Powerlock - did it arrive scratched?

A

AlphalphaPB

Joined
Apr 29, 2002
Messages
1,273
I finally got my Powerlock today. First impression: Holy crap! Heavy! Big! Hardcore! :)

I like it, but it's not as smooth a flip opening as I thought it'd be.

Mine is the stainless steel version, and the handles have lots of random scratches on them. It looks like someone had been carrying the tool in their pocket along with keys for a month. There's a bit of white waxy material on the inside surface of the gear thingy, I'll assume that it's White Lightning. Is this factory-standard? There's also some leather sheath lint gunk stuck under the hex bolts behind the gears.

What I'd like to know is if the ebay seller sell me used or display merchandise. Do other Powerlocks come in pristine condition?
 
My Powerlock came with a few very light random scratches. Don't worry about the finish, it's supposed to look like that. Besides it is meant to be used and will do the job well. My model was a bit stiff when new, but it broke in nicely after a little oil and repeated openings and closings. I don't remember if it had any White Lightening, but mine was brand new when I got it and did not have any kind of lint or gunk under the gears. It's my favourite pliers tool and has come in handy countless times. I wouldn't get rid of mine for anything.
 
Oh, I'm definitely now worried about it eventually getting to this point. But it just annoys me that someone on Ebay can sell something as new, and send me something has clearly been handled before.
 
I think mine came in a somewhat satin finish (not mirror but not obviously satin).
It didn't came lubed. I lubed it up and it sure open a lot better.
 
Handled or not, it doesn't matter much anymore, my busy hands just couldn't keep away from disassembling the knife. :)

I took a second look at the lubricant, it's not as waxy as I thought. It seems to be a white grease, quite thick in consistency. I wiped it all out, cleaned with WD-40, and used some Tuf-Glide.

Is there supposed to be lots of Loctite in the female hex bolt receiver?
 
Hi AlphalphaPB,

Welcome to the "PowerLock Club." :) As you can see, it is a very substantial tool!

The surface of the tool will have minute, little, hairline-type scratches on its finish going in all directions. This should be considered normal. Especially if it’s evenly distributed. If it looks like part of it has received use or wear disproportionate to the rest, then it may be “used.”

The “white waxy material” is likely lube. We’ve recently used several different kinds of lubrication, so I can’t tell you with any certainty what’s on there.

There should be some LocTite on the bolts.

Our gear-driven tools always loosen up. After they are played with, they become broken in, more loose and smooth. To fine adjust them, adjusting the plier head hex bolts will give more/less tension.

What I specifically look for to evaluate if a tool is “used” is the following:
  • I look over the packaging. Does it look as if it has been recently packaged and does everything appear to have been neatly tucked into the box?
  • Is the factory lubrication intact or worn away (it is usually fresh and visible)?
  • Are there fingerprints on the tool, specifically, on the knife blade (the most easy to see)?
  • Does the file look like it has ever been used (debris buildup in the checkering pattern)?
  • How about the other tools? Does the knife blade show evidence of use? Any screwdriver tips tweaked?
  • Is there any dirt in the plier teeth or damage to the wire cutter?
  • Is there any build up of pocket lint or other debris inside the tool?
  • Does the pouch look like it has ever been carried on a belt?
I would have expectations that a product I was buying from a local store, directly from a manufacturer, or from a mail-order company, was in fact “new.” Buying at a deep discount through a private party would lead me to think that the product might be slightly used...regardless of how the seller described it.

I hope this has helped you out a bit. Please let me know if there is anything more I can do for you.
 
Thanks for the big reply, Ron.

I've ordered a SOG and some other knives from this Ebay seller before, and I didn't have any problems with the knives looking used.

The tool had some pretty deep scratches in the handles, but none of the tools looked like they had been used. There was a bit of dirty residue around the gears, it looked like a mixture of grease and the sheath leather. Perhaps the tool had been put in a display case and handled occasionally.

Nothing really major, so I just took it apart, cleaned it out, and lubed it up. Feels great now, a very smooth opening. :) Put it to good use today in the snow.
 
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