Lock bar lubrication

MikeC

MikeC

Joined
Sep 16, 2005
Messages
1,364
Question

Should the butt end of the blade and the end of the lock bar where the two parts meet on a frame lock folder be lubricated to reduce wear, or would lubricating these areas cause the lock to wear quicker as there would be less resistance and the end of the lock bar would travel over the butt end of the blade faster?

If lubrication is proper here, which one Chris Reeve fluorinated or Sentry Solutions high slip grease?
 
No, I wouldn't lube the tang or lockbar-face because you actually want friction to make the lock safer. If the lock is sticky, I've read that using a pencil to scribble on the lockbar-face can help.
 
if its very hard or is sticking a light layer of pencil lead will help, but please NO oil or grease.
 
I would think if a lock is compromised by lubrication, it's probably not a secure lock to begin with. The reason is that locks should not rely on friction to remain engaged.

That being said, I'm not a fan of using lubrication on any well constructed knife, unless absolutely necessary. Lubrication invites contamination, which invites excessive wear, and can create conditions in which a locking mechanism gets too easily obstructed.
 
shecky said:
I would think if a lock is compromised by lubrication, it's probably not a secure lock to begin with. The reason is that locks should not rely on friction to remain engaged.

That being said, I'm not a fan of using lubrication on any well constructed knife, unless absolutely necessary. Lubrication invites contamination, which invites excessive wear, and can create conditions in which a locking mechanism gets too easily obstructed.
Click to expand...


most oils or greases can actually exacerbate a sticky lock problem
 
shecky said:
I would think if a lock is compromised by lubrication, it's probably not a secure lock to begin with. The reason is that locks should not rely on friction to remain engaged.
Click to expand...

there is the spring tension imparted from the lock on the blade tang, but friction is certainly a factor in liner/frame locks.
 
Personally, I dont really see how lubrication can make a spring less springy. Just me, but lockbacks do not work on friction, they work on tension. It may invite more dirt to stay down in there and get dirty, but all I have read is everyone yelling dont do it it will kill the lock.

Can anyone explain to me how a spring is effected by oil?
 
on a liner/frame lock, adding lubrication would decrease the locks ability to remain in place in relation to the tang.

while not affecting the spring tension, it would take less force to induce lock failure, as the lock would already have tendencies toward failure given the viscosity of the liquid on both parts.

untested, just seems like it would be the case.
 
The guide on the CRK guide recommends lubing the lockbar. Lube or no lube I don't see how the Seb's lock will slip. On other knives YMMV.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
there is the spring tension imparted from the lock on the blade tang, but friction is certainly a factor in liner/frame locks.
Click to expand...

Spring tension is also used on every liner/frame lock I've seen. Friction seems unnecessary for the mechanism to work. In fact, some liner locks use no friction at all. They simply block the blade from closing.

If a lock fails because it gets lubricated, it's probably not a good lock. Think about if for a while. My knives occasionally get slathered up with all kinds of stuff during use, stuff that has lubricating properties. If a lock can fail because of deliberate lubrication, certainly it can fail because of incidental lubrication.

Similarly, when a user lubes a knife, even with all the precautions in the world, it's often extremely difficult to keep oil from a pivot away from the tang. If somehow one manages to avoid oiling the tang, it's still likely oil will migrate to surrounding areas. Once again, if a lock can fail because of deliberate lubrication, certainly it can fail because of incidental lubrication.
 
So far every point of view seems valid.

I have had a number of lock backs that required lube for the initial break in period. I fall on the side of lube moving parts that make contact with other moving parts. But I get this from years of firearms maintenance.

Has anyone ever had a folder fail due to lubrication? Other than dirt, lint etc. clogging up the lock when sticking to the lube.

This is an interesting subject.
 
Lubing the tang and lock contacts specifically is a bad idea, you dont need to lube them up for a break in period either.
People do it because they are impatient and want results now not after a week odds of using the knife get all the parts seated.
 
Like a lot of questions and opinions and theories about just about anything, there is no way of actually knowing the correct answer unless properly conducted tests are carried out. You can guess, you can have a "feeling", you can use so called "common sense" but, in the end, it is all conjecture.

Has anyone, under controlled conditions, tried different types of lubrication on different types of materials on different types of locks with various different loads applied to them? No? In that case, the only correct answer is: I don't know.

I'm feeling particularly pedantic tonight.
 
Every liner-lock I have has had its tang/lock face lubed with Militec-1, and I've spine whacked and pressure tested (tried to close when opened and locked) every one of them and have not had a failure or any indication of the lock slipping.

shecky said:
If a lock fails because it gets lubricated, it's probably not a good lock. Think about if for a while. My knives occasionally get slathered up with all kinds of stuff during use, stuff that has lubricating properties. If a lock can fail because of deliberate lubrication, certainly it can fail because of incidental lubrication.

Similarly, when a user lubes a knife, even with all the precautions in the world, it's often extremely difficult to keep oil from a pivot away from the tang. If somehow one manages to avoid oiling the tang, it's still likely oil will migrate to surrounding areas. Once again, if a lock can fail because of deliberate lubrication, certainly it can fail because of incidental lubrication.
Click to expand...

It pains me to say this, but where this issue is concerned, Shecky is right on the money in what he has stated! His statements are perfectly in line with my observations.

spidyman said:
most oils or greases can actually exacerbate a sticky lock problem
Click to expand...

Spidy's right on the money as well! I've especially noticed this with my liner-locks that have Titanium (as opposed to steel) liners.

Regards,
3G
 
If the lock geometry is correct (and there's a rather thin window for this) then friction is completely unnecessary for the lock to be secure and reliable. Lube shouldn't compromise the lock on a good folder, however it won't help either, as others have said it can cause a good lock to become a bit sticky sometimes, and a bad lock to fail from slippage.
 
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