Diving knives are something that no diver should be without, no matter how often or how deep you go. They can save your life and get you out of some really sticky situations, and you will never know when you need one. Once you find your perfect diving knife, you aren’t quite finished yet – you need to learn how to take care of it properly so that it will last you a long time and take care of you when you need it most. Here are some diving knife care tips that will keep your saltwater knives lasting for a very long time:
1. Rust: Rust is a real issue for any saltwater knife. The high salt content in the water and air around saltwater can make any diving knife develop rust faster. While this also occurs in a fresh water environment, it’s accelerated in a saltwater environment. You want to make sure that you clean your knife after you get out of the water and ensure that it is dry. If you find that rust is developing on the blade or any part of the knife, you want to make sure that you buff it with a metal polishing compound as soon as possible so the steel in your diving knife doesn’t become pitted, which will make the steel weaker over time.
2. Storage: After you use your saltwater knives, you want to make sure to rinse them with fresh, clean water, then dry them completely. When they are dry, place a thin coat of silicone or oil over any of the steel parts to help keep them clean and operating smoothly. Store them in a safe place, such as a leather or hard plastic case, diving kit, or other area where you keep diving equipment. It’s not a good idea to leave them out in the weather for any length of time when they are not in use as it can cause early wear and tear on them.
3. Cleaning: There are plenty of great saltwater knife cleaning kits out there that will provide you everything you need to keep your diving knives in excellent shape. These kits usually give you a cleaning cloth, sharpening tool, polishing and/or cleaning compound, and more so that you get everything you need to keep your diving knives clean in one easy to use and store kit. These knife cleaning kits are a great thing to have with you, so when you are finished diving, you can clean and store your diving knives properly.
4. Sharpening: By keeping your diving knives sharpened, you will find that it will take less time to get prepared when you are ready to go diving. It will also help to keep your knives in good shape as without maintaining a proper edge, it makes them harder to sharpen and can cause them to lose their edge. So, you want to make sure that you have a knife sharpener for your diving knives or take them to a shop to have them sharpened on a regular basis.
By simply following these four simple knife care rules for your diving knives, you can ensure that your diving knives last for a very long time. Remember that your knife will take care of you when you need it most, so you should take care of it when it’s not in use.
