Best store bought lube (for knives)

dkb45

dkb45

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Dec 16, 2012
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I am on a mission to find a good, widely available lube to replace mineral oil. Mineral oil has served me well for a long time, but I just need something better. I am currently using Hoppes oil, and the performance is better, but still not quite where I want it.

I know things like Nanolube and kin are available online, but it isn't available in most stores, and only some gun shops. I know there has to he something that is available in a lot of gun shops and doesn't cost an arm and possibly a leg for a teeny tiny bottle.

I have tried Smooth Kote... Craptastic performance! Seized up the whole pivot area. Not sure if it is the environment I am in or what.

Another I have heard a lot about is Rem-Oil, but I also read that it is basically the same as Hoppes.
 
KY jelly!
Just kidding.
I've found that the lubricant used for garage doors works very well. WD40 works okay.
 
astroglide is what the industry uses... oh...never mind
i like frog lube if you can find it but rem oil, balistol, or wd40 all work well
 
I used to use WD-40 and 3-in-1 back before I learned about mineral oil. WD-40 was messy, imprecise, and made my hands smell bad.

I have heard about Balistol, but isn't that stuff toxic and has to be applied with heat? I just need something to put on the washers during regular maintenance wipedowns (where I wipe all oil off the washers to remove the inevitable grit and relube).

I want to get something local because I want to be able to replace it at a moments notice (if I lose it or spill it... accidents happen), but I figured somebody else might also want to know a good and easily found lubricant for their knives.

I will head to my local gun shop tomorrow and see what they have. Maybe I will luck out and find some of the high end stuff for cheap!
 
You need lubrication, and corrosion control. I am a fan of something available in Wal-Mart. Break Free CLP. It has PTFE. PTFE is a dry lubricant, floating about in the liquid. It stays, if the lube goes dry. PTFE is the slipperiest thing invented by man. Good stuff.
CLP stands for, Cleans, Lubricates, Protects.
 
You can get an equivalent to CRK's fluorinated grease from finish line (the brand, not the shoe store) called "extreme fluoro", you can get it at sporting goods stores and bike shops. Its a bearing grease for bikes and skates/skateboards and stuff. It is recommended by CRK cause its extremely viscous (obviously, its a grease) but has lower surface tension so dirt and lint and grime doesn't stick to it as much.
 
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Wouldn't use rem or hoppes (although i have) cause it reeks. Don't like to have my knives or guns smell chemically potent. I'd say a synthetic lube would be better frog lube, Mil-com, maybe even penn reel grease. Alough penn reel grease smells kinda like urinal cakes but works well.
 
Sewing machine oil is another good one in a pinch, it has a very peculiar smell, not bad, just different. It's pretty viscous, it's designed to not be flung off a shit ton of gears (have you ever seen the inside of a shaft drive sewing machine? I've worked on my wife's 69 singer replacing old gears a few times, I'd rather rebuild a transmission) so it sticks to the blade very well.
 
WD-40 is terrible for one reason: it collects dust like no tomorrow. Maybe try some Tri-flow.
 
Garkia said:
WD-40 is terrible for one reason: it collects dust like no tomorrow. Maybe try some Tri-flow.
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WD40 also leaves some of the most awful, sticky residue when it dries. The only thing I use it for is what it was originally designed to do, which is displacing water. BreakFree CLP is available in sporting goods at most Wal-Mart stores. That's good stuff for knives or any other tools.
 
Been using olive oil for a long time without any issues. However another good one I discovered is Silicone O-ring Lubricant. Its the kind of stuff that is used to lubricate o-rings for underwater/pool equipment/etc type applications where corrosion can be a problem. Can be applied in a thin layer, or packed in thick like grease. It has been some of the most resilient stuff I have ever used, it doesn't wash away easily at all. Its super slick, pretty viscous, and a little goes a long way. I have had the same little bottle for years now. Have used it on knife pivots, as rust prevention, and even on guns to good effect. Pretty sure I got it from a buddy who worked as a hot tub/pool repairman, probably could get it at a pool store or something. I know you can order it online.... Brand name of what I have used is called Lifegard Silicone O-Ring Lubricant rated for aquatic applications. Never have heard of anyone else using it so thought I might share.
 
weapon sheild.

Smells like cinnamon.

389844.jpg
 
Ulf Krogstad said:
Wouldn't use rem or hoppes (although i have) cause it reeks. Don't like to have my knives or guns smell chemically potent. I'd say a synthetic lube would be better frog lube, Mil-com, maybe even penn reel grease. Alough penn reel grease smells kinda like urinal cakes but works well.
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I opened my bottle of Hoppes and took a big whiff... didn't smell like much of anything. 3-in-1 or WD-40 are far more pungent.

I have heard a whole lot of good about Breakfree CLP, but never that it is available at Walmart. Where would it likely be in the store?
 
Oh, trumpet slide grease works well! Especially on bearings. You'd have to find it at a music store, though.
 
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