Put a paper towel layer under the tape. If you are going to just use tape always remove and clean and oil the blade at the end of the day. Humidity will rust a blade this time of the year. I would never use steel wool to clean a blade. Clean up with the last grit you finished with.

Bob

I only use good quality painter's tape on knives. If the tape is to be on longer than just the day that I'm working on the knife, then a layer of paper towel under the tape is used. My shop is climate controlled, so I don't have the humidity problems of a shop that is open to the weather. But, any steel parts that will be laying around for more than a couple days get treated with WD-40 or oil.

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I only use good quality painter's tape on knives. If the tape is to be on longer than just the day that I'm working on the knife, then a layer of paper towel under the tape is used. My shop is climate controlled, so I don't have the humidity problems of a shop that is open to the weather. But, any steel parts that will be laying around for more than a couple days get treated with WD-40 or oil.

Sounds like a plan. I'm using 3M easy release painters tape. I'll have to make sure I use paper towels and WD40 for now on if I'm leaving things over night. I had it taped up to work on the handle, and I when I came back in the morning and took the tape off, it was wrecked. And I coated it in WD40 before wrapping it, but must have reacted with the glue in the tape or something weird.

I use a Birchwood Casey product called Barricade to protect my knives (finished) and blades (in process). It comes in small individual towelettes and dries quickly. It is intended primarily to protect firearms, but any steel that needs some moisture resistance will benefit.