Breaking in a slipjoint?

kamagong

kamagong

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2001
Messages
10,941
I have two slipjoints, a horn handled laguiole and a CS stockman. On both of them I used the Buzzbait method of breaking in a slipjoint. Basically I wash the slipjoint in a solution of dishwashing soap and hot water. I then blast the knife with WD40 to get the water out and spend the next hour or so opening and closing the blades working the crud out of the joints. This method worked well with my stockman and laguiole, but horn and delrin are much less porous than stag is. What I want to know is whether my above method is safe to use on my incoming stag Eye Brand, or should I use another method? If anyone has alternative methods, what are they?

Woohoo! My thousandth post!
 
I was unaware that they needed to be broken in. I take them out of the box and use them. That's it. Period.
 
I personally would not spray WD-40 on Stag for fear of staining it.

I just usually place a drop of Rem-Oil in each joint and most slips if they are tight will just loosen up with carry and use.
 
From my experience, most don't need a breakin. I clean them out with pipe cleaners and mineral oil (only because I'm really retentive), make sure the pivots and springs are lubed, and start using it. The exception was my Laguiole, which I really had to work to loosen up. It was so tight when new that it took a "dangerous" amount of pressure to close it (impossible to close "smoothly", thus creating a chance of slipping off the blade). That one I just worked a bit, and it's usable now.

If you're regularly getting new knives that are so gummed up they require the kind of cleaning described in the original post, I'd find a new supplier or maker.

-- Sam
 
If you want to wash out a slip joint, swish it around in kerosene with the blade in different positions. It will clean out the dirt and not hurt the handle material. Let it dry for about an hour then oil the joint before turning the blade. I do this with every knife I make.
 
If any of your knives are too stiff or tight at first, send them to me! I will carry them for a year or two and they will be all broken-in if, err, I mean when I send them back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top