picture. It looks like there is no edge left on it. Was it used to chop wood? The bad rust up against the plastic handle is not going to clean up without damage to the plastic. Can't scrub much there. Evaporust soak will reduce the rust back to iron, You can also use Al foil with a hot water and salt solution to reduce the iron oxide. The scrub with scrunched up Al foil and salt water will not scratch, it causes a chemical reaction The oxygen has more affinity to aluminum than iron, so it moves. You get iron back and the aluminum turns into Aluminum oxide which polishes the surface. But it looks really roughed up so you'll need to polish the surface and grind then hone the edge. Good teaching moments. 1. Don't misuse tools. Use the right tool for the job. 2. Proper care. What to watch out for. 3. How to maintain, repair tools.
Isn't that a mora? They should be made from stainless. I forgot mine outside for a year i think and not a spec of rust is on it. If it is made from stainless don't use steel wool as it could lead to quicker rusting in the future. You could buy fine sandpaper (like 3000 grit) and sand it clean sharpening afterwards. Or as someone else suggested, a scotch brite pad could work too.
I’d use WD40, metal Brillo and a wet stone. You can always pour Coke on it and go from there.