Opinel knives....kinda stupid question...

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Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

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I've recently picked up a couple of Opinel knives I've REALLY been using the hell outta and enjoying quite a bit. Real good slicers that I don't mind overusing/abusing the heck outta. (An Opinel #10 and #12 to be exact) I'd been using them quite heavily, and thinking about throwing the #12 into the bottom of my pack this summer for a kinda folding kitchen knife.

I have however discovered one MAJOR flaw in the things though....after using the #10 to scrape some old linoleum, paint, and a NASTY wax ring off the bottom of an old toilet, I of course washed and rinsed it quite heavily....Then I discovered that the water swelled the handles so badly, I had a virtual fixed blade on my hands...without using the locking collar. Not a big deal in the shop, but it could become quite annoying in other circumstances.

So, question being, is there something that can be done to water proof 'em a bit more? Any of y'all ever tried? Or is it more the nature of the beast, and something ya' just learn to live with for a $14 dollar knife?
 
dude, when they make the opinel knives, they separately dry the wood quite a bit, i would think that it is what you will have to live with, maybe try waxing it a lot. I doubt there is a real fix to it, other than to rehandle the knife, which would probly not be worth the trouble, whatever floats your boat
 
I bet that something like plasti-dip would help. You might have to widen the inside slot first.
 
I have never tried it on an Opinel but you might think about using Sno-Seal to seal the wood. I would pack a small amount in the groove around the pivit pin and then heat it with a hair dryer till it becomes liquid and is soaked up by the unfinished wood inside. Just a thought.
 
I'd put it somewhere good and dry for a few days, and hopefully the handle won't warp too much drying out.
Then all you should need to do is put a good oil finish on it. It shouldn't cause to much swelling. I've been really happy with watco's danish oil for gunstocks and knife handles. Tru oil or something similar should work also.
Probably just dip the whole handle in the first time and then wipe it down so its not dripping. Let it dry and then add more coats as needed. About 6 coats of watco's on the knives I've made will give a really nice glossy finish (dull, not super shiny) and water will bead up on them instead of soaking in.
 
I use tung oil on my Opinels. I let the oil soak in for about 10-15 min. (you don't want to let the oil start to dry) then rub off the excess so there is no build up. After a day or two I give it another coat, and a third about a week later.
 
Linseed oil isn't a PERFECT solution, but it does help seal the wood. The drawback is that you'll need to re-apply the oil occasionally.

Use boiled linseed oil and put it on as thick as you can, and let it soak in for a bit- I say half hour to an hour or longer, then wipe off what doesn't soak in. After it dries, water should bead off for quite some time and you'll have s nice finish look on it. In the event you immerse your knife or wash it again, you'll need to reapply the oil

I haven't used it on a knife handle-my guess is that if the wood is "finished" at all, it will inhibit the oil's absorption. If so, you'd have to consider sanding the handle to allow thoil in...

DANGER!!!:eek:

Linseed oil can spontaneously combust- it can burst inito flames under the right conditions! Make sure you read/heed the warnings on the can. DO NOT leave the oil, rags or wet knife lying amidst flammable stuff! Read the warnings an you should be fine.


Cheers,
Bill
 
Antother vote for the linseed oil. I have used the stuff on my Opinels for a while now. (didn't know about the combustability thing tho':eek: )
 
Runs With Scissors said:
I've recently picked up a couple of Opinel knives I've REALLY been using the hell outta and enjoying quite a bit. Real good slicers that I don't mind overusing/abusing the heck outta. (An Opinel #10 and #12 to be exact) I'd been using them quite heavily, and thinking about throwing the #12 into the bottom of my pack this summer for a kinda folding kitchen knife.

I have however discovered one MAJOR flaw in the things though....after using the #10 to scrape some old linoleum, paint, and a NASTY wax ring off the bottom of an old toilet, I of course washed and rinsed it quite heavily....Then I discovered that the water swelled the handles so badly, I had a virtual fixed blade on my hands...without using the locking collar. Not a big deal in the shop, but it could become quite annoying in other circumstances.

So, question being, is there something that can be done to water proof 'em a bit more? Any of y'all ever tried? Or is it more the nature of the beast, and something ya' just learn to live with for a $14 dollar knife?
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Use Renaissance wax on it.
 
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