If this method has been posted before then please delete my post.
Cleaner- I use spray on stainless Steel cleaner that actually has a chemical effect . I use it on all steel and chrome.
Then.... on to the sealing part!
I'll spare you the really long version but here's the result of our
research. Borrowing from an old culinary technique and using a
'modern' oil- here's the short version:
1) Seasoning steel is a very old art. the principle is based on the fact
that when heated, the molecules that are the steel separate at a
microscopic level, this separation actually makes the very outer
surface semi-porous. In culnary arts, one Seasons a new Wok by
heating it up with some oil in it., letting it stand to cool and re-heating
up again. Repeating this process about 4 or 5 times is all that is
needed to allow the oil to penetrate enough to prevent oxidation on the surface. The result is that the cooking
surface will be naturally non-stick but also...that it will resist the
penetration of oxygen and H20 which cause rusting!
2) Some years ago... a client of mine discovered that certain pine
resins when subjected to high heat, cause tool steel to become very
rust resistant! The result of that research was a product that is now
known as Militec1. Militec1 can be used as an exotic automotive oil
additive ( Racing cars is the primary market)
because it has amazing lubrication properties (cylinder/heads) but in
addition... it has
the ability to season ANY metal to metal activity against friction and
... to some extent oxydation and corossion.
3) So the technique involves heating a blade coated with Miltec1 in
an oven at 350ºf (+25º) and keeping it hot for about 15 minutes.
Then the metal is removed and allowed to cool. Another thin coat is
then applied and the steel is re-heated. This process need only be
repeated for 3 cycles to be effective. If you go too hot, there's a risk
of de-tempering the blade, too cool and there's no effect beyond a
surface coating.
After cooling, ALL the risidual oil is wiped off with a dry cloth and the
steel is ready to use.
My relationship to Militec was to perform the empirical tests- and
indeed, the process works and better with Miltec1 than with synthetic
lithium lubricants (which actually break down under heat).
I can't tell you the secret ingredient in Militec1 (I did give you a hint)
or divulge the manufacturing process for making the stuff but the history of the discovery lead to the science and it's real- no voodoo snake oil here!
Note: For high speed tools this works best because the penetration is
deeper caused by the friction between say a saw blade and the wood it's sawing. I can't vouch that any other oil will penetrate or that the effect is as impressive at lower heat settings.
Militec1 is often available online and used sparingly, a 1oz bottle
treats a lot of blades plus it lubricates moving parts like the devil!
Thanks for reading and be glade I spared you the long story
