How to prevent an oily thumb?

Dangerously

Dangerously

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Jan 8, 2013
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Ladies and gents, I was hoping to get advice.

After flushing and oiling a knife, I wipe it down as best I can. Open, wipe, close, wipe, repeat. But the back spring and liners trap a bit of oil. After opening and closing, there’s the tiniest bit of oil right where I put my thumb on the back spring.

So am I doomed to an oily thumb? Is there some technique to help, or must I just wait it out until the oil spreads thin enough not to collect there?
 
Use less oil, when applying it. Just a drop or two or maybe three (one drop per pivot, and maybe one drop for the springs).

If the knife is too oily in the meantime, wrap it snugly in a clean & dry rag or paper towel overnight and let that absorb some of the excess as it oozes out. Won't take long to get rid of the excess. On the occasions I've had a little too much seeping out, just an afternoon's worth of pocket carry in my jeans will catch whatever comes out, and then it's essentially over.

Too much oil is also prone to collecting more dirt, lint and other grime, and getting extra 'gummy'. So there's additional incentive to not overapply it.
 
Ditto what ED says, blow it out with compressed air. The protective and lubricating properties will remain.
 
Great advice. I’m using 3-in-1, and probably too much. So I’ll lighten up, and if I still get it, I’ll wrap it in a cloth for a while.

The glove idea makes me wonder if Michael Jackson didn’t have this same problem.

Thanks for the ideas.
 
Dangerously said:
The glove idea makes me wonder if Michael Jackson didn’t have this same problem.
Click to expand...
Mikey Jackson wore gloves to hide his painted fingernails.
(I still think Janet Jackson is one of Mikey's fake names. You NEVER saw them together in public ... not even when they was kids, that I recall.)
 
If you haven’t watched them already, Nick Shabazz has at least two YouTube videos discussing the pros and cons of the various lubricants available for use with knife maintenance. I’d recommend giving them a view if you haven’t already.
 
I use a micro-drop precision oiler for my knife joints; just filled with 3 in 1 oil. Also a good canned air blow out will really get and grit, etc. out of the joint. I use plain pipe cleaners to get the dirt/pocket lint/etc out of the main body of my knives.
Rich
 
When you wash the knife, clean it with the cam engaged and wash the back spring on its sides as it’s protruding from the liners.

I usually will continue moving the blade until all the much comes up, because that is one of the purposes of the oil.

If there’s a lot of excess muck coming up, IMO, you didn’t clean it well enough.
 
Dangerously said:
Great advice. I’m using 3-in-1, and probably too much. So I’ll lighten up, and if I still get it, I’ll wrap it in a cloth for a while.

The glove idea makes me wonder if Michael Jackson didn’t have this same problem.

Thanks for the ideas.
Click to expand...

You should also switch to mineral oil, it's food safe plus it's cheaper.
Definitely follow the given advise of everyone else as well.
 
I don’t have canned air handy, but I do have a compressor in the garage. I’ll give it a go. 125psi, what could go wrong? :)

I’ve always worried about washing too well. I don’t want to get water somewhere it’ll corrode and not get it out. But the air compressor should take care of that.

And I’ve wondered about mineral oil too. I have it on hand for cutting boards. Maybe I’ll switch so the apples don’t taste like a mechanic.

My god, the lovely wife is going to wonder what the hell is going on with all the running about. Or maybe she’s already figured out not to ask.
 
Be sure all the "solvent" ( water / whatever) is dry / removed.

To apply lube I use a hyper dermic tipped oiler which gives me a high degree of control to produce just a hint of a fraction of a drop and maintain it until I apply it to the underside of the spring or between the blade and the liner. After all it isn't like we need an oil wedge here driven by 60 psi . . . right ?

That and I have a rigorous schedule of lubing my knives once every decade whether they need it or not. ;) :)

You could use a dry lube like DriSlide. It is nasty and black but once it dries out it isn't a problem (used very sparingly) and it is a fantastic lubricant.
(For my knives I just use the Starrett Instrument oil using the oiler I mentioned above.)

Please don't remove the photo; the focus is the oilers and lubes. I would rather not go down to the shop to dig out the DriSlide and rephotograph it.

Look I carry Traditionals; the Stag Trapper is one of my all time favorites.
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IMG_3377.jpg
 
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I use just plain cheap mineral oil and my air compressor to get rid of the excess. Works great!
By the way- My wife stopped asking a long time ago what I am up to:)
 
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I use a hair dryer on low with high flow to dry my knives afterwards.
 
I always over oil, flushes any crud out. Then I wipe excess off with a piece of blue shop towel as it doesn’t leave any little fibres behind. Sometimes I get a little sneaking through the spring too. I just squeeze it and force it out, wipe. Also opening part way and wipe the exposed spring works.
 
When I've put too much oil what I do is just rest the knife spring side down on a tissue and leave it on my desk for an afternoon or whatever. If I'm bored I'll periodically move the knife over to a new spot on the tissue and watch the oil stains get smaller and smaller until they're gone. Then I know the knife is good to go.
 
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