Hard to open slip joints

Thomason

Thomason

Joined
Nov 28, 2002
Messages
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What are the recommendations from you “Traditional” knuts to loosen up a slip joint? I have have a couple that are kind of hard to open. They are not nail breakers just a little too stiff for me. There are no defects and they are clean and oiled OK. Is there a way for the user to lighten them up a bit short of some extreme measures? What works for you guys?
 
Someone posted a suggestion to this quite a while back.
Open the blade half way so it's neither open nor closed and let it sit that way for a while. This, supposedly, reduces some of the tension in the back spring.
Other than that, lube and open and close the blade a million times.
Lenny
 
Thanks Lenny,
I'll try the leave'um partially open thing. I wonder how long "for a while" is? Well, gotta run and get started on those million openings and closing:)
 
I would try cleaning, lubricating or polishing rather than hoping to reduce the back spring tension. Most of the time reducing friction helps enough. Clean the inside around the blade and spring with pipe cleaners dipped in alcohol. Next scrape some candle wax into the joint and work it around a bit by opening and closing the blade. If that is not enough, or it feels gritty, try polishing. Get some green buffing compound and scrape it into the joint. Now try a couple hundred openings and closings. You only need to work the tight parts of the blade travel (say 25% open to 75% open). Add more polishing compound as you go. When it feels better clean the joint again and add more wax.
 
I totaly agree with what Jeff Clark said, also, after puting in the wax I might use a match or lighter to melt it and help it find its way inside the joint.

I´ll admit that I have a couple of slipjoints that have been stiff for years and I´ve just learned to live with it.
 
Im going to give it try.
Oh, and since I started this thread I figure its OK if I am the one to "drift" it. PhiL - How is the kite flying going? I just started playing with single lines a couple of week ago and am thinking about the stunt kite now.
 
I would use q-tips, pipe cleaners, or twisted rag tip to clean everything out that you can get to. Than I would take an air source, air compressor, or canned air (such as the type you use to clean computer keyboards) and blow out any debris that may be in the liners, back of blade, etc.

Then I would use a good lubricant oil, very lightly though, and work it. Than I would clean any excess oil out (to minimize any dirt, lint from being attracted to it) and continue to work it.

Hope this helps some.
 
Really were some great suggestions in this thread.

(And Phil has almost got me hooked on kites too :D)
 
Here's what I do. Work the blade open and closed for an hour or so. Then wash the knife with dish soap and water to remove grinding dust. Afterward, spray down the pivot with WD-40 and wipe it off thoroughly. Work the blades for another hour or so. Then spray again with WD-40 and wipe thoroughly. Finally, oil the pivot and spring and wipe off the excess.
 
My approach is similar to Buzz's exept I'll lube with an extra fine graphite then work it, then blast it out with WD-40 and work it again. The most important thing to remember when you're doing this is to have fun.;) That's why we all hang out here isn't it?
 
Originally posted by Thomason
PhiL - How is the kite flying going? I just started playing with single lines a couple of week ago and am thinking about the stunt kite now.
Click to expand...

Thomason & Gus, I don't want to Bogart this thread, but I am digging the sheet out of stunt kites. E-mail me if you need any suggestions for your first stunt kite. I will be packing kites to bring to Blade ;)
It's supposed to be 15º here tomorrow with a Wind Chill of 0º and I can't wait to head down the beach to go flying. I am hooked!
 
I have an Ogg folder (1979 or so) and a Laguiole that both qualifiy as super-stiff. All the cleaning and lubing in the world won't relieve these hardened springs.

I can't see a solution outside of full disassy and modification, of course which is out of the question on these pinned knives. It's just their nature.

Watch your fingers and nails!

Coop
 
Be careful trying these fixes. Blade 747 may be correct in that there is no easy fix. The knife I was trying this on had half stops. I cleaned, WD-40’ed and worked openings and closing for an hour or so. Opening ease did not improve much and now I have big time slop at the half stop position. The blade is no longer firmly set when half way open. Closed is OK and fully open is OK, no blade play. Good luck.
 
Hi thomason I personally like the stiff opening. I like as much preasure as possible on the back spring. It helps to keep the blade from colapseing easily. I apply break free to all the joints that makes all the factory oil and grit and grime just drip out of there. than I wipe down the knife. It might also help to loosen it up a bit.
 
Thomason said:
Be careful trying these fixes. Blade 747 may be correct in that there is no easy fix. The knife I was trying this on had half stops. I cleaned, WD-40’ed and worked openings and closing for an hour or so. Opening ease did not improve much and now I have big time slop at the half stop position. The blade is no longer firmly set when half way open. Closed is OK and fully open is OK, no blade play. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Sorry I to bring up a very old post.

Did you ever figure out how to fix those stiff, hard to open knives?

I have a Case Canoe 1977 I believe that is a nail breaker.
 
Oddly enough, Jeff Clark and I grew up in roughly the same neighborhood and are of similar age. Haven't seen Jeff online for a spell. Rob drops by every once in a while. You might drop him an email or a visitor message. Copy the address of this thread and paste it into your communication to him, so that he knows what you are talking about. It is a fairly old thread.
 
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