Snowshoe maintenance

[Robatman]

I've got some MSR's with the metal tread running the length of the shoe- great for the icy stuff, but after probably only 8 days of use (in 2 years) the paint is flaking and starting to see some surface corrosion. They are not pointed but slightly sharp and i'm worried the edge will start to go.

How should i treat them- use some sort of rust convertor? just spray enamel over it? Dont know what the metal is- probably some sort of steel, i dont think its aluminuim??
Any similar MSR expereinces out there?
Robert
(EXAMPLE PIC- NOT MINE)

[Nuts]

It is steel Rob, I would just give them a polish with fine steel wool then coat with lanotec/lanolin spray to store... you may eventually need to take the burr off with a small file if they get too blunt, i wouldnt get them overly sharp though.

[Franco]

An earlier instruction sheet from MSR mentioned washing them and drying them and then giving it a spray with WD40, however I don't see that mentioned in the current one.
Found it :
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews ... rk%20Wood/
towards the end of the review.
Franco

[Nuts]

wd40 isnt the best on plastic (though it could take years to have much adverse effect) we use lanolin spray on all plastic and rubber (works great on crocs.. whatever crocosite is..) .. around vehicles etc
Ive even taken to my boots with it

[Robatman]

Thanks guys,
seems just need to apply a layer to stop rust while not in use, Lanolin looks like a good option,
Robert

[Franco]

wd40 isnt the best on plastic

Reading that I remembered that Roger Caffin said the same thing at BPL (I think...) .
He was commenting on a suggestion of mine but have no recollection about the specific item, not snowshoes as far as I can remember.

So I looked that up on Google.
This is what the maker have to say :

WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic.

http://www.wd40.com/faqs/
Anyway some trivia :

WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953

Franco

[Nuts]

Mine comes from an interest in old cars Franco, apparently its been shown to add to the breakdown of some plastics and wire sheathing over time. Its pretty generally accepted as not the best but i dont have much more than that. Lanolin just seems like a more friendly product overall, ask any kiwi...

What i did notice, not that it may make much difference, was that the older MSR shoes in your link seem to have aluminium rails...