Teflon washers really teflon?

The Grendels said:
After a quick look at my records, the aluminum handle knives with bronze phosphor washers that I own are the Benchmade Osborne and Cold Steel Code 4 (the CS Code 4 uses both a Teflon and a bronze washer at the same time for reasons),
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I could be wrong but if I remember correctly the Osborne has a steel liner/frame and aluminum handles/scales (and some models have other handle materials, G10, or carbon fiber).
Do the washers touch the handles or only the steel frame and steel blade?

EDIT:
Actually it’s probably only the CF and G10 variants that have the steel liner now that I think about it.
Sorry I haven’t had an Osborne disassembled in a while.

I don’t have any Cold Steel knives so I can’t speak on those.
 
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Those aluminum framelocks have always really blown my mind, like the Lionsteel SR1 (I think Lionsteel has more than 1 model), and the Case Kinzua. I always questioned how the lockbar would hold up long term, however it has not been long term since they came out and I've never heard of any issues with them. That's an interesting thought of galvanic corrosion.

I also used to question the decision of using Teflon washers in knives and used to see it as basically just a way to save money, and maybe be able to get away with a little looser tolerances. However I've been impressed with the few different folders I've owned with teflons. Just rubbing them between your fingers dry, you can feel their lubricity.
 
LimpCroissant said:
...That's an interesting thought of galvanic corrosion...
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Galvanic corrosion takes place whenever two dissimilar metals (aluminum and stainles steel, for example) are submerged in a conductive medium, such as salt water in marine environment. It happens in boats, outboard motors, etc. That's why there is zinc anodes all over the place as well.

In dry environments (and a pocket is mostly dry regarding conductivivy), it shouldn't be a big problem.

Mikel.
 
LimpCroissant said:
Those aluminum framelocks have always really blown my mind, like the Lionsteel SR1 (I think Lionsteel has more than 1 model), and the Case Kinzua. I always questioned how the lockbar would hold up long term, however it has not been long term since they came out and I've never heard of any issues with them. That's an interesting thought of galvanic corrosion.

I also used to question the decision of using Teflon washers in knives and used to see it as basically just a way to save money, and maybe be able to get away with a little looser tolerances. However I've been impressed with the few different folders I've owned with teflons. Just rubbing them between your fingers dry, you can feel their lubricity.
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The lock bar on the SR1 has a replaceable steel lock face.
 
crom said:
The lock bar on the SR1 has a replaceable steel lock face.
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Yea, I know it does, which is good. The part that blew my mind when they first came out was the lockbar itself being aluminum. I didn't think that aluminum could handle the bending back and forth over the course of the knife's life. However my thought proved to be wrong after seeing all these SR1's still working perfectly after a decade or so. Thanks.
 
220-9er said:
Teflon washers are white, and a type of plastic.
They are probably used because of the physical properties, lubricity without oiling, hardness, and wear (including wear of adjoining metal parts) make them a better option.
They are also inexpensive to replace.
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"lubricity"... adding that one to my collection ;)
 
LimpCroissant said:
Yea, I know it does, which is good. The part that blew my mind when they first came out was the lockbar itself being aluminum. I didn't think that aluminum could handle the bending back and forth over the course of the knife's life. However my thought proved to be wrong after seeing all these SR1's still working perfectly after a decade or so. Thanks.
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Aluminum can handle bending fine.

 
Aluminum can handle bending within limits. It's not as robust in that regard as steel, but a lock bar does not deflect all that much.
 
I read that Teflon and all the other squishys are actually smother and that has been my experience. The trade off is that are fragile and can be damaged if abrasive particles such as sand should find It’s way in between. Regardless PB is still super smooth and more durable.
 
Man, I'm actually playing with my Al Mar Sere 2000, the old Japanese made ones, and that thing is so smooth it's crazy. I'm not 100% sure if the white washers inside are Teflon, Nylon, or Nylatron, but that sumabatch is smooth! And.. A picture, because why not.
Al Mare SERE2ka.jpg
 
Mikel_24 said:
Galvanic corrosion takes place whenever two dissimilar metals (aluminum and stainles steel, for example) are submerged in a conductive medium, such as salt water in marine environment. It happens in boats, outboard motors, etc. That's why there is zinc anodes all over the place as well.

In dry environments (and a pocket is mostly dry regarding conductivivy), it shouldn't be a big problem.

Mikel.
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It happens all the time with car parts
 
ex Vento said:
Here for instance an example of galvanic corrosion with PB washers:
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That's an interesting thread. Good to be able to see what can happen when you use a folder to cut 5 oranges a day for 1 year, with just rinsing it under the faucet each time and never disassembling it. Man.. 5 oranges a day is a lot! Haha. That man loves him some oranges. I suppose most any folder would come out looking similar to that though unless it was using one of the extremely corrosion resistant materials like LC200N, H1, Dendritic Cobalt etc. I suppose you are just giving it a weak acid bath every day at that rate.
 
LimpCroissant said:
That's an interesting thread. Good to be able to see what can happen when you use a folder to cut 5 oranges a day for 1 year, with just rinsing it under the faucet each time and never disassembling it. Man.. 5 oranges a day is a lot! Haha. That man loves him some oranges. I suppose most any folder would come out looking similar to that though unless it was using one of the extremely corrosion resistant materials like LC200N, H1, Dendritic Cobalt etc. I suppose you are just giving it a weak acid bath every day at that rate.
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If the s35vn was sitting on table getting weekly exposure to the orange juice it would rust/pit without any PB washer present.
 
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