So my ZT0350 is rusty....

[lovemachine]

So I have rust on my ZT0350.

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[lovemachine]

I'm going to call ZT next week and talk to them about it. But, I saw this on their site:

We guarantee our knives against manufacturing defects in material and construction and to perform as advertised when properly used and maintained. The Limited Lifetime Warranty is non-transferable and does not extend to normal signs of wear, rust, damage or breakage due to improper use, improper maintenance, accidents, loss or theft. Any product we determine to be defective will be repaired or replaced solely at our discretion.

I'm hoping my knife is still covered....

 

[chezuki]

My Blur has gotten a little rust by the thumb stud like that a couple times. CLP and a toothbrush take it right off (though I never let it get nearly as bad as yours). A light coating of Froglube every other month seems to prevent it pretty well.

 

[grunt soldier]

get a bronze brush and oil. it will come right off as long as it hasn't pitted. most steels even ones called stainless are really just stain - less! they will still stain and rust if not taken care off.

get some 000 steel wool or a bronze brush you use to clean guns and any type of oil. scrub it down you should be good to go. then every month or so hit it with some mineral oil or frog lube as they are both food safe.

 

[chezuki]

I "detail cleaned" my Blur a couple days ago for the first time ever and had a bit of rust to clean up. I was also appalled at how nasty it was inside considering I had just cleaned it.

 

[lovemachine]

I'll try cleaning it and see what happens. I hope it's not pitted underneath...

 

[chezuki]

A belt sander should take it right off.

 

[lovemachine]

A belt sander should take it right off.

Funny guy.

 

[lovemachine]

Did some scrubbing...

I don't see any pitting. But I'm curious if I should try and take the knife apart and scrub some more.

 

[Bradsknives]

You are getting there, but take the knife apart and clean it up some more. I still see some rust, and rust is like cancer, it will continue to grow/spread.

 

[lovemachine]

Yea, I keep looking at this thing, and I really want to take it apart. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

 

[esrice]

A guest at my hotel was just showing me his ZT0350. I noticed some light rust forming around his thumbstud as well, FWIW.

 

[Faine]

Didn't you just get this? Did your Spyderco ever treat you like this?

 

[Tactically Fat]

I'm the THIRD owner of my 0350. It has 14C28N steel as the main component (Elmax as the cutting edge). I carry this knife most of the time. Not a hint of rust anywhere on mine. Extremely dirty - yes. Not rusty.

 

[rhino]

Pockets are humid. Stainless alloys are just more stain resistant than most other steels. My Spyderco Manix 2 XL is a little rusty near the pivot as well.

That location might be more susceptible to rust because the blade coating doesn't penetrate the hole through which the blade stop is inserted.

The others have the right answer. Follow the brush with some fine steel wool. Keep it lubed. If you're going to use it to cut food (or might), I'd use a vegetable oil or mineral oil, both sparingly.

 

[lovemachine]

Well, since my father's ZT0350 was rusty as well, just not as bad, and his speed safe isn't working properly anymore. I sent his and my own ZT0350 back to Kershaw for warranty.

I asked them to fix my father's speedsafe, check out the rust, and go ahead and sharpen the blades.

 

[lovemachine]

So I got my knife back today. It's rust free, has been cleaned and oiled, and they did a good job sharpening it.
I'll take pics later.


ZT customer service is awesome!

 

[esrice]

So I got my knife back today. It's rust free, has been cleaned and oiled, and they did a good job sharpening it.

Great to hear. I just sent my 0350 in earlier today.

 

[MontereyC6]

This makes me wonder if I should send in my 0300. The finish has worn pretty thin on the scales and starting to get shiny. I guess that's what happens when you carry it everyday for 3+ years.