Titanium frame lock maintenance

Joined
Jul 12, 2012
Messages
25
Recently, i decided to try a Ti frame lock ( spyderco chokwe ) and it shocked me how complicated and annoying it is to maintain this knife.

On most of my knives, i barely need to use lube, i rarely put some because i like a perfectly smooth action ; on this Ti frame lock, i need not 1 but 3 different products to make it work properly and if i put just a little too much of 1 of them, it ruins the action and i have to do a total cleaning/maintenance.

These products are =

- permanent marker/graphite = necessary for smooth action
- lube = necessary for smooth action
- loctite = to avoid bladeplay

If the blade wasn't s30v but d2 for exemple, i would have to use 1 more product = mineral oil on the blade to avoid corrosion.


I thought balisongs were annoying with their need for loctite, but once it's done, it's done for a very long time because they are very easy to clean and lube. On The spyderco chokwe, every time i need to clean it ( happens quite frequently since i use it as a fruit knife ), i must avoid putting any water on the pivot because i can't lube it without taking it apart. ( any water/lube going on the lockbar would ruin the action of the knife )

It leaves me wondering : why would i choose such an intensive maintenance knife ?

For sure once it's all loctited and ready i could use it only for dry cuts but it's very limited compared to my other knives : most of them don't need any lube, loctite or sharpie, i can use them in any condition and then clean them with hot water and soap without ruining their action.

I know there are some Ti frame locks that don't need loctite or sharpie to function properly, but if they don't have a steel insert on the lockbar, any water/lube that will go here will ruin the action. When talking about Ti frame locks, people always say they are so " simple and easy to clean " but they forget to mention that you have to care about them a lot more than other locking mechanisms.
 
I can't relate to your experience at all. I own a Chokwe and have never had any issues with it. Granted I don't use it every day, but my lock isn't sticky, the action is smooth and I don't have any loctite on it. You shouldn't have to take it apart completely to lube the pivot. Just loosen the screw a little, apply lube to one side, then push the blade over a little and do the other side. This should not be a difficult knife to maintain.
 
Too bad you have it so gunked up with junk it never needed.

Now is a time you probably wish you'd gone with a Grayman, Reeve or Emerson so you could just hold it under the sink, wash the gunk out and dry it.

I'd return it.
 
Imho,you have way too much crap in the pivot.Clean it out and try a drop of nano oil.
 
I have three ti framelocks from three different companies...wash, rinse and go with a lube one a year at best. Permanent marker and graphite? Not needed in all the years i have owned a knife. I can't relate either.
 
First, I love my Chokwe, and It's one of two modern knives I carry.

However, I've also had a good bit of intermittent sticking/galling. However, now that its fully broken in at around 75% lock up it has no stick or play. It has always been smooth and solid.

Though many frame locks have ridiculously and unnecessarily thin cut out areas, I still really like them. They're simple and I like that. Many recent frame locks have hardened faces or a stainless insert, though I haven't tried one. The Chokwe actually has a pretty robust cutout also, and I really like that about it.

EDIT: IN MY EXPERIENCE ADDING TOO MUCH LUBE ETC TO A FRAME LOCK ONLY HELPS STICK FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND ACTUALLY WORSENS IT AFTER A COUPLE OPENINGS. JUST CLEAN/RINSE AND DRY IT.
 
EDIT: IN MY EXPERIENCE ADDING TOO MUCH LUBE ETC TO A FRAME LOCK ONLY HELPS STICK FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND ACTUALLY WORSENS IT AFTER A COUPLE OPENINGS. JUST CLEAN/RINSE AND DRY IT.

This. Clean the lock face and the tang with some alcohol on a qtip and put some pencil lead on the tang where it contacts the lock bar and see if that helps.
 
I have ti frame locks with and without steel inserts and never had any issues like you are describing. Also other than a drop of lube now and again I've never had these other problems you seem to have either. I don't understand why you would need Locktite, (the only reason I've ever found to use it on a folder is on the pocket clip on one). I'm thinking you have yourself some kind of cheap knockoff. If it's genuine send it to Spyderco to have it repaired or replaced.
 
I have ti frame locks with and without steel inserts and never had any issues like you are describing. Also other than a drop of lube now and again I've never had these other problems you seem to have either. I don't understand why you would need Locktite, (the only reason I've ever found to use it on a folder is on the pocket clip on one). I'm thinking you have yourself some kind of cheap knockoff. If it's genuine send it to Spyderco to have it repaired or replaced.

I would be HUGELY surprised if he had a knockoff Chokwe. Being that it was an Ethnic Series and not all that unusually popular.

OP, if you want to get rid of it, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. ;)

Seriously though, I left you a vm op.
 
As far as i know, the lockface is already carbidized.

- graphite/marker= needed because knife is new and there is still a little sticking if i don't use it. ( it was noticeable at first but now it's getting quite smooth )
- loctite = without it, the pivot will unscrew if i flip the knife open.
- lube = i make sure not to put too much of it, the smallest amount i can on the inside face of the washers or it will run down on the blade tang and make the lock sticky.


I bought the knife new to a collector, it isn't fake, it's a chokwe collector number 18 ; When it's setup with loctite etc, it's very smooth to open and locks up solidly, the only issue i found is the blade isn't perfectly centered.

I have a ti frame lock with a steel insert and it has no issues at all with liquids, barely needs lube. This chokwe without steel insert, i have to watch for liquids going on the lockface/blade tang or the lock will get sticky.

I find that annoying, maybe i'm overreacting to it, i guess i have been spoiled by my axis locks and balis.


ALLHSS, sent you a pm.
 
I sold my Chokwe because of the stickiness. Something defective with that model, unfortunately.
 
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