Waxing a knife. Yes that is right.

PURPLEDC

PURPLEDC

Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
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Waxing a knife. Seems like an odd idea purple. Surely you have a wood handle or some catch to this right? Nope. What happened is i had a knife (flipper, bearings). And i was having issues with lubrication. Any lub i used was attracting lint and since the knife has an exposed detent track it happens more often than id like. Not only that but the lock face would get covered in oil and i just thought there has to be a better way.

So i got to thinking what would create a slick surface that wouldnt attract dust and have aero impact on surrounding surfaces. On a whim i just waxed the track for the detent, let it dry and buffed off the excess like i would on a car. So far the knife has worked flawlessly. No lubrication but id glides like it does. I have flipped the knife a good hindred times and its still working great.

Now i am not recommending others do this as i have no idea if its a viable long term option but im giving it a whirl. My question is if anyone knows of a automotive or industrial wax designed to be used on raw metal or maybe a product like glasscoat that will bond to metal yet is a wax like substance. I want a longer lasting product that can be applied to raw steel and create hat slick surface but i want something that lasts a little longer than a meguiars liquid wax. Its working good for now but i dont suspect wax will survive constant rubbing from the detent ball.
 
White Lightning bicycle chain lube is a liquid wax that works very well for applications like that.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
White Lightning bicycle chain lube is a liquid wax that works very well for applications like that.
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Thank you. I have a feeling I am abandoning the idea. At least until I can try the one you mentioned. It worked for a day but I spoke way too soon. A few short hours after making my post the knife started to squeek so bad I went back to regular lube. Though I stuck with militec grease as to avoid it traveling to the areas I wanted to avoid.
 
what if you could use different cutting compounds to polish it so much it didn't need lube? :D
 
In the detailing industry, there are a few products that are waxes designed specifically to protect wheels from brake dust build up and road grime. As far as I know, none of these products are just dedicated waxes that were designed exclusively to protect the metal. Instead I would like to put them into the category of "wheel cleaner waxes" for you wheels because they either chemically clean the metal or polish it with its application.

The three products that fall into this category all cost under $20 and that I have experience with are:
1. Wheel Wax
2. Collinite Metal Wax
3. Detailer's Pro Wheel Glaze

There is a more expensive category of protectants that are called coatings which bond to the metal and have a superior performance and longevity when compared to the "wheel cleaner waxes". I personally have only used one of these and they can be rather difficult to work with due to the preparation work required for the to properly bond to the wheel.

The two products that I know of cost $50-$60 which are:
1. Pinnacle Black Label Wheel Coating
2. Detailer's Pro Wheel Coating

I hope this helps you.

Pgn49
 
I've tries white Lightning on a bearing flipper.. Any on the bearings and they gummed up bad. On the detent track created an uber smooth action. This only lasted a few hours as the detent ball just plowed through the layer of wax (think snowplow). Ended up not being a viable option.
 
Sounds crazy I know, but it works. I've been using 10W-30W motor oil as a lub for my flippers, A/Os and slippies for a good long time. I apply a drip of it to the joint with a toothpick; open and close several times, then clean excess off the interior and tang with a pipe cleaner. Haven't had any lub problems since. Most of my users are stainless (D2, 12C27) so oiling the blade itself isn't necessary. For a pretty, shiny wood handle I use Ren Wax.
Rich
 
I don't think any sort of automotive or metal wax is gonna be abrasion resistant to last very long. The best solution I've found is to use a lubricant that can be applied and wiped dry so that it doesn't attract dirt. Ive had good results using Tetra gun grease and Slip2000 EWL. Apply it to the area you want to lubricate rub it in good and then wipe it clean and repeat a few times and ur left with a very slick but dry/semi dry surface that won't attract dirt.
 
The best solution I've found is to use a lubricant that can be applied and wiped dry so that it doesn't attract dirt.
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Militech-1 gun lube works like this. It can be found here. They also offer free supplies to all military personnel.
 
I use Johnsons furniture wax, got a big can of it for about 7 bucks, downside is when I get it out the wife throws a fit, it smells pretty strong I guess.
 
I used Finish Line DRY lube on my ZT 550 which had a strong detent. It is a dry Dupont Teflon wax. Worked great. Now it flips real nice.
 
aaron1972 said:
I use Johnsons furniture wax, got a big can of it for about 7 bucks, downside is when I get it out the wife throws a fit, it smells pretty strong I guess.
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What he said. I have been experimenting with Johnsons Paste Wax, compared to my usual lubricant for high carbon steels- petroleum jelly, and so far (2 months) it seems to be holding up as well. Not sure if as food safe as petro. jelly, but works good for storage at least.
 
I have the same problem with the OP, on top of that, one of my Spyderco flew off my hand while playing with it because of the oil lubes got on my fingers...

this is what I use after that incident and never turn back:

http://www.lowes.ca/hardware-lubric...1194580.html?searchTerm=dupont&ProductSlot=12

the price on the website is canadian dollar so you guys in US probably get it for $3.99 and it's made by Dupont. I think it's the same stuff as redline but at half the price ;)

it comes out in liquid form, i will put a good amount (not soaking it) and let it sit over night until the liquid dries up and you end up with a coating of teflon wax, the excess wipes off with cleanex or any cloth very easily.

when I first used it, it didn't feel as smooth as the oil lube but after a few flips it glides so nice like it's on hydrolic

no messy oil to wipe off every time you flip open your knife ! or stain your pockets.
 
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