What can I do to prevent rest on my fencing weapons?
I don’t store my fencing weapons with wet or sweaty clothes and I dry them off after fencing, but they still rust! These blades are both under a year old and showing considerable amounts of rust.
This question has been asked several times in the past year in the Fencing.Net Forums and we’ve pulled together a number of the most helpful and informative tips. Most apply to foil blades, epee blades, and saber blades.
Tips on preventing rust on your Fencing Gear
Remember, rust in and of itself is not unsafe on a blade, but it will get on your fencing whites and it’s bad form to leave rust marks on your opponent while fencing them.
Keep your blades in a separate compartment in your fencing bag, and do not touch them after wiping them down if your hands are sweaty. (The salt in your sweat will facilitate the rusting process.)
Wipe the blade down with a rag after every use. The trick is consistency, otherwise they can rust overnight. If it's really caked on, use a scotch brite pad to remove the rust. Be very careful not to sand insulation off any wires (for foil and epee).
Buy maraging blades – The FIE blades are made of maraging steel and are rust resistant because of the high nickel content in the steel. (FIE fencing blades will still rust, just not as quickly.)
Get a colored StM blade. The coloring is just a finish to the blade, but it helps prevent corrosion. This is not a permanent fix because the coating will get scratched off over time. The colored blades are usually just $10 more than the standard blades, so if you don’t want to spring for an FIE blade just yet it’s a good purchase. (Plus, the blue blades just look cool!)
Try keeping your blades in a PVC piping tube capped on one end; add one of the those little desiccant pouches you find in vitamin jars.
Use a light coating of wax like a furniture wax or even better, a paste wax. It keeps the moisture out and lasts longer than an oiling does. Re-apply about once every couple weeks. No rust. A decent silicone car wax works, too.
I wrap mine in oilcloth, which cuts down on rust significantly. I have to wipe them before I use them, though. No one likes oil on their jacket. I recommend gun oil, btw. Less sanding required.
Do you have any other tips on keeping your fencing blades rust-free? Send them to us at fencing.net.
