Tips for fixing the smoothness of opening?

S

SubDisease

Joined
Apr 18, 2011
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I have an Emerson Horseman, and despite what I try the opening feels like the washers are made of shag rug, cannot get it to be smooth without loosening the pivot until there's horrible bladeplay. Sent it in 3 times, and it progressively got worse. Tried sentry tuf glide in varying amounts, it's past the break in period as well (2 months). Minor use causes side to side blade play, pretty disappointed in Emerson at the moment.

Any ideas or fixes that might help with this? Still fairly new to the knife community compared to others.
 
I usually take a little white lithium grease and grease the washers. you can get a tube of it at lowes for like 5 bucks. but ya, i just take the knife apart and grease those little washers on the blade, and that usually helps it a little bit, thats probably what happened. they forgot to put grease on the washers at the factory.
 
Legenda said:
I usually take a little white lithium grease and grease the washers. you can get a tube of it at lowes for like 5 bucks. but ya, i just take the knife apart and grease those little washers on the blade, and that usually helps it a little bit, thats probably what happened. they forgot to put grease on the washers at the factory.
Click to expand...

It actually came with grease, but it wasn't very good, it was actually a little better without any grease.
 
Flush the pivot area with WD-40. I would also wash it with isopropyl alcohol to remove any residue and relube afterwards. If that doesn't work, perhaps polishing the washers, the blade, and the liners would do it. Otherwise, maybe try replacing the washers with teflon washers?
 
try a lube called quick release. i had some knives sent to me for sharpening that were lubed with it and it was amazing how smooth they opened. you might have to do what noctis said and polish everything up.
 
emersons use "plastic" washers (nylon, teflon, whatever) not sure you can polish those. not sure they need any lube either.

in my experience, knives with this type of washers are never as smooth as those with PB washer no matter what you do.

spyderco ATR, emerson cqc8, a couple crkt ...
 
pwet said:
emersons use "plastic" washers (nylon, teflon, whatever) not sure you can polish those. not sure they need any lube either.

in my experience, knives with this type of washers are never as smooth as those with PB washer no matter what you do.

spyderco ATR, emerson cqc8, a couple crkt ...
Click to expand...

My bud's CQC7 is almost as smooth as a spyderco with a lockback. And he got it as is, wondering what the difference is.
 
pwet said:
emersons use "plastic" washers (nylon, teflon, whatever) not sure you can polish those. not sure they need any lube either.

in my experience, knives with this type of washers are never as smooth as those with PB washer no matter what you do.

spyderco ATR, emerson cqc8, a couple crkt ...
Click to expand...
My William Henry TZ12, Hinderer XM-18, Lionsteel SR-1, and Mcusta Tactility would beg to differ. I suspect the coating or finish of the blade and liners(which are often very rough) is affecting the smoothness. Polishing the area the washers glide on should fix it right up. I suggest 400-600 grit sandpaper followed by Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish
 
richard j said:
try a lube called quick release. i had some knives sent to me for sharpening that were lubed with it and it was amazing how smooth they opened. you might have to do what noctis said and polish everything up.
Click to expand...

Thanks Richard. Do you recall where you got the grease?
 
pwet said:
emersons use "plastic" washers (nylon, teflon, whatever) not sure you can polish those. not sure they need any lube either.

in my experience, knives with this type of washers are never as smooth as those with PB washer no matter what you do.

spyderco ATR, emerson cqc8, a couple crkt ...
Click to expand...

I am so new to maintenance that I am not sure what a PB washer is. Are these metal or a different type of synthetic? I have been wondering if replacing my bronze washers with nylon would help.
 
PB is phosphorous bronze. if your emerson has bronze washer it's different from mine.

what i said is just an observation. it happens that the few knives that i have with "plastic" washers are the least smooth of my collection after break in. and i take all my knives appart for maintenance, i've not noticed any burrs or roughness on the liners, otherwise i woud have fixed this.

by least smooth i don't mean that they are gritty, just that the action is a little more sticky at the sweetest spot.

and btw a linerlock as smooth as a back lock isn't something i would brag about, back locks have more friction due to the lock bar held tight against the blade tang by the spring.
 
pwet said:
PB is phosphorous bronze. if your emerson has bronze washer it's different from mine.

what i said is just an observation. it happens that the few knives that i have with "plastic" washers are the least smooth of my collection after break in. and i take all my knives appart for maintenance, i've not noticed any burrs or roughness on the liners, otherwise i woud have fixed this.

by least smooth i don't mean that they are gritty, just that the action is a little more sticky at the sweetest spot.

and btw a linerlock as smooth as a back lock isn't something i would brag about, back locks have more friction due to the lock bar held tight against the blade tang by the spring.
Click to expand...

That's how rough the opening is at the moment, the smoothness of a lubed lockback is a very substantial improvement.
 
Legenda said:
I usually take a little white lithium grease and grease the washers. you can get a tube of it at lowes for like 5 bucks. but ya, i just take the knife apart and grease those little washers on the blade, and that usually helps it a little bit, thats probably what happened. they forgot to put grease on the washers at the factory.
Click to expand...

I second the white lithium grease, works well for me
 
I like Lucas Assembly Lube (auto parts stores carry it). I'm sure you can use pretty much any assembly lube. It's very thick and stuper-sticky, so it's kind of a mess to work with (I use a Q-tip) and you have to disassemble to apply it, but I usually do that when doing an initial or major clean/lube to one of my folders. Assembly Lube is super-slick and lasts forever (and it's thick enough that dirt sticks to the outer exposed parts, but it seals it up pretty well and very little gets down inside of things).
 
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