Cleaning my Caly 3, I need some recommendations

R

rnbtexas

Joined
May 7, 2012
Messages
630
Hi All,

I just purchased two Caly 3s (used). One is a G10 SE version and the other is the CF ZDP 189 version. I know that these are "washerless" designs. The G-10 SE version seems to open smoother. I have taken the PE blade out and cleaned it and reoiled it. It still seems to be less smooth than the SE version. I have a couple of theories. First it has just been opened and closed more and there is more wear and tear on the surfaces. The other is that I might not be using the proper lube. I am using a higher end bearing oil I got at Sportsmen Warehouse.

Any help with this would be appreciated. It won't keep me from using the knife, I just don't want to damage it.

Also, I did search and just didn't find anything. Feel free to point me at prior posts if I just missed. it

Best
 
I also own a Caly3 ZDP 189. Knives by the same mfg. can be different on the ease of opening from new. Since you purchased yours used they might have not seen the same maintenance that you might give them. I always polish the washers, when they have them, and the surfaces they contact including the blade itself. After that I use Tri Flo as a lube. There are many good lubricants for folders but I prefer Tri Flo. The final step is fine adjusting the pivot screw and use Loctite to keep it from loosing this adjustment.
 
How much use do you think the carbon fibre one has had?
I bought mine new, & it had some fine burring on the liner edges that made the action seem gritty. It has now worn in without me doing anything about it.
 
Thanks for the input.

rpttrsn
I also own a Caly3 ZDP 189. Knives by the same mfg. can be different on the ease of opening from new. Since you purchased yours used they might have not seen the same maintenance that you might give them. I always polish the washers, when they have them, and the surfaces they contact including the blade itself. After that I use Tri Flo as a lube. There are many good lubricants for folders but I prefer Tri Flo. The final step is fine adjusting the pivot screw and use Loctite to keep it from loosing this adjustment.
Click to expand...

I'll look into Tri Flo. I've never heard of it. Did you polish the inner surfaces in your Caly 3? If so what did you use to do it? I had to remove some cotton from a swab to get it between the scales when I cleaned it. I was wondering if a dry lube would be better for this specific design without the washers.


mtangent
How much use do you think the carbon fibre one has had?
I bought mine new, & it had some fine burring on the liner edges that made the action seem gritty. It has now worn in without me doing anything about it.
Click to expand...

So little that I put the first scratch on the blade and we know that the outer stainless scratches pretty easily. It was smooth for the first few days. I pulled it out of my pocket to open a letter and when I went to open it had clearly became gritty, sticky or harder to open. I took it apart and cleaned it, but it's still just a bit stiff?

Again thanks for the input and advise.
 
"I'll look into Tri Flo. I've never heard of it. Did you polish the inner surfaces in your Caly 3? If so what did you use to do it? I had to remove some cotton from a swab to get it between the scales when I cleaned it. I was wondering if a dry lube would be better for this specific design without the washers."
My bad. It's spelled Tri-Flow. They also make a dry lube. I have both but mostly use the regular.
You can tape wet/dry sandpaper on a flat surface ( a paint scraper for example or a flat butter knife ). Keep even pressure on both ends of the flat surface. You just want to remove any burrs, high spots and also polish the area. Use about 1000+ grit to finish up the area. You are only polishing the surface and not removing much material off of the surface. Use good lighting so you can see you progress. Clean area well before assembly. With washers I use wet sandpaper and placing the sandpaper on a flat surface (example glass) place the washer under my finger and make a figure eight with my finger on the paper. This puts pressure equally on the washer in all directions. Finish on a strop using the same figure eight. You can always sand more but cannot add if you remove to much steel. There might be other methods but this works for me.
 
Thank you for that tip. I've always read about people polishing the internals of their knives and wondered what it actually took.
 
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