Off-Season Storage & Rust Protection

A blade stored badly loses a season before it is ever fitted

Summer is when edges corrode, rubber hardens and bond lines degrade. Storage is almost free, and it is the difference between an edge that starts the season as new and one that starts it already compromised.

✓ Protecting carbide, bond lines and rubber
✓ Rust prevention for steel carriers
✓ Rack and stacking practice

BACK TO MAINTENANCE HUB

Clean, inspect and dry before anything else

Salt and grit left on an edge over summer is what corrodes it. Wash, dry and inspect first, then protect.

Clean and inspect

Pressure washing removes the salt that drives corrosion, but it will not remove damage that is already there. Inspect the edge while it is clean and dry, and record what needs attention before the season rather than discovering it in November.

Protect the cut faces and bond lines

A thin film of oil or a suitable protective coating on the exposed steel slows corrosion at the edges where it starts. Keep it off the rubber components, and never leave a blade sitting directly on a damp floor.

Rack, stack and shade

Off the floor, out of direct sun, and without weight resting on the carbide. Those three rules prevent most storage damage.

Racks and stacking

Racks keep edges off the floor and make them inspectable. Where racking is not available, stack on timber with the carbide clear of contact and never load another blade onto the cutting face.

UV and rubber components

Ultraviolet light hardens rubber and degrades rubber-to-metal bonds over a summer. Storing rubber-encased edges under cover, rather than in an open yard, preserves the flexibility that the design depends on.

Storage questions

Does it matter where blades are stored?

Yes. Damp floors, direct sunlight and weight on the carbide are the three causes of most off-season damage, and all three are avoidable at no cost.

Should blades be oiled before storage?

A light film on the exposed steel slows corrosion at the edges. Keep it off rubber and bond lines, and do not use a coating that attracts grit.

Can rubber-encased edges be stored outside?

Under cover is much better. UV degrades rubber and the rubber-to-metal bond, and an edge stored in an open yard can lose the flexibility the design relies on.