Applying Militec-1

T

TFin04

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Aug 21, 2005
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I read on here somewhere that the blade should be heated to about 140 degrees in order for the Militec to make the proper bond. Is this true?

With all the discussion about heat treating I've been worried about heating my blades too much. I've just put a hairdryer on high and put it on the blade for about 5 min, then applied the Militec. The blade was too hot to touch, so I assume it was pretty warm.

Would I harm a blade by putting it in an oven set at 140ish for about 15 minutes, then apply the militec? Thats the only way I have to know what its temperature is.

STR maybe? Other input is welcome of course.
 
Why do you have to heat the knife? I don't have to heat the knife when I use Breakfree CLP. It is a synthetic and won't gum so maybe that's the difference between it and Miltec. That sounds like alot of trouble just to lube a knife, IMHO.

http://www.botac.com/breakfreeclp4.html
 
It won't harm the blade, but I'm not sure about handles. I don't know if some handle materials should be subjected to an oven.

Pretty sure G-10 and Micarta can handle it, not sure about FRN and natural materials(bone, wood)
 
DGG said:
Why do you have to heat the knife? I don't have to heat the knife when I use Breakfree CLP. It is a synthetic and won't gum so maybe that's the difference between it and Miltec. That sounds like alot of trouble just to lube a knife, IMHO.

http://www.botac.com/breakfreeclp4.html
Click to expand...

Militec-1 is designed to be an absolute dry lubricant, and in order for it to "bond" to the steel, it is best to heat it up. You dont HAVE to, but Militec recommends it. If you do that procedure and let the steel cool with the Militec in place, it is soaked into the metal basically. Then it can be wiped dry and still holds its lubricity. (Is that a word?)

I've used breakfree as well, and Militec is my favorite of the two.
 
140 Degrees is not very hot. Not really too hot to touch.
Militec works well without the heating, if you want to skip that part.
Bill
 
Don't forget, Militec was not created for lubricating knives, but for automatic and semi-automatic firearms. The heat and pressure they generate during firing tends to ruin other lubricants, and "oily" lubes attract and hold dust and dirt, accelerating wear.

So Militec was developed; it doesn't break down under high heat, and actually bonds with metal under heat, leaving a clean, dry, non-gunky lubricated surface, ideal for firearms under severe conditions.

So, you can heat your knives and apply Militec, allow to cool, and wipe them dry, and have a residual dry lubricant film. But it's a bit of overkill IMHO; not even an auto knife will ever need the high-heat, high-pressure properties of Militec, and while using Militec works as well as any other lube, there are plenty of other wet and dry lubes that work as well without all the muss and fuss of heating. (And smell better, too!)

Personally, I've used Militec for about a year and a half, but lately switched to food-safe mineral oil. Seems to work just as well, to me.
 
I just enjoy being able to have a completely dry pivot and it still have a smooth action. Militec does that extremely well for me.
 
My usual way is to clean a folder in soap and water
Rinse well with flowing water
Blow it out and work the blade
Put it in the oven on a non metal surface like a pot holder
set my oven on warm which is less than 200 but more than 150 degrees
Take the knife out and put some Miltec on ( it's too hot to handle without a paper towel folded to pick it up)
Let it cool.

I have done this with Griptillians, Spydie FRNs, micarta, G10 and all sorts of metal.
I would not do this oven thing with natural materials like bone.

Works for me
No doubt it's overkill. But it's not needed too often

Tom
 
I usually use my Militec-1 without heating, just drop it on. Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly motivated, I blast it for a couple of minutes with a hairdryer. I think I feel a difference, but it's small enough that it could be imagination.
 
in the summer just put it on the dashboard of your car in the sun. with a shop rag under it. you can do lots of them at a time and not worry about
the scales. there is nothing i own, that's mechanical, and requires lubrication, that doesn't have militec in it. from power steering units to fishing reel bearings. it's saved me thousands. (no i don't own the company...i wish)
ps i hear it was developed for chainsaws...user since '91
 
I use a hairdryer for about 30 seconds on the pivot area and it seems to make the difference with Miltec. As others have mentioned, Miltec works fine without heating -- the heating seems to make it just a bit smoother.
 
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