Running a CRK "dry"

S

Slugy

Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
47
Bought a Sebenza 25 birth-dste Aug.28,2014 , so smooth from the box if it remained this smooth I would be perfectly fine over the course of a year it has gotten hard to believe possible even more glas like. I have yet to take it apart to clean and re-grease no reason to , with that said my brother has a Sebenza Classic for 18 years only cleand and greased 5 times after deer hunting (cleaning) and is smooth what if I left it the way it is sure might be a situation later on to take apart ,but why bother all the screws are just as tight like when I bought it also.
 
The timing of this thread is perfect, since I just posted this in another thread:
For what they charge, one would think CRK could manage to clean the parts before assembling the knives (or after tuning, if we're supposed to attribute it to that). There's no reason one should have to disassemble & clean a factory fresh knife in order to get it to open/close smoothly. Sure - it's easy enough to do, and they supply the tools; but why is it necessary?
Click to expand...
I've got a large 21 and a large inkosi which are older and function as you describe. I've recently received 3 current production knives that didn't open/close anything to to smoothly. (Two were newly arrived at an authorized dealer, the other was purchased that way by another member then sold to me.). In each case, the grease was dark grey, and cleaning the slabs (around the pivot) and the pivot components blackened multiple cotton swabs.

Edited to add - I've seen posts by people that run them dry after cleaning, and others that use various lubricants. I don't recall any of them complaining about adverse effects...other than thinner lubes can run, and some seem to attract dirt/dust and require more frequent cleaning
 
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Many have never broken down their knives or very rarely with no problem. You certainly don't need to be doing it geat frequency. I don't break down my non CRK's and they seem fine also. My rule of thumb is if it feels like it would benefit from a cleaning and lube I do it, but that is not often.
 
In my experience, a CRK needs a tear down and cleaning after an initial break in period. This is within the first month or so. After this time, the knife enters a period of stability and cleaning is generally only necessary if the knife is put to work doing something messy. Even so, periodic cleaning may help keep the knife sanitary and the action smooth. For me, the user serviceability of a CRK is a primary selling point.
 
CRK that come from the shop and the customer is told how to sit in front of a television set and work the blade back and forth are a defect from the shop. They should come like mine did perfect and continue to become even smoother from just using it.
 
I have 7 or 8 CRK folders and all but one came from the factory really smooth. That one was a knife art carbon fiber large 31 that was really stiff. I took the washers out and polished them on a leather strop with a polishing compound. Added a few drops of Benchmade blue lube while I was in there. It’s much better now but not as nice as my older 21’s. Maybe the older ones were just better in this way.
 
What I like about CRKs is that how easy it is to clean it. My 21L Y2014 which I carry daily just require a wash on running water/soap, towel dry and then a dab of oil at the pivot. Most times it will be smooth again. If it does not, I will just repeat the cleaning cycle. I just use whatever is available when it comes to oil, WD40, clipper oil, singer oil, and when applied wipe the excess to minimise attraction to lint/dirt. Come to think of it, I’ve only dissasemble it not more than 3 times since 2014, due to 1st service after break-in nad the other times it became really gritty although thoroughly cleaned with water/soap.
 
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