Rust spots on new santuko knife

[danhole]

I did not know I had to be so careful with this knife, so first time I washed it, I put it in the dishwasher, set on air dry. Now it has a couple small rust spots. How do I remove the rust?

[RGC1982]

Sam is right, but I would also add that you can try rubbing the rust spots off with steel wool, and that you should never air dry a knife. It is far better to dry it carefully with a thick towel. The stainless qualities only seem to go so far with good knives.

[Hapa Dude]

Yes, please never put it in the dishwasher again! Also, never let a knife soak in water. Buy a honing steel and use it every couple of uses to keep it sharp.

[sobriquet]

Get a ceramic one. Look on Amazon - they have a Kyocera for around $25. It's the same one that Global sells for around $100 without the pretty stainless steel handle.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Mrs Hole, what is your new knife made of? Did your daughter give you a handmade carbon steel santoku from Japan? Stainless can be put through dishwashers, albeit not with anything else made of metal placed in the same part of the basket.

[danhole]

Cap'n Sam ;-}, It says it is high carbon stainless steel, and now that I look at the packaging, at the very bottom, in 5 point type, it does say to handwash and dry immediately! Darn, wish my eyes were a bit better or I would have caught that sooner. I guess I put it next to some other silverware. The spots (only 2) are very small, but it bothers me, being the compulsive perfectionist I am.

[Sam Fujisaka]

You can probably just wipe the spots out with a thick wet hand towel. It won't be any worse off. Remember, just a few molecules of steel can produce what looks like a lot of oxidation (rust) without any real damage. If the spots were small, no problem. Don't read the next paragraph if you're still worried.

I have a high carbon steel knife that is easy to maintain really really sharp and that is now after years of use a glossy mottled rusty brown and grey on the sides--somewhat like firearms (e.g., 1600 -1700s Kentucky rifles that were intentionally "browned") before the use of blueing. My friends Werner and Jenny basically don't worry when their two-generation old carbon steel German knives rust a bit--couple strokes of the steel and a wipe down and good to go.

[renov8r]

UGH!!! NEVER put quality cutlery into a dishwasher! NEVER! It will only harm the steel -- to wash a knife takes just a few seconds and you ought not leave it wet, always dry promptly.

To remove the rust spots use a small amount of paste metal polish like Wenol or Simichrome -- just a pea sized dot on a soft cloth (old fashioned diapers are ideal) and steady pressure.

[danhole]

Thanks! I got the knife for Christmas because my daughter said I didn't have ANY good knives, but I didn't know they were that sensitive. I guess I really don't have any good knives, as I have never had this problem before!

[Candy]

The damage comes from being knocked around in the dishwasher, it tends to dull the knife. Do get some Semichrome, it is a great metal polish, so is Never Dull. Both are good to have on hand. You may want to have your knife resharpened too after you polish ther rust spots off