Opinel No.9...how do I loosen it up?????

bdev

bdev

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Feb 8, 2013
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I have an Opinel No.9 (Inox) that seems a bit tight to open and close. Is there a way to "loosen it up" or is this the way all Opinels come from the factory?
I really like this knife (my only Opinel...for now) and use it in the kitchen.
It's not a nail breaker but seems too hard to open and close for a knife that locks open.

Thanks.
 
This may sound odd to some, but it worked on my most recent no6. Gaffa taped the blade (preservation of digits), then rubbed hot beeswax into the joint and worked it for a wee while. Silky smooth action now.

Paul
 
My experience with Opinels has been that they are tight when new, but use will make them easier to open.
 
Honestly, in my experience, Opinel knives tend to be a bit on the loose side when they're new, and they often need some tightening.
My advice is this. Clean the knife in the pivot area, and lube it (oil, wax, wd40, your choice - I don't think there's much difference). Dry the knife carefully, and give it the vaseline/paraffin bath to reduce the wood swelling due to humidity or water.
You should be fine.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Some new ones will be loose, and some will be tight. I have three No. 08s, and have seen both issues with them.

If humidity is affecting how tight it is, one way to verify it is to put the knife in/under a heat source for a little while (heat lamp, hair dryer, warm oven, etc, for maybe 30 minutes at least). If the handle is swollen from moisture, at least some of it will evaporate off, and the wood will shrink a little. That should loosen up the pivot a bit. If it does, that'd be the time to use wax, vaseline, etc. to try to lube & seal the pivot, to minimize re-absorption of moisture into the wood.


David
 
Thanks for the replies. I did loosen it up a bit and this is how I did it.
I took a single edge razor blade and wedged it between the tang and wood. I tapped the razor blade with a small hammer which slightly separated the two.
I did this on both sides.
The blade is now much easier to open.
 
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