Leatherman Wave maintenance/revival?

L

lostnomad

Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
9
Hi all,

First post here, from what I've seen from my lurking it seems you guys should have the answers to my problem.

I have a Leatherman Wave which got a bit wet with sea water and has now almost completely seized up. I can open the handles out but the screwdrivers etc. can only be deployed by prying them out with another screwdriver. The pliers wont move and the external blades can be deployed but are very stiff.

There is no visible rust. Can anyone suggest a fix for this? Is it just a case of spraying it with something? If so, what would you suggest.

In advance, thanks to all.
 
i'd try some WD40 or a anything that will free up some rust. As a pool guy, I have used common metal removing chemicals to free up a rusted slip joint. My great grandfather passed away some 20 years ago. When my great grandmother passed a year or so back, my dad went through some of his grandpa's old things that hadn't been touched since the day he died. One of those things was an old slip joint that had been sitting wet in a leaky tackle box for 20+ years:eek: A 2 hour soak in Metal Magnet got the joints working again. I wasn't able to save the knife. The blades had rusted through, but the chemical DID get the blades moving again.
 
There is a product called Liquid Wrench, might try soaking it a bit in there and manipulate the tools a lot to get the crap out of the pivots. That or WD40 or a Hoppe's solvent/lubricant. Just be sure to wash in clean water to get the stuff off and dry it. Should fix the issue. Not sure if somebody has a better solution.
 
Yes, first off, hit it with fresh water. Then, dry it and put some PB blaster where the pivots are on everything and let it work in, then work all the impliments. do that a few times until its good again, then wash it out with brake cleaner. then, when thats dry (dries almost on contact), put a good lube on it and use the heck out of it for a few days. should be fine.
 
Thanks guys, this is a fast moving forum! I will try those remedies.

Would anyone recommend a disassembly of a Wave? Has anyone tried it?
 
lostnomad said:
Thanks guys, this is a fast moving forum! I will try those remedies.

Would anyone recommend a disassembly of a Wave? Has anyone tried it?
Click to expand...

I'd soak it first. Taking it apart isn't as simple as it sounds. If you apply some WD-40/Liquid wrench you should be good. I've had pliers, crescent wrenches, knives, pruning shears all seized closed with rust. A soak in the any of the products mentioned in this thread will work :thumbup:
 
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