Nano oil vs grease

[JB in SC]

CRK grease works fine, a little goes a long way.

 

[ti lock]

I am sticking with the finish line extreme.... once you try it you won't go back to the crk grease

 

[ice_man]

I am sticking with the finish line extreme.... once you try it you won't go back to the crk grease

I have used and tested this extensively for the past 6 months. It's pretty good if you are always using the knife, it does dry out in a month or so if you don't use the knife regularly. Stopped using it on my safe queens.

 

[ice_man]

I've had good luck with Nano Oil. For CRK I use the 85 weight oil, or a combination of the 85 weight and 10 weight oil. YMMV.

I use the 10 weight as the 85 is pretty viscous for my taste...

 

[ti lock]

I have used and tested this extensively for the past 6 months. It's pretty good if you are always using the knife, it does dry out in a month or so if you don't use the knife regularly. Stopped using it on my safe queens.

i last applied finish line extreme to my seb 21 in july of 2016 and the blade still opens and closes smooth as silk... that wasn't the case with the grease supplied from CRK

 

[ice_man]

i last applied finish line extreme to my seb 21 in july of 2016 and the blade still opens and closes smooth as silk... that wasn't the case with the grease supplied from CRK

that's good for you. I really loved the Finish Line when I first used it, but it's not for idle knives on your safe or drawer...

 

[kidcongo]

Lets settle this right now!!!

 

[ChazzyP]

Nice fitting, Cody. Does it hang up on your pocket?

 

[ChazzyP]

I started a thread a few months ago regarding the use of alternate lubes in CRKs. Cody and several others chimed in with lots of interesting information and numerous opinions on the matter. I had not been satisfied with the action on my large 25, cleaned it out, and went with 10 W NanoOil. I was greatly satisfied with the smoothness and ease of opening and closing. A friend posted that he used fluoro-grease on the washers and added 85W Nano to the pivot. I ran that in my large KA 21 CF with mixed results--intial lag in the action which smoothed out and became quicker after a couple days. A month later it was back to feeling balky and resistant. In the meantime, the 25 had continued to run smoothly with a very easy and free action.

We're up here in our Cabin in the frozen Vermont hills and I just got done pulling the blade, bushing, and washers out of the 21; cleaning everything up; taking .01 mm off the lock-side washer; polishing them both on my strop; and reassembling with 10W on the washers and 85W in the pivot. The knife is super smooth with extremely easy action. If the 25's performance is any indication, I expect to be pleased with these results for months to come.

Most all my knives are lightly lubed with NanoOil and only occasionally require a single droplet at each washer to maintain excellent action.

Camp is a great place to work on knives by the warmth of the stove. Away from everything enjoying the zen-like bliss of tinkering with my CRKs and others. I brought three of my larges with me and when we're back on -Cape Monday they'll have a new mate-- a large 21 Micarta Insingo bought off the Exchange. Psyched for that one.

 

[Acadian]

Lets settle this right now!!!

LOL I needed that this morning. Good one Cody!! :thumbup:

 

[Mesenzo]

90% of the time I carry a small CRK Insingo as my (heavily used) EDC. Polished the washers and the action is very nice. The fist year and a half I used the CRK grease and found that it ran dry after about 2 to 3 month max. Taking apart the knife in theses intervals always showed completely dry washers. Then two years ago I discovered the Nano Oil Grease and started to use that on most of my knives (washers and ball bearing knives a like). Now I find that my Insingo stays lubed for about double the time then it did with the CRK grease. When I take it apart every two to three month it always still has some grease in the "chambers" of the washers. I can't say I notice a difference in the action between the CRK grease and the Nano Grease (both give extremely smooth action with the polished washers) but the Nano Grease seems to last longer.

 

[kidcongo]

90% of the time I carry a small CRK Insingo as my (heavily used) EDC. Polished the washers and the action is very nice. The fist year and a half I used the CRK grease and found that it ran dry after about 2 to 3 month max. Taking apart the knife in theses intervals always showed completely dry washers. Then two years ago I discovered the Nano Oil Grease and started to use that on most of my knives (washers and ball bearing knives a like). Now I find that my Insingo stays lubed for about double the time then it did with the CRK grease. When I take it apart every two to three month it always still has some grease in the "chambers" of the washers. I can't say I notice a difference in the action between the CRK grease and the Nano Grease (both give extremely smooth action with the polished washers) but the Nano Grease seems to last longer.

It is the intention of the CRK grease to "dry out". The fluid is just a carrier for the product, which is the same reason it will settle and separate in the tubes. Doesn't mean it's superior, but it's not a problem. The lubrication is from a very thin film deposited on the washers.

 

[Mesenzo]

I guess that you are right about the "drying out" not being a problem. But it felt a little less smooth after about 2 to 3 month of use. So that was why I took it apart. Assuming the dry washers were the problem but then it must have been the worn out film. After starting to use the Nano Grease I kept taking it apart every 2 to 3 month to see if there was any grease left. At these intervals the action still was pretty good and there was always some grease left in the pockets of the washers. That is why I kept using the Nano Grease.

 

[brownshoe]

The CRK grease is designed not just as a lubricant, but also to protect the area from oxidation. That's why CRK says to clean and apply grease every year or so even if it's still operating smoothly. Correct protection and lubrication, per design specs, is why CRK doesn't recommend using anything other than their grease.

 

[Mike Read]

I bought a tube of Nano oil and most of it leaked out due to the dispenser casing cracking after maybe two or three uses.

I use the Finish Line Extreme Flouro Grease as a general rule and this provides a long lasting smooth lube that doesn't wash out. I have tried the nano oil to avoid having to strip knives and have not been impressed. It makes a mess and doesn't stay smooth for long. I find cheap cycle chain lube is just as good and you can get 20 time the amount for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Dangerously]

I've used both. The nano oil worked well enough, and didn't pick up pocket lint if applied sparingly enough. But the CRK grease lasted longer in the washers. I have a very old style nano oil bottle that doesn't seem to have he problems of newer ones.

Right now I still use the nano oil on CRKs, but not on the blade flats/washers. I put a tiny bit inside the pivot hole on the blade, and the most vanishingly small drop on the ceramic detent ball after a cleaning. If done right, it just slicks up the detent ball's path to help smoothness without gunking anything up.

 

[colubrid]

I DON'T LIKE THE PERFORATED WASHERS ON THE SEBENZAS!

I also have the same experience as some with the CRK grease drying out inside the perforated washers. I have been using Mil-tec grease with better and longer results.

Now the old style washers are a whole other deal.. I find them smoother and they don't need anything but a flim of oil. Even dry they run like they are on glass. That is why I like the older Sebenzas.. wish they would bring back the old washers and get rid of the perforated ones with the holes.

 

[JNewell]

I DON'T LIKE THE PERFORATED WASHERS ON THE SEBENZAS!

I also have the same experience as some with the CRK grease drying out inside the perforated washers. I have been using Mil-tec grease with better and longer results.

Now the old style washers are a whole other deal.. I find them smoother and they don't need anything but a flim of oil. Even dry they run like they are on glass. That is why I like the older Sebenzas.. wish they would bring back the old washers and get rid of the perforated ones with the holes.

Glad you posted that. I, too, have come to prefer the old style washers!

 

[ti lock]

finish line extreme = pure fluorinated PFPE grease, which is probably the same grease that comes with each folding knife from CRK --- but i really like the hypodermic needle applicator from finish line...

 

[Peter Hartwig]

CRK's used to come with those