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Opinel Opening too easy
- Thread starter B JACKSON
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2012
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- 2,554
I have peened the pivot and used a vice on a few of the small ones without the locking ring.
You can do the same thing to the bigger ones by removing the locking ring first.
You can do the same thing to the bigger ones by removing the locking ring first.
Does it have the locking ring?
Take it off and grind/file a notch on the bottom edge like the top edge has. This will lock it closed just like it locks it open, this is how the new locking ring works.
If no locking ring then just place the knife's pivot with one rivet head on a hard surface and lightly tap the rivet on the other side with a hammer. A few taps should tighten it up.
Take it off and grind/file a notch on the bottom edge like the top edge has. This will lock it closed just like it locks it open, this is how the new locking ring works.
If no locking ring then just place the knife's pivot with one rivet head on a hard surface and lightly tap the rivet on the other side with a hammer. A few taps should tighten it up.
Soaking the whole thing in mineral oil for days can tighten it up some. If not enough, do above. Tighten the locking ring too....
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28597626/tuning-opinels.txt
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,502
A quick & easy way to remove the locking ring, is to use a pair of snap ring pliers. They work in 'reverse' as related to regular pliers, as the jaws will open as the handles are squeezed shut (& pliers shown below are switchable to work either way). Just place the jaw tips in the 'slot' of the locking ring and squeeze the handles; the ring can be gently slipped over the pivot pin's heads and will be off in about 3 seconds, with no worries about it flying across the room if 'forced' off by other means. Do the reverse to put the ring back on. I found this 'Vise-Grip' (Irwin Tools) model at Lowe's:
David
David
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2014
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- 740
I have a similar problem, but it's my lock ring that rotates too easily. Hoping I can remove it and pinch it together a little bit?
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,502
You might be able to. I've noticed with mine, the locking rings have a pretty springy temper, and they're quite stiff. Between those two factors, I've noticed it's sometimes difficult to make it 'stay' after I've tweaked it a little bit. Especially in squeezing them tighter; the ring will still have to be spread open a bit to get it back on the knife, and that might partially un-do your adjustment.
You might take a look at the document linked at the bottom of davek14's post above, about 'tuning' Opinels (Thanks! to Dave for a good reference, BTW :thumbup: ). There are some tips in there for tweaking the fit of the locking ring.
David
- Joined
- May 29, 2014
- Messages
- 87
+1 on the snap ring pliers. I got some off 'the river' for around $8 shipped. They're incredibly helpful when your Opinel needs some fine tuning, which they will from time to time.
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
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- 11,783
You people are all knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. I was going to suggest just stuffing a piece of wet bubblegum deep into the action. Of course, I am perhaps not quite as fancy as you all, with your "tools" and "know-how" and general "politeness."
(Love the quotation marks. :thumbup
~ P.
You people are all knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. I was going to suggest just stuffing a piece of wet bubblegum deep into the action. Of course, I am perhaps not quite as fancy as you all, with your "tools" and "know-how" and general "politeness."
And after all this time and tinkering we never thought of wet bubblegum.
Foolish thread posts aside, the bubble gum thing was inspired by the boiled linseed oil i had just daubed onto the sanded handle of an Opinel 6 I was playing with. The oil dripped into the virobloc and did actually have a gumming effect as I swiveled and swiveled. The oil, having been liberally applied (like one does during a sunny summer sunday afternoon of passionate...um...what...) ok I guess I really can't make a serious post. Don't get up- I'll show myself out.
I have applied whatever finish I was playing with at the moment to pivot joints which were extremely loose to tighten things up. I'm not sure if it was as effective as oil applied during a sunny summer Sunday afternoon of passionate softball though.