Something happened today and I'm curious if anyone has an explanation. I recently bought a Spyderco Rookie and immediately wiped it down with a Marine Tuff Cloth. I also wiped the portion of the blade that rolls along the lock to facilitate opening the knife. Today, I was sitting at my desk absentmindedly opening and closing the knife and I thought "This opens smooth, but I bet that a drop of Silicone Oil would make it slicker 'n snot". So I tried it, just a tiny drop, and the action got so tight it was impossible to open one-handed. I've used this oil before on other moving metal parts and it's great. The only thing I could think of was that it didn't get along the Tuff cloth residue. Fortunately the process was reversible and the knife now works fine. Any ideas as to what happened?
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Tuff Cloth + Silicone = Super Glue?
- Thread starter JDS
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I thought this to be so obvious as to not need an answer.
It is apparent that the TFCI (Thin Film Corrosion Inhibitor), with its' surfactant effect, lessening surface tension, caused a phase-transition reversal, causing the PTFE in the PTFE/oil product to precipitate out as 'bucky balls' (Buckminsterfullerine). These were of a sufficient size to interfere with the action of the knife, but were unstable so the reapplication of the TFCI caused the PTFE to go back into liquid phase.
Actually, I haven't the faintest idea of why this happened. Walt
It is apparent that the TFCI (Thin Film Corrosion Inhibitor), with its' surfactant effect, lessening surface tension, caused a phase-transition reversal, causing the PTFE in the PTFE/oil product to precipitate out as 'bucky balls' (Buckminsterfullerine). These were of a sufficient size to interfere with the action of the knife, but were unstable so the reapplication of the TFCI caused the PTFE to go back into liquid phase.
Actually, I haven't the faintest idea of why this happened. Walt
Perhaps you've failed to account for the weak forces associated with the lattice effects of pocket lint?
------------------
Hoodoo
The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stonethe light-pressd blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.
Walt Whitman
------------------
Hoodoo
The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stonethe light-pressd blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.
Walt Whitman
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Oh, come now, gentlemen. You surely must have realized that the original post said that he used silicone oil, and I stated that it was PTFE (Teflon (r)) oil.
Further, PTFE couldn't possibly form bucky balls. It is too slippery. However, now that I think of it, Si might just...nah, sorry, still haven't a clue. Walt (heh heh heh)
Further, PTFE couldn't possibly form bucky balls. It is too slippery. However, now that I think of it, Si might just...nah, sorry, still haven't a clue. Walt (heh heh heh)
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It doesn't make sense to me. Why don't you try to make it happen again. Maybe some kind of dirt or lint was in the knife and almost coincidentally got moved into the workings when you applied the oil. If that's the case the problem will not repeat itself when you do it again.
The only thing a little like this that's happened to me is when I've cleaned a knife. Sometimes I need to clean or sterilize a folding knife. If I wash it with warm disinfectant solution or alcohol I often remove my pivot lubricant (I don't use much). Then the knife feels stiff and gritty when I open it. Maybe your silicone oil removed some heavier manufacturers lubricant.
The only thing a little like this that's happened to me is when I've cleaned a knife. Sometimes I need to clean or sterilize a folding knife. If I wash it with warm disinfectant solution or alcohol I often remove my pivot lubricant (I don't use much). Then the knife feels stiff and gritty when I open it. Maybe your silicone oil removed some heavier manufacturers lubricant.
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Wait.. I just remembered something.. Silicone oil... I think we also use that on the main fan of car engines (RWD engines) to make the "loose" fan tighten a bit again during its revolution. Now, I'm not sure if it's silicone oil or not, but I do recall someone at the shop mention "silicone oil". It came in a tube, and is a bit greasy, not too liquid at all.
Oh dear, now I'm really getting confused...
Dan
Oh dear, now I'm really getting confused...
Dan
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I think think is just another sad example of Nosferatarian Mind Control. Buckeyballs are Very difficult to make, but do taste nice on a good spinanch linguine with Alfredo sauce.
Hoodoo, lint is not associated with the weak force. It is an evil manifestation of Entropy.
Everyone needs to take Dr. Welch's spin-resonance into account here and remember the Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle.
JDS, you said the knife was opening smooth. And you tried to FIX it. What did you expect, really? Violation one of the fundamental physical laws of the Universe (If it aint broke, Don't Fix it!) is Always punished by perverse, unexpected, unfortunate, and peculiar Happenings. Like This thread.
Paracelsus, posting from the rec room computer at the Home for the Mentally Deranged or Merely Confused. I think the good doctor has been stealing my medication again...
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 03-04-2000).]
Hoodoo, lint is not associated with the weak force. It is an evil manifestation of Entropy.
Everyone needs to take Dr. Welch's spin-resonance into account here and remember the Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle.
JDS, you said the knife was opening smooth. And you tried to FIX it. What did you expect, really? Violation one of the fundamental physical laws of the Universe (If it aint broke, Don't Fix it!) is Always punished by perverse, unexpected, unfortunate, and peculiar Happenings. Like This thread.
Paracelsus, posting from the rec room computer at the Home for the Mentally Deranged or Merely Confused. I think the good doctor has been stealing my medication again...
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 03-04-2000).]
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Walt,
You really had me going
If it wasnt for that last line I would have believed you.
Shawn
You really had me going
Shawn
OK, I tried it again and it happened again. Then I cleaned it up with WD40, dried it as much as possible and applied just the silicon oil. No problems, the action was smooth. Removed the silicon oil with WD40 again, dried it and used the Tuff Cloth. Works fine. Both products work fine alone, but combined, nada. Strange. However, this does have tactical applications. Always carry a small applicator bottle filled with silicon oil. As your attacker reaches for the pocket knife cleaned with a Tuff-Cloth (you ascertain this by smelling the Tuff-Cloth residue, a crucial step in level 25 awareness), apply a little oil on the pivot point. The knife will be rendered useless. I'll bet someone will even make a kydex sheath for the bottle
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JDS; what a great idea!! You may have overlooked one other possibility, which doesn't involve getting at the assailant's knife.
Simply drop some silicone oil on your already opened folder, thus welding it into a fixed blade knife which will not close on your fingers!!
Darn good thinking!!
Walt
Simply drop some silicone oil on your already opened folder, thus welding it into a fixed blade knife which will not close on your fingers!!
Darn good thinking!!
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Paracelsus, you nincompoop! I haven't been stealing your medicine, I have been stealing it and selling it!! I have been substituting MY medicine for yours! BWWWAAAHHHAAAHHAAA
BTW; Buckminsterfullerene (bucky) balls DO exist. They were found in a size analysis of carbon molecules in soot. There were two large peaks, around 20 and 60, IIRC. The smaller peak is a bucky ball, which is a hollow sphere made up of carbon atoms, which has an atom in each place that there are intersections of lines on a soccer ball. Put in another way, the most common bucky ball is like a microscopic soccer ball. There have been theories put forth that these balls can be used as transport mechanisms for various materials in organic and inorganic applications.
Buckminsterfullerine is of course named after Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome.
This, BTW, is all the truth. Sci Am article about 4 or 5 years ago.
Walt: Who collared Schroedinger's cat. Without disturbing its' state.
BTW; Buckminsterfullerene (bucky) balls DO exist. They were found in a size analysis of carbon molecules in soot. There were two large peaks, around 20 and 60, IIRC. The smaller peak is a bucky ball, which is a hollow sphere made up of carbon atoms, which has an atom in each place that there are intersections of lines on a soccer ball. Put in another way, the most common bucky ball is like a microscopic soccer ball. There have been theories put forth that these balls can be used as transport mechanisms for various materials in organic and inorganic applications.
Buckminsterfullerine is of course named after Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome.
This, BTW, is all the truth. Sci Am article about 4 or 5 years ago.
Walt: Who collared Schroedinger's cat. Without disturbing its' state.
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I am Most impressed Walt. Capturing that darned Cat of Erwin's has been an elusive goal for a lot of great thinkers. Tell me, Is it Alive, or Dead?
Paracelsus, explorer of many states
Nothing is True, Everthing is Permitted (even Walt)
Paracelsus, explorer of many states
Nothing is True, Everthing is Permitted (even Walt)
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Gentlemen; I didn't capture him, I COLLARED him; the flea collar was of standard type, and needed due to the length of stay inside the box. The poor animal was probably the victim of an infestation, as he was afraid to clean himself due to the proximity of the vial of cyanide. As to whether he is alive or dead, beats me. I can't see too well at the quantum level. All I know is that he certainly was the same way when I arrived as when I left him(except for the collar). His exact condition is somewhat uncertain. <--shameless pun, subtract one point from score achieved by fooling some people)
Awaiting a report on the probability of Si bucky balls, I remain, Walt
Awaiting a report on the probability of Si bucky balls, I remain, Walt