No Lube Sebenza?

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
2,536
My Small Insingo is a few months old and smooth as glass. After cleaning it up, it looked so good, decided to go no lube for a while. It is still flawless. There is the added advantage of no gunk buildup with the lack of lube to attract it.

What do you think? It this harmful?
 
I've never had a problem with gunk buildup using the fluorinated grease. I don't think I would go dry. Any metal on metal friction will cause wear on the softer metal. That being the bronze washers.
 
I think it would depend on the environment and how much you use it. If you seldom use it and it is in a clean environment it would not hurt it to much, but in a not so clean environment (like I use mine) it could cause a problem. Remember no matter where or how much you use it, metal on metal will wear. Very little lube is what I would recommend, we probably all use to much lube and I am sure I will continue to do that. :-)
 
I don't know, but have always wondered about this. CRK recommends the grease and it's hard to go against a makers recommendation, but from what I have always heard Phosor bronze is self lubricating and other makers do recommend no grease do to junk attraction(although CRK tolerances may greatly reduce this). Waiting to hear what others have to say.
 
If the washers wear out from no grease send it in for the spa treatment and get new washers :) I run mine dry as I work in an autobody shop so dust is excessive in here and I would be cleaning it constantly.
 
Ultimately, lube should be used, but the knife will not be worn out tomorrow if you don't use lube.
 
I suspect going without lube for a short period may not cause any detectable wear. Multiply that by a few thousand times and you may see premature wear. In that case, replacing the washers is necessary and not costly.
If you do not use it as a worry bead, it would be a great many years before you can wear them out. Especially in an EDC capacity where one can carry it for days without even deploying it once.

I would just apply an ultra thin layer on them. Slows down wear and that should not attract too much dust.

I also have a lens blower that I can use to blow out stuff that gets stuck.
 
Thank you all.
I don't put this knife in a wet, mud, dust environment. I'm pretty easy on knives this size.
I don't know how long I'll run this test, but it seems to be good so far.

Thanks
 
Imagine how many thousand times you'd have to open/close your knife to appreciably wear the bearing surfaces. Yes, proper lubrication helps the smoothness but if you are a light user you've got years before you have to worry.
 
This is not a Formula 1 engine - and contrary to one of the suggestions above, it might actually encounter LESS wear in a dusty, gritty environment because there isn't any lube to pick up and retain grit that can cause wear. I think it's a case of "if it works for you, do it." ;)
 
I just checked the the package insert and it says: "...should you wish to lubricate the pivot...".
So I guess it's not a must.
I do lubricate and probably "overlubricate", but then I'm a knife-nut and it's fun.
That said I keep other moving parts in and around the house lubricated too.
red mag
 
As you said JNewell, lube seems to collect contaminates. In just a day or so, I see dark "stuff" where the CRK Lube is and this is only pocket carry.
My knife is clean as a hound's tooth now going on five days.
I have an air compressor in my work shop, I plan to hit it with the air now and then.
 
The two worst crap-collectors, sorry, make that three worst, are Tuff-Glide, BoeShield and all waxy bike chain lubes. They claim to be "dry" but leave a waxy residue that collects dirt and grit like crazy after the carrier evaporates. Tuff-Glide and Boeshield are great corrosion prevenatives but IME make very poor lubricants. (For the record, I don't think Boeshield has ever been marketed as a lubricant.)

Air compressor: one of the two most unexpectedly useful gadgets I've bought in my adult life. The other was a decent-sized ultrasonic cleaner. :)
 
I use Rem oil religiously. But, I ordered some CRK grease. Not sure if it was worth it. Does it work that much better? I liked the REM with Teflon as it does not collect.
 
I contacted CRK about lubing and how often. They told me that the lube is also there to prevent corrosion in the pivot area. Even if the knife is not "dirty" they suggest a disassembly and lube about once a year. They don't recommend having no lube, and they don't recommend using oil, waxes, etc., use the CRK grease. A good engineering design also includes the specifications for the lubricant, which you should use if you want optimum performance. Most people use the lubricants and maintenance schedule recommended for their cars, why not your knife?
 
My car manufacturer does not require a brand of motor oil, they list the minimum specs.
 
I use a tiny dab on each washer after cleaning, this helps keep them in place whil putting the knife back together and give just a little lube to stay inside the knife. Use fluorinated grease thats pretty cheap and I use so little what I have will last me ages
 
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