How do I get rid of the gritty feeling on the Military?

S

Spirex288

Joined
Jul 19, 1999
Messages
108
I tried washing it and re-oiling and it still feels gritty when I open and close the blade. Is there anyway I can smooth it up? Take it apart? Suggestions please.
Thanks.
 
I am using BreakFree on my knife which is a daily carry. I'm sure it's pocket fuzz making it gritty. How do I get rid of it?
 
I've heard fellow forumites suggest using compressed air -- like for cleaning computer keyboards -- to get lint out of knives. I use a dry-type bicycle chain lubricant (Blue Diamond? Blue Lightning? something like that) on my Military, and it's silky smooth, I've never had to clean it.
 
I have a bottle of the stuff you are talking about. It's called White Lightning. Works really well. I have it on my smaller folders that I don't care about. I occasionally clean out my knives. The wax is the hardest thing to get off. That's why I'm hesitant to use it on the good stuff.
 
I have been using White Lightning for some time now with no ill affects. I love this stuff. It also makes scratched Micarta shine like new money.

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Bill
Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
 
Try saturating it at the pivot first with WD40 to clear out the debris and then blow it out with compressed air.

After blowing it out, then use some tuff glide or Rem oil to smooth it out. Works for me.
smile.gif


Daniel
 
I would try the WD-40 blast. Do you have any other oil besides Breakfree and White Lightning?? Something not as thick??


Blades

[This message has been edited by Blades (edited 03-11-2000).]
 
I have nothing on it besides BreakFree. I stripped it down of lubricants yesterday and tried relubing. Same thing. GRITTY!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!!!
I'll give the WD-40 thing a try when I get a chance.
Here's what I have at home at my disposal.
BreakFree CLP, 3-in-one, Rem Dry Lube, White Lightning wax/grease.
 
I would like to jump in here just to say that my experiences with White Lightning are somewhat less than favorable. Gunked up my Carnivour so bad it would hardly open and I had to disassemble it to get it cleaned out thoroughly.
I have had better results with RemOil. It is a Teflon based oil and works much better for me than the WL.
The WD40 blast is a pert near sure fire remedy for built up pocket lint. It's the way I get rid of the debris in all of my folders.
The compressed air blast is a
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idea, too!
Good Luck!
smile.gif


------------------
My new bumper sticker:

Let me tell you about my SIFU!
 
White Lightening is a good product. As it's been said, it doesn't work equally well on all folders. It does tend to migrate dirt out of pivot areas. WL is perfect for slip joints and most lock backs. It completely rejuvenated a gritty, stiff Victorinox that I thought I had ruined after a summer of archaeological field school. I had washed it, WD40, forced air, you name it, it was still tight. The WL cured it completely. WL really gummed up my Umfaan, though, so I switched back to the CR Knives grease. I think the tolerances were too tight.

I put White Lightening on my Military over a year ago, and it is still really slick and smooth. I believe it is the combination of the WL and the teflon washers. They seem to compliment the other's performance IMO. On the other hand, my Military has been pretty smooth since I got it, but the WL did improve it.

If you have taken your military apart and cleaned it and it's still gritty, there might be a reason to send it to Spyderco for evaluation.



------------------
Paul Davidson

Them:"What's that clipped to your pocket, a beeper?"
Me:"Uuh....yeah, something like that."
 
Paul or anyone,
How big are the washers on the Military? I also have an AFCK and the washers are visible. The Military I have is fairly new. I haven't taken it apart yet to attempt to clean it out. Also another nitpick, the blade seems to lock when I lower the blade to close it. Pulling the blade out takes a bit force due to the "locking" feeling.
 
Howdy

How big are the washers on the Military?
Click to expand...
The washers on the Military are extremely thin. I'm talking 2-D type thin here!

The blade seems to lock when I lower the blade to close it. Pulling the blade out takes a bit force.
Click to expand...
Hmm... I'm just guessing, but it sounds like there might be something wrong with the ball bearing rather than the actual pivot joint.

Whatever the problem is though, you should give Spyderco a call if you can't fix it. They can probably answer a lot of questions over the phone and might want you to send the knife in.
 
Let me rephrase my other problem. It's a bit difficult to explain. When I close the knife, as the blade is almost all the way seated in the handle, something pulls the blade in and locks it in. Probably that ball bearing you are talking about. Opening takes a bit effort to pull it out of the bearing or locking mechanism.
 
You may not only need lubing but polishing first. Blast with the prescribed WD40. Then with compressed air (shop compressor even better!). Then apply some metal polish such as Flitz to the innards with a q tip. Work the action for a while. Blast again and then use your favorite lube. Might do the trick.

L8r,
Nakano
 
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