Are WD-40 and FRN friends?

L

LukeC

Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
163
I've been wondering what to do to clean out a FRN knife. On most knives & tools I would use WD-40, then follow it up with some other oil after it dries, but I've heard WD-40 and plastic/rubber don't always get along well. It has always been a great cleaner/lube for me in the past, but I don't want to ruin my Spydies in the long run. :confused:

I did some searches here and elswhere but didn't find a great answer... so I figured I'd just ask the FRN users themselves: Would you use WD-40 repeatedly on your FRN knives?

Thanks for your feedback! :)
 
I just clean them out with hot water. Works for me.

WD-40 should be ok if you really want to use it, but it's overkill I'd think. Water is more than sufficient. Given that FRN stands for Fiber Reinforced Nylon, I'm pretty sure it's not actually plastic, but more along the lines of fabric.

Could be wrong though, I'm just going by what's in the acronym.:p
 
I use hot water, dish detergent, an old toothbrush and a toothpick. I usually let the knife soak a bit before scrubbing with the toothbrush and working over with the toothpick. Let dry, put a drop of oil on the pivot area, work the blade back and forth a few times, return to pocket. If the blade still has gunk on it, I wipe with a bit of rubbing alcohol.

This seems to work well for me, but my knives don't get too terribly dirty.
 
I would have to agree. I know I have used my native when I had WD-40 on my hands and accidentally sprayed WD on it when it was laying beside a part I was spraying. No ill effects, just a little slippery for a little bit. I washed it off with hot water and soap and put back it back in my pocket.
 
I have used WD-40 to clean out all kinds of crap from my FRN knives (I have been in building maintenance/repair and landscaping/sprinkler repair for the last twenty-five years, so you can take that literally if you want ;) ). I can't see that it has had any negative effect on any of them. It works great for removing tar, asphalt, pine sap and a lot of other things you don't want to leave on there.
 
What's wrong with using CLP on it, if you're worried about WD-40?

I have never heard of either of those being harsh chemicals, but I KNOW that people (myself included) use CLP on lots of stuff with no harmful effects observed. (It's used on my GLOCKs, too, and intended to be.)
 
Thanks for the feedback. Looks like hot water and soap are the majority winners, but WD-40 isn't something to be scared of either.

Thanks again.
 
LukeC said:
Thanks for the feedback. Looks like hot water and soap are the majority winners, but WD-40 isn't something to be scared of either.

Thanks again.
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If I wash a knife with soap and water, I make sure to blow it out with compressed air. I usually blast it carefully with a heat gun afterward to evaporate any remaining water. A drop of Militec in the pivot while the blade is warm to finish it. Absent the heat gun, I would flush it with WD40 and blow any excess out with air.
 
Does anyone lubricate their knives with graphite powder lubricant?

I just picked up a tube of it for two bucks at a gun show, having never seen it in a store before, but have not found an application where I really need it. Heck, I haven't even cut open the tip of the tube to see what the stuff looks/feels like!
 
peacefuljeffrey said:
What's wrong with using CLP on it, ...snip...
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peacefuljeffrey said:
Does anyone lubricate their knives with graphite powder lubricant?

I just picked up a tube of it for two bucks at a gun show, having never seen it in a store before, but have not found an application where I really need it. Heck, I haven't even cut open the tip of the tube to see what the stuff looks/feels like!
Click to expand...

Yeah like the first guy...what is wrong with CLP. :D
 
I just take it into the shower w/me lay it down in the tub near the drainhole (away from any Delicate parts) and let the Soap and water do the dirty work for me.... open an close it a few times.....roll it on each side every few mins....u hop out of the shower and your FRN Spydie is Squeaky Clean :eek: :rolleyes: :p
 
wd-40 is amazing at getting off greasy stuff and goo as well as tape and other residues off my knives blades,
 
I use the WD40 to blow out dirt/crud in hard to reach places. Then I lubricate with Militec. WD40 is not a lubricant.
 
Does anyone lubricate their knives with graphite powder lubricant?
Click to expand...

Yup. My Fallkniven U2 was all gunky so I removed the blade, cleaned the whole knife, and reassembled with Slick 50 on the pivot and a bit of graphite sprinkled on the blade where it rubs on the composite handle.

Slick.
:)
 
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