Recommendation? Vacuum seal for long term storage?

K

kenstogie

Joined
Oct 26, 2012
Messages
50
Would it be advisable to vacuum seal a knife for long term storage? ...... And perhaps throwing a little silica gel in there to suck up residual moisture???

I know they do it for ammo... and they can still be viewed in clear vacuum bags.....


I ask as I have a collection of about 100 knives or so and though I rotate them some just don't get used very often.... ( I did google it but came up with little)
VacPackAmmo3_zps237dc6dd.jpg


Thanks for your insight and cheers.... :)
 
Just use wax?

I dunno try out the vacuum. Let us know how it goes
 
I've stored close to that many knives since the '70's — mostly fixed blades. Some are in various sheathes, some blades came wrapped in waxy paper, some in cardboard sheathes, etc.

The folders are either in the original box or loose in a drawer or bag.

I've never had any problems that led me to consider upgrading my storage. Maybe your collection is super valuable or you have some special environmental conditions.

I don't know how long it would take to notice a difference from vacuum packing as I see no degradation in my 30–40 y/o knives stored as described.
 
Seems like vacuum sealing would be very effective. Downside might be that it discourages you from ever using or handling your knives.
 
kenstogie said:
Would it be advisable to vacuum seal a knife for long term storage? ...... And perhaps throwing a little silica gel in there to suck up residual moisture???

I know they do it for ammo... and they can still be viewed in clear vacuum bags.....


I ask as I have a collection of about 100 knives or so and though I rotate them some just don't get used very often.... ( I did google it but came up with little)
VacPackAmmo3_zps237dc6dd.jpg


Thanks for your insight and cheers.... :)
Click to expand...


Wow, .22 short! Don't see that at the hardware store anymore.

Air and water (moisture) are 2 of the main things that degrade performance and appearance of a knife, so excluding those things would seem to be a good thing. I don't have a sealer, but if I planned on storing some knives for a long time, I wouldn't see any downside to it.
 
Thanks for the replies and thoughts.....I don't have a very expensive knife collection but I do like then all as I hand picked them for whatever reason...some are nice and some are inexpensive but I like them.... I picked up a vacuum sealer for camping and freezing aND got to thinking this might be good for storage....fwow it's very easy to vacuum seal and takes about 30 secs a knife tops... I am thinking it may be even easier than waxing or oiling and cleaner too ....of course the down side is you can't actually touch your knife .
 
Well, I store my blades just like my guns. Well oiled and inside the plastic inside the box except that one is in use or ready for. And I clean it once a month. But I don't have too many blades or guns. Both sum something like 30 pieces.
Vacuum looks great idea for long long time storage.

Ps: one of my collectible guns is exactly this model. Nice!!!
 
Last edited:
They make plastic bags, impregnated with silicone for long time storage of guns, ammo, and whatever.
 
While it sounds interesting, I would not do that.
First I do not know how much moisture I seal with the knife.
One would have to clean and protect it anyway.
It seems to be difficult to inspect the knife (i.e. a folder).
The temperature while storage can change.
Last but not least some natural materials need humidity.
So one would have to pack them under controlled conditions...

For some knives I can imagine it, but then I got tuff glide and zip-lock bags.
Just my 2 cents.
 
I use it for my kydex and wet formed leather sheaths. Works like a charm. Just make sure the knife goes in clean and dry (oviously)and with some desiccant as well and you should have no problems. I have seal a mealed many things over the years and never had a failure. I love mine and use it every chance I get. I have about 20 poccket knives that will not be moved until they sell or I die... I have quite a bit of dessicant... because I bought in bulk and vacuum sealed the excess so lts still fresh lol. I'm gonna give it a go on a few folders and see what happens. I have nothing but time... well I usually forget stuff and by the time I remember some time has passed lol. Good thinking though. My kind of idea lol. I'll be sure to post my results inn the future.
 
Depending on the sizes of the knives to be stored, what about as an alternative, some of those Plano waterproof boxes with adjustable dividers?

It seems those would be close to as effective, with the added advantages of easier access when needed, and having multiple knives in the same storage solution. You could slip a couple of dessicant packets in there as well.
 
Hi
red mag said:
First I do not know how much moisture I seal with the knife. Last but not least some natural materials need humidity.
Click to expand...
kenstogie said:
Would it be advisable to vacuum seal a knife for long term storage? ...... And perhaps throwing a little silica gel in there to suck up residual moisture???
Click to expand...
Hi
Where would this residual "moisture" come from?
What natural materials need "humidity"?
How does this natural material lose "humidity" in a vacuum?



In terms of moisture coming from air.
Silica gel gains nothing over vacuum sealer.
Vacuum sealer gains nothing over ziplock bag, if you squeeze out the bag.
No air and no moisture means no corrosion.

Say you dont squeeze out all the air, ex 4inch folder,
so thats max 4inch x 1inch x 1inch of air in the bag.

So 4 cubic inches * 17.3 * 10^-3 kg / m^3 = 1.134 milligrams and
1.134 milligrams of water = or 1.13 microliters
or ~1mm cube
or a drop of water of with radius of 647 micrometer
or 0.00023 teaspoon ( 0.23 / 1000 tsp or 2.3/10,000tsp )

Thats the theoretical worst case scenario of a regular ziplock, a 1mm drop of water worth of corrosion.
If you think that is a lot of water test it on a carbon steel blade (degreased utility razor blade),
if you use liquid tapwater (with chlorine and other stuff ),
at most thats about a 1mm surface rust spot.


FWIW, we got a vacuum sealer, with the idea to use it for food -- it has been rarely used in the last decade , ziplocks do everything adequately and more conveniently -- its a novelty
Also unless you're using a mylar pouch, the vacuum will "break" eventually( two year old vacuum sealed beans went from stiff sealed, to floppy cause air got in).
 
The only problem I see is that if any air what so ever is left in the bag you are going to get condensation and those bag's have little dimple's that stick out witch maybe all that's needed.
I would use froglube paste first by heating the blade with a hair drier and then brush the froglube on,the paste seem's to be thicker then the lquid stuff.

I love froglube it works great on Maxmet steel witch is just a first class prick to keep rust and corrosion away if not looked after properly the oil from your finger print's will stain into Maxamet but not after being treated with froglube,I know some did a report on froglube somewhere else on the net and the lab they sent it to was mainly coconut oil and it had other stuff in it regardless of that I'm using froglube to coat my M4 blade steel knives with when I store them and that's because it plain and simply works and I also link the fact with it being a bit thicker it creates a nice barrier layer.
 
2nd on the Froglube. I balance the open knife on the wires of a lampshade (with the light on for heat) and after a few minutes, on goes the Froglube. Works for me.
 
kenstogie said:
Would it be advisable to vacuum seal a knife for long term storage? ...... And perhaps throwing a little silica gel in there to suck up residual moisture???

I know they do it for ammo... and they can still be viewed in clear vacuum bags.....


I ask as I have a collection of about 100 knives or so and though I rotate them some just don't get used very often.... ( I did google it but came up with little)
VacPackAmmo3_zps237dc6dd.jpg


Thanks for your insight and cheers.... :)
Click to expand...

I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

Definitely stick those silica gel bags in there though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top