Tool care

[NOVAbonsai]

So I just bought myself a set of Kaneshin tools (Black carbon steel). Before they arrive I wanted to know what everyone does to care for these tools and make sure they don't rust before I start using them. What kind of oil do you use on them? How do you clean them? What about when I need to get them sharpened?

Thanks in advance for your replies. I want to be sure I care for these and they last a long time

 

[Lutonian]

camellia oil is tradition and works, but any high quality mineral oil will work

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I use WD-40 for storage.
When they go dull, I visit the hardware store and ebay to buy new ones. Sharpening them is usually as expensive as buying new ones (20 bucks for a new concave cutter from China, sharpening is 30).

 

[MrWunderful]

I used Wd-40 as well, or standard household general use oil. Almost after every use, especially on sappy trees.

Get a cheap sharpening wet stone and sharpen all flat blade items yourself, its easier than it looks.

In 8 years I havent had to sharpen any curved blade yet because I prefer a saw or secateurs on anything bigger than a pencil.

 

[NOVAbonsai]

Ok thanks for the info. I have some Camellia oil to use. I guess you just wash them with soap and water after use and put them away dry and or oiled?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Ok thanks for the info. I have some Camellia oil to use. I guess you just wash them with soap and water after use and put them away dry and or oiled?

I let them soak in 70 ethanol for 15 minutes with a dash of dishwashing soap, then dry, oil and store.
But I forget/neglect this most of the time, since I have no trees with visible diseases and work mostly with conifers. If I would care about maples, I'd clean my tools every time.

Soaps are sometimes high in potassium or sodium salts and will increase rust formation.

 

[leatherback]

I have a cloth and a can of ballistol. After use under wet conditions, say, 9 months per year, I spray the tools and whipe them down with the cloth. The cloth i now dense ballistol cloth