Why do they rust so easily? What to do against it?

enki_ck · **on:** December 30, 2012, 02:27:30 AM

While I love my Leathermans, they take up most of my multitool collection, but we all know they have a tendency to rust.

I had this problem with almost all of them, Surge, Wave, PS4, Styles, ... any size rust spots. The only leathermans I haven't had that problem with are Juices for some reason.

I was modifying my work desk today (more about it tomorrow) and rearranging some storage spaces. I picked up a ST300, one could call it LNIB as it was never used, I just opened the box, took the tool out of the sheath played with it a bit a few times and returned into the sheath for a few months. I have enough tools around that I use and EDC and as this was a gift I didn't want to abuse it right away. Fast forward to today. I pick it up take it out of the sheath open it up and this is what I see:

I know it's just surface rust and I can get it off easily but this tool is new. Hasn't been exposed to the elements, nothing. Just maybe a bit of sweat and oils form my hands. I had that same problem with another ST300 already. I gave one to my father for his birthday last year. He has it in his car. A month or so later he show it to me and it's rusty, just form sitting in the car. I cleaned it up, oiled it and gave him an oily cloth to wrap it in and place in the sheath. So now each time he uses it he has to take it out of the sheath, take it out of the cloth, use it, wrap it with the oily cloth again and stove it in the sheath again.

Takes a bit of fun out of it.

Do you have the same problems? If so how do you deal with them? I KNOW one should take care of ones tools, maintain them, ... But I don't oil my hammers and dedicated pliers, chisels or screwdrivers and they are doing OK.

tosh · **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2012, 04:01:39 AM

There's absolutely no excuse for leathermans to rust so easily.
I too own a few and whilst I love their one-handed useability, I think Leatherman deserve a kick up the arse.

The cost of Leatherman Surge's and Wave's here in the UK is actually higher than the Swiss Tools and Spirits - yet non of the leathermans can match the Swiss for out and out quality be it fit & finish or tool steel.

I suppose it all comes down to brand marketing - If enough people tell you it's the best, eventually you may start to believe it too.

You'd have thought Leatherman would have sorted this problem out long ago - but it seems they are cost cutting further these days by outsourcing parts manufacture overseas.

Tragic really.

valvestem125 · **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2012, 04:16:03 AM

I have a Gerber I leave in the car all the time, it has done the same thing. It gets used infrequently, is never cleaned or oiled. So I expected it, and don't believe it is a flaw of the steel used in the tool.

Bruce909 · **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2012, 04:47:48 AM

I really think the issue is worse because of the matte finish on the tools. Seems like the matte finish Leatherman's (Core, Blast, Fuse, Kick, etc) all have a more open grain due to the glass beading used to finish the tool. I would think that surface should retain oil better but I don't actually think it does. Yet a more highly polished (closed grain) tool like a Victorinox Spirit does not rust.

I have heard the rust on the Leatherman tools referred to as Leatherman Brown several times. It does seem to me that from PSTs to New Waves (Charges too) there seems like a higher corrosion factor than I think is acceptable. All my tools spend a day or two in a gallon can of penetrating oil...except for Black Oxide tools or ones with plastic that might melt on them. I did make a kinda neat looking BO Paratool by leaving it in the dip too long.

I think someone needs to donate a 25th Anniversary Wave to me to use for a serious corrosion test. Then we can prove my theory.

Bruce

gafftapegreenia · **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2012, 05:53:07 AM

My Leatherman's don't really rust if I use them

That said I've used my PPP daily for years and it's starting to get spots.

When you work outside, everything rusts eventually.

baja820 · **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2012, 06:17:36 AM

Ive got a few different types of stainless steel products and i live in arguably the wettest state in lower 48 (Oregon) and ive never had an issue with rust. Ever.

stealth007s · **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2012, 06:28:02 AM

I would recommend not storing the MT in the sheath if you can help it. I had a friend tell me this about storing my gun in a leather holster. I had a problem with my pistol rusting for a while and he said that I shouldn't leave it in the holster when not being carried. I guess the leather sweats and the sweat gets the MT or pistol or whatever you have in the leather holster rusty. Just a thought, it worked for me.

dks · **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2012, 08:52:43 AM

The only LM tool that I have seen significant rust on is the LM Micra (would not open) that was carried a lot during the summer and used on the beach a few times (washed after).

The main problem I find is that once the rust sets it is impossible to stop permanently. You clean it, oil it and get a shiny tool but after a bit it will come back; like you have removed a protective coating or made the tool surface rougher and more prone to rust,

Older Micras, stamped USA, seem to be more prone to that and when bought used are usually a bit rusty, though as said before they are older.

Zed · **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2012, 08:54:45 AM

I've never had a big rust problem with LM's and I live near the sea

infact my micra hangs outside my backpack while cycling and although gets grubby there is no rust

I do clean and oil my mt's regularly so this might help

henryhcyap · **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2012, 12:43:26 PM

Quote from: stealth007s on December 30, 2012, 06:28:02 AM

I would recommend not storing the MT in the sheath if you can help it. I had a friend tell me this about storing my gun in a leather holster. I had a problem with my pistol rusting for a while and he said that I shouldn't leave it in the holster when not being carried. I guess the leather sweats and the sweat gets the MT or pistol or whatever you have in the leather holster rusty. Just a thought, it worked for me.

You are probably right, my wave was badly pitted after being left in the sheath for a period of time having been used in salty environment. This happened because I bought myself a Tti and the wave was retired.

kmanct3 · **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2012, 02:38:08 PM

I have never had a rust problem on any of mine. I leave my LM in the glove compartment of my boat all summer with never a problem as Stealth said try keeping out of the sheath.

Syph007 · **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2012, 02:56:01 PM

All my leathermans rusted and with very limited use and carry. Its what turned me off of them for general use and carry, and made the spirit a winner. I thought the juice serviced unscathed but when I took it apart to mod, all the springs were solid coated in rust on the inside, but you'd never see it if I didnt take it apart. Stealth rust! Give me some nice polished proper stainless Vic goodness anyday thanks!

Mesbefok · **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2012, 03:51:00 PM

My leatherman tti shows up rust very easily. I'm living in a dry climate and this left me somewhat bewildered. I'm not using it in a damp environment. In fact after one month of buying it new and little use it showed signs of rusting.

I have just bought the black oxide Wave and is hopeful rust will stay away.

Does anyone know if the black oxide coating on the Wave will be more resistant to rust?

henryhcyap · **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2012, 05:17:48 PM

Quote from: henryhcyap on December 30, 2012, 12:43:26 PM

Quote from: stealth007s on December 30, 2012, 06:28:02 AM
I would recommend not storing the MT in the sheath if you can help it. I had a friend tell me this about storing my gun in a leather holster. I had a problem with my pistol rusting for a while and he said that I shouldn't leave it in the holster when not being carried. I guess the leather sweats and the sweat gets the MT or pistol or whatever you have in the leather holster rusty. Just a thought, it worked for me.
You are probably right, my wave was badly pitted after being left in the sheath for a period of time having been used in salty environment. This happened because I bought myself a Tti and the wave was retired.

The wave rusting was due to my own negligence tho, should have clean and oiled it before storing it without the sheath. The Tti has got no problems as I use it everyday.

Mercury · **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2012, 07:54:18 PM

I have a sideclip that lived in a leather sheath for around 7 years in my truck. I lived in Texas for most of that, a very humid environment. When I took that thing out of it's sheath after discovering this forum, the only issue was green goo that came off really easy. Not a spot of rust and I don't think I ever cleaned that tool until that point.

On the flipside, I had a Blast that I used all the time, but if I left it in the sheath and didn't use if for a week it would rust.

The only new leatherman I have had (other than juices) that doesn't ever rust is my BO Wave.

gregozedobe · **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2012, 09:53:49 PM

Has anyone used TUF Glide to protect their MT from rust ? What was it like in terms of protection and did it make their tool more slippery to hold on to ?