Anyone tried a different lube?

[rabbivj]

Hey amoo, do you have a link for the grease? I myself am not really a huge fan of grease myself...the nano oil I tried works amazingly well. I tend to thumb flick my knives hence why I prefer oil...


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[Glock Guy]

Definitely agree 100% with what you are saying. I have done the test with a few other knives of different kinds including a CRK without polishing the washer just for testing sake and the results were the same. I went to polishing the washer with the magic eraser because I'm that anal about trying to remove as much gunk as possible, plus it helps remove any old stubborn grease that did not come off in the brush bath.

Looks like you had that base covered already. Great job!

Also thanks for the tip on the Magic Eraser, as I've never heard that one before. I'm not a fan of polishing washers, so this looks like the ticket when it comes to really cleaning them, and about as close as you can get to polishing them without actually doing it!

 

[bhyde]

Preemptive post;

do not post links to non-paying dealers. PM and email

 

[Amoo]

No worries bhyde. Was already on top of it.

So the two things you want for "my" setup

Amazon MooMoo magic eraser, you can get a 20 pack for $10. Your wife will steal some, but even still they'll last a life time. The "secret" behind magic eraser is it's just an abrasive sponge.

For the lube Google "my life at speed Dumonde" Hover over Products, Scroll down to bottom and they have a "buy here" type link. Regardless of what the bottle says, the product is produced by a company called Dumonde Tech, so you can get to the lube from their page as well if you want to read about who they are and what they do.

 

[rabbivj]

Yeah amoo and I already spoke...it's covered.


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[BD_01]

I've had mixed results with this stuff:

It works great in my 'Zaan and BM 940. It was a miracle cure for a cheep CRKT. It doesn't seem to work as well as CRK grease in my 21's or sm Inkosi. Can't really speculate as to why.

It's MUCH more viscous than CRK grease. I use it very sparingly for barrel bushings (if you can see it there's too much!) and apply the same principal to PB knife washers. I'll give it another try next time I have something apart, partly out of curiosity and partly because I've got it around.

 

[mbp]

I don't care for dish/hand soap as a cleaning agent for knives. I prefer to disassemble and use rubbing alcohol with the smallest size swab-its (I think they're called.) As a lubricating agent, I'm not a fan of any kind of viscous grease. I prefer simple mineral oil. It will not last as long, but it is more easily cycled through, is completely food-safe, and quite inexpensive.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

I've read thru MOST of these posts...

seems like almost everyone has a lube that has performed reasonably to very well for them...

no lubes that aren't recommended by end line users here, once again if I read correctly and didn't overlook any negative posts...

Also, it appears to me, Finish Line extreme fluro got high praise because of ease of application and cost and AT LEAST similar formulation to CRK grease...

Not advising anyone to stray from CRK specs & recommedations, but does it void your warranty if you do use other lubes?

Lastly, has anyone used a lube that they DEFINATELY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND?

sorry for all the rapid fire questions... but I'm gonna ask em anyways!

 

[rabbivj]

I've read thru MOST of these posts...

seems like almost everyone has a lube that has performed reasonably to very well for them...

no lubes that aren't recommended by end line users here, once again if I read correctly and didn't overlook any negative posts...

Also, it appears to me, Finish Line extreme fluro got high praise because of ease of application and cost and AT LEAST similar formulation to CRK grease...

Not advising anyone to stray from CRK specs & recommedations, but does it void your warranty if you do use other lubes?

Lastly, has anyone used a lube that they DEFINATELY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND?

sorry for all the rapid fire questions... but I'm gonna ask em anyways!

afaik if you DO use a different lube it WILL NOT void your warranty...if anyone has another thought, please correct me.

Ive tried at least 5 different lubes and based on my knife deployment style (i prefer thumb flicking) the nano oil 10w works great for me...some ppl do use a cocktail of grease and oil but as noted in the previous posts YMMV. Good luck.

 

[Amoo]

If I'm not mistaken, somebody on the MTE forum did a spec analysis of Finishline Extreme Flouro and it was the same as CRK, so if you want an over the counter closest you can get, pretty sure that's it.

Wish I could find that damn thread

 

[Anarchy84]

If I'm not mistaken, somebody on the MTE forum did a spec analysis of Finishline Extreme Flouro and it was the same as CRK, so if you want an over the counter closest you can get, pretty sure that's it.

Wish I could find that damn thread

I have several tubes of CRK grease and a large syringe of finish line extreme fluoro. They seem very different to me. I'm no expert, but if you rub a little of each between your thumb and pointer finger there's a pretty obvious difference in the viscosity of the two products. CRK grease feels much more slippery.

With that being said, the Finish Line product is much cheaper and easier to get. It's a great substitute if you plan on going through a lot of it. I've found that the Finish Line grease works really really well mixed with just a drop of 85w nano oil.

For what it's worth, I still subscribe to the nano oil / CRK grease combo I outlined in this thread months and months ago. Still works great. 👍🏻

 

[brownshoe]

[/I][/U][/B]
Lastly, has anyone used a lube that they DEFINATELY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND?

I only use the CRK grease, but I contacted them a few years back and the way the lady described how the pivot assembly system functions for both lubrication and corrosion resistance, it would probably be unwise to use any type of light oil. Stick to a grease if you don't wish to use the CRK lube.

 

[ChazzyP]

I only use the CRK grease, but I contacted them a few years back and the way the lady described how the pivot assembly system functions for both lubrication and corrosion resistance, it would probably be unwise to use any type of light oil. Stick to a grease if you don't wish to use the CRK lube.

From the chrisreeve.com FAQs page:

"We recommend using our specially formulated Fluorinated Grease or a high quality gun oil to lubricate the pivot - you should only need a drop or two."
...and...
"Should you wish to lubricate the pivot, use a Teflon lubricant- our Fluorinated Grease is recommended for this purpose."

That sounds like at least three recommendations from CRK itself.

 

[brownshoe]

True that's what it says on the website.

However, they used to have cleaning/lube instructions on their site and a sticky in this forum that recommended using their grease alone. Those recommendations have been removed, probably because oil will work and people use to complain about "the special grease you have to buy". That complaint was why they included it with the knife for the last several years.

However, some people complain about the fact that you need to take apart the knife to lubricate it, that's why they now say you can lube it with oil...which you can, it's just not the best. When I first got my sebenza I asked CRK if I can lube it w/o taking it apart and was told I could, but I'd have to use oil, which they said was not as good as their grease. She encouraged me to forget the oil and take it apart and clean/lube about once a year with their grease.

 

[Don M]

That old stickied cleaning instruction showed the use of an oil, not the CRK grease, even though the text of the thread (from CRK) recommended the use of their grease.

CRK grease is made from a perfluoropolyether base oil and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thickener. The CAS number for the base oil is 69991-67-9. If you search on this you find it is 1-Propene, 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-, oxidized, polymd, or more simply, perfluoropolymethylisopropyl ether. It (the base oil) is also marketed under the brand name of Fomblin, who makes various lubricants used in vacuum pumps where there is a requirement for a very low vapor pressure. Christo-Lube makes the CRK grease.

The Christo-Lube product most commonly thought to be the same as CRK grease is Christo-Lube MCG-111. It has a perfluoropolyether base oil and PTFE. An old (1996) MSDS lists the CAS for the base oil as 69991-61-3, for 1-[difluoro(trifluoromethoxy)methoxy]-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(trifluoromethoxy)ethane (Also a Fomblin oil). So it is similar to CRK grease but not identical.

Christo-Lube makes a number of greases, and they probably all vary some in the base oil and the amount of PTFE added. However, the MCG-111 is the only one that I see that is sold in 5 gram tubes. Note that MCG-111 is NSF rated and approved for use in food processing equipment. Both O2Lube and ECL (Engineered Custom Lubricants, a Quaker Chemical Company) say that they manufacture Christo-Lube. ECL says that as a result of a 2013 acquisition, all of Christo-Lube’s PFPE lubricants are part of their product portfolio.

The CAS numbers are from older literature, and there is no guarantee that formulations have not changed.

Another grease often mentioned is Finish Line Extreme Fluoro. This grease contains a perfluoropolyalkylether base oil and PTFE. It is made by DuPont. I can’t find a CAS number, so I don’t know the exact compounds in the -alkyl portion of the molecule. It is likely in the same family as CRK and Christo-Lube.

The bottom line is that these greases may differ due to the exact makeup of the base oil (though they should be quite similar, all being perfluoropolyethers) and the amount and exact physical nature of PTFE added. But I don’t expect these differences to be significant. Probably the most notable difference would be in the viscosity, due to differing amounts of PTFE (if any). Having said this, I have only ever used the CRK grease, so I can’t state this from experience.

 

[Amoo]

That old stickied cleaning instruction showed the use of an oil, not the CRK grease, even though the text of the thread (from CRK) recommended the use of their grease.

CRK grease is made from a perfluoropolyether base oil and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thickener. The CAS number for the base oil is 69991-67-9. If you search on this you find it is 1-Propene, 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-, oxidized, polymd, or more simply, perfluoropolymethylisopropyl ether. It (the base oil) is also marketed under the brand name of Fomblin, who makes various lubricants used in vacuum pumps where there is a requirement for a very low vapor pressure.

The Christo-Lube product most commonly thought to be the same as CRK grease is Christo-Lube MCG-111. It has a perfluoropolyether base oil and PTFE. An old (1996) MSDS lists the CAS for the base oil as 69991-61-3, for 1-[difluoro(trifluoromethoxy)methoxy]-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(trifluoromethoxy)ethane (Also a Fomblin oil). So it is similar to CRK grease but not identical.

Christo-Lube makes a number of greases, and they probably all vary some in the base oil and the amount of PTFE added. However, the MCG-111 is the only one that I see that is sold in 5 gram tubes. Note that MCG-111 is NSF rated and approved for use in food processing equipment. Both O2Lube and ECL (Engineered Custom Lubricants, a Quaker Chemical Company) say that they manufacture Christo-Lube. ECL says that as a result of a 2013 acquisition, all of Christo-Lube’s PFPE lubricants are part of their product portfolio.

The CAS numbers are from older literature, and there is no guarantee that formulations have not changed.

Another grease often mentioned is Finish Line Extreme Fluoro. This grease contains a perfluoropolyalkylether base oil and PTFE. It is made by DuPont. I can’t find a CAS number, so I don’t know the exact compounds in the -alkyl portion of the molecule. It is likely in the same family as CRK and Christo-Lube.

The bottom line is that these greases may differ due to the exact makeup of the base oil (though they should be quite similar, all being perfluoropolyethers) and the amount and exact physical nature of PTFE added. But I don’t expect these differences to be significant. Probably the most notable difference would be in the viscosity, due to differing amounts of PTFE (if any). Having said this, I have only ever used the CRK grease, so I can’t state this from experience.

Thank you so much for this post Don, Christo-Lube was the other one I had seen mentioned multiple times but couldn't remember the name of it as it isn't one I have used for anything.

 

[ChazzyP]

I only use the CRK grease, but I contacted them a few years back and the way the lady described how the pivot assembly system functions for both lubrication and corrosion resistance, it would probably be unwise to use any type of light oil. Stick to a grease if you don't wish to use the CRK lube.

True that's what it says on the website.

However, they used to have cleaning/lube instructions on their site and a sticky in this forum that recommended using their grease alone. Those recommendations have been removed, probably because oil will work and people use to complain about "the special grease you have to buy". That complaint was why they included it with the knife for the last several years.

However, some people complain about the fact that you need to take apart the knife to lubricate it, that's why they now say you can lube it with oil...which you can, it's just not the best. When I first got my sebenza I asked CRK if I can lube it w/o taking it apart and was told I could, but I'd have to use oil, which they said was not as good as their grease. She encouraged me to forget the oil and take it apart and clean/lube about once a year with their grease.

That old stickied cleaning instruction showed the use of an oil, not the CRK grease, even though the text of the thread (from CRK) recommended the use of their grease.

Thanks for all the info on the formulations of various greases, Don. Very interesting and informative, for sure. Cody also had some good posts on what's in various brands of grease back at the start of this thread.

I have no complaint about "the special grease you have to buy" (I've bought lots of different lubes for many different knives over the years) nor do I "complain about the fact that you need to take apart the knife to lubricate it" (actually, I greatly enjoy it). I don't know for a fact why CRK altered their instructions to read as they do presently and don't think it's really valuable to ascribe motivations to their changes.

I'm interested in what works for me and what works for others. Some have great results with CRK grease and washing out their knives with soap and water, as I assume you do, brownshoe. I've had neither. I have some CRKs that I presume must still have stock lube in them that function well. I also have two that have had W10 NanoOil in them for 6 months now that function excellently and show no signs of corrosion, loss of lubrication, or tendency to attract gunk. One of those is a frequent work EDC that's been in my pocket at least half the time in dirty, dusty environments. Part of the fun of the hobby is trying different stuff and seeing how it works out.

 

[Mo2]

this is what nano oil looks like in a short time. it doesn't have any legitimate standardised tests that show its proven in metal to metal protect and does attract dust and lint etc which makes what you see in the picture worse. but it does seem to reduce friction for a short while. its advertising is pure snake oil and the guy who sells it doesn't know how its made and has been pushing it onto different sectors since the 90s and has only recently made it mainstream in the knife world but i can't understand why.

edit:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSDJ1r0hghK/
more proof of snake oil

 

[ChazzyP]

I certainly don't want to get into a lot of contentious back and forth on this, but my experience with NanoOil has been quite different. I put very small amounts in my knives and it's lubricity has not seemed to diminish significantly over time, nor has it attracted untoward amounts of dirt and grime.

I can't say I do or do not know what Christian St Claire knows or does not know about his product or it's formulation, but have had a couple exchanges with him and he seems unlike a snake-oil salesman to me. There is another product, I believe, called NanoLube that is often confused with NanoOil and may be quite different in nature and results.

Regardless, I've used NO for a year or two to great effect and will continue to do so unless the results veer off negatively.

 

[nyefmaker]

I've tried Finish Line Extreme Fluoro grease, but didn't care for it. Worked well at first but dried into a waxy sludge.

I wish there were a way to buy CRK grease in larger quantities at a lower price. It is my understanding that they simply slap their name on a third-party grease. Does anyone know who makes it?

This is why I loved the larger CRK Syringe rather than the tiny tube CRK offers today.