Opinel locking collar stuck

ichor · Oct 9, 2003

I gave a friend of mine an Opinel #10 (maybe 4" blade) to use at his fruit and vegetable stand. He commonly gives customers samples of his products, mostly fruit, and needed something he could pull out of his pocket, pick up a nice piece of fruit, and cut a wedge for the customer. This worked really well until lately. The collar is metal to metal so I don't think this problem is related to swelling wood, tho' it might be the case. Obviously the fruit juice and other stuff will run down into the top of the knife, no matter how often one wipes the blade (and sometimes, this is not an option. I help him out part time and sometimes you're so busy that proper maintanance is not as often as one would like).

The collar has gotten to the point that it will not turn to lock the blade open or shut. I used a screwdriver to twist the collar in both directions ten or more times and it doesn't seem to loosen at all.

Any suggestions as to what might be the cause, and recommendations for remedies. Bear in mind that this knife is cutting food products for customers, so regular oil would not be appropriate. I also think that using vegetable oil would end up with some spoiled/rank stuff in the areas that need cleaning. Help, please!!!

ddean · Oct 9, 2003

Soak the knife in Goo Gone (Pro -->citrus solvent) overnight.
Rinse off in the am.
If it's working,
then let it air-dry for the day.
[or warm oven just over 100'F, or sunshine for couple hours]
Soak in light mineral oil another overnight.
Wipe & use.

Mineral oil will not hurt anyone with a nut allergy,
since we're talking food & samples.

Just My Opinion.

Tohatchi NM · Oct 9, 2003

You could pry off the collar, which will bend it a bit out of shape, making it a bit looser when you put it back on.

For lubricant, try "White Lightning" It's a wax dissolved in solvent - the solvent evaporates, leaving a lubricating waxy residue. If you don't get it on the blade itself, it probably won't get onto the food. Shouldn't matter much anyway, since many fruits and veggies at the supermarket are waxed.

If all else fails, just buy another one. At $10 or so a pop, get three or four. Gotta love an economical blade.

ferguson · Oct 9, 2003

If all else fails, just buy another one. At $10 or so a pop, get three or four. Gotta love an economical blade. [/B]

$6.97 at Knives Plus Make this one your fixed blade. I'm the same way though. I'd rather fix it than buy a new one.

I just ordered several different sizes yesterday, as they have them on sale. Never used one, but always wanted to try some. Looks like the next best value to HI!

Steve

Bill Martino · Oct 9, 2003

Bruise has a ten pound hammer you might borrow to try to loosen it up.

Yvsa · Oct 9, 2003

Originally posted by ferguson
Never used one, but always wanted to try some. Looks like the next best value to HI!

Steve

Yeah!!!! And they all have a convex blade too!!!! Notice I said, "Convexed Blade" and not "Convexed Edge." And that's the way the Rose I traded to Thomas was done, by me.

There was an old Convexed Blade featured in Blade Magazine a few months back. There was no question the man that owned it knew what he was doing. Although the knife had a different profile than it did when it was new the man had maintained that convex grind perfectly!!!!

And I bet he didn't spend any time worrying about what angle to hold the knife and stone together, he just sharpened the dayumed thing.

Red · Oct 9, 2003

The collar on an Opinel is just sprung on, you can pop it off easily. For oiling, look for the oils made for wooden cutting boards, they're food safe, have no flavor and don't go rancid.

ichor · Oct 9, 2003

Originally posted by Red
The collar on an Opinel is just sprung on, you can pop it off easily. For oiling, look for the oils made for wooden cutting boards, they're food safe, have no flavor and don't go rancid.

This looks like the answer. I'm sure that it is stuck due to all the apple, peach and plum juice. If it will come off, a good cleaning and lube job with probably do it. The only thing that worries me is that it will not spring back to original tightness, and when reinstalled, I'd hate to have the collar so loose that it doesn't work as intended. Thanks for all the tips, especially you, Uncle Bill as Bruise Lee would probably lend me his sledgehammer. Thing is, I don't need a hammer from Bruise or anyone else. For 40+ years my toolbox has consisted of only a 24" 2 lb. screwdriver and a dozen hammers of varying sizes weights. My motto is: If it's broke, hammer on it a few times and you might not have to do anything else.