Salt question

B

brvheart

Joined
Oct 13, 2014
Messages
194
Hello all -

I have two new additions -

Pacific Salt and Salt I -

Both seem a bit less than smooth opening and harder than I would like to open - any suggestions on smoothing that out? I thought about loosening the screw holding the blade in, but wondered if a drop or two of oil would do what I wanted? If so oil recommendations?
 
My primary EDC since 2011 has been a Salt I. The only oil I use is mineral oil. It smooths it out a bit but not a ton. I have never tried tweaking the pivot tension. That being said the action has never bothered me. I don't feel any resistance when rolling the knife open and it isn't gritty.
It is a washerless knife. So the blade is in direct contact with the frn scales. I can flick it open but it has never and will probably never swing freely when the lock is released.
 
For me, a lock back is not a flicking knife if that is what you are referring to. Love the Salt series!
 
All my salts are super smooth. Smoother than my Delicas and Enduras actually. You might try backing the pivot off just a hair...a little goes a long way. For oil, it doesn't really matter with the salts as it's such a simple system. Probably best results with something light. I use WD-40.
 
Tough glide would be my recommendation as well. WD40 isn't a lubricant, it's a Water Displaser, while it does also to help lubricate, it's effect will be far more short-lived than something designed for the task.
 
Davidfs said:
Tough glide would be my recommendation as well. WD40 isn't a lubricant, it's a Water Displaser, while it does also to help lubricate, it's effect will be far more short-lived than something designed for the task.
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I would agree that WD-40 is not the best option for a high viscosity, long lasting lubricant but it absolutely IS a lubricant. It is light and can work its way into the pivot area to flush out any gunk which works great on the simple steel/frn design of the Salts. They don't really need any lubrication anyway, the main point is to just keep that area flushed and clean and they will be as smooth as can be.
 
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craytab said:
For me, a lock back is not a flicking knife if that is what you are referring to. Love the Salt series!
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Sure they are. :)

I would like a regular Endura with a serrated H1 blade - with the liners and everything. Having no liners is alright I suppose, but just simply isn't as smooth as the others.


Oh, I wanted to add that I have some blue lube, but I use WD40 to clean the tape and crap off the blades, which ends up getting into the pivot. Everything seems a-ok, and I really don't have to use the Benchmade lube. :)
 
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vanslem6 said:
I would like a regular Endura with a serrated H1 blade - with the liners and everything. Having no liners is alright I suppose, but just simply isn't as smooth as the others.
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I don't think the liners are necessary but I would love an Endur 4/delica 4 handle/blade with the H1 steel.
 
vanslem6 said:
I would like a regular Endura with a serrated H1 blade - with the liners and everything. Having no liners is alright I suppose, but just simply isn't as smooth as the others.
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Funny, I always found my Salts to have smoother action than the washer system on my Endura/Delicas.
 
My Delica must be a freak, because it's as smooth as my PM2 and Mini Grip. :D

I wish they both had the Delica handle shape, assortment of colors, grip texture and clip. :) Liners, too!
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vanslem6 said:
I wish they both had the Delica handle shape, assortment of colors, grip texture and clip. :)....
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Yes, I too prefer the handle on the Delica to that of the Salt 1/Tasman. Interestingly though, I much prefer the old style of the Pacific Salt handle to that of the Endura 4.
 
brvheart said:
I do use them. Daily. They are my EDC...
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I think their point might have been "keep using them and they will loosen up". Though this may be true, all of my salts came quite smooth from the factory and none of them required any "break in" period to open and close smoothly. My Pacific Salts almost free fall when the lock is depressed. I say almost because they require a slight shake to get them going but will then essentially drop under their own weight...very smooth when opening too and all of them can be easily "flicked" open.

If yours are tight then I imagine you either have debris in there or the pivot screw is a bit too tight. I would recommend loosening the screw a half turn or so to provide some space and flushing the pivot area with warm soapy water. Once clean, simply tighten until there is no play and action is to your liking.

**One note, because the salts have no liners, there is no d-shaped hole for the pivot so the pin side will free spin as you are trying to loosen the screw. The easiest solution is to put a few pounds of load on either the spine or the side of the blade. This creates enough friction between handle and pin to turn the pivot screw.
 
My Salt 1 came slightly stiff from the factory, but with time, use and very frequent dunkings it has smoothed up beautifully.
If it hadn't I probably would have adjusted it slightly. Great knife.
 
Thank you guys.

Quick question - I'm not familiar with the workings on this blade - would I want to take it all apart and use some blue lock tight on it or will the half turn not jeopardize the screws backing out all the way over time?

Also when you dunking them - I assume you mean just in water to clean?
 
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