What’s the best way to break in a stiff knife?

Nano oil 10 weight or Knife pivot oil for washers or bearings, and Nano oil 85 weight or Knife pivot oil heavy for detents and detent tracks
 
rileybassman1 said:
hoppes isn't a great lube... That's more of a cleaner/solvent... Plus it smells really strong...
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I think you may be thinking of a different Hoppes's product. According to the container #9- A pure lubricant. A light pure colorless oil that will not gum, harden or turn rancid, high viscosity. gives lasting protection and lubrication. It does say it can be used to clean wood.
I have used it and it seems to work about as well as all the expensive products(which I also have many).
 
Peter Hartwig said:
I think you may be thinking of a different Hoppes's product. According to the container #9- A pure lubricant. A light pure colorless oil that will not gum, harden or turn rancid, high viscosity. gives lasting protection and lubrication. It does say it can be used to clean wood.
I have used it and it seems to work about as well as all the expensive products(which I also have many).
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You're right they do have multiple products... I even forgot I had the lube lol... In the firearm community, when someone says hoppes no 9 its almost always their cleaners so I assumed that's what he was saying...
That said, their lube is one of my least favorite lubes and I forgot I had it since I never use it anymore.
Good point tho... Op, which product are you using?
fS4kZVnh.jpg
 
rileybassman1 said:
You're right they do have multiple products... I even forgot I had the lube lol... In the firearm community, when someone says hoppes no 9 its almost always their cleaners so I assumed that's what he was saying...
That said, their lube is one of my least favorite lubes and I forgot I had it since I never use it anymore.
Good point tho... Op, which product are you using?
fS4kZVnh.jpg
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I have used It more to wipe down blades, than to lubricate the pivot. I wipe down much more than lubricate pivots. I often go to the Nano for the pivot since I like the dispenser. I however am not obsessive about oils and may just grab anything. It doesn't seem to cause me any problems, but I have no doubt there are better products than the Hoppe's(and own many of them).
I have just been killing off an old container of Hoppe's left from a gun cleaning kit.
 
rileybassman1 said:
You're right they do have multiple products... I even forgot I had the lube lol... In the firearm community, when someone says hoppes no 9 its almost always their cleaners so I assumed that's what he was saying...
That said, their lube is one of my least favorite lubes and I forgot I had it since I never use it anymore.
Good point tho... Op, which product are you using?
fS4kZVnh.jpg
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The red one
 
I've used ballistol for years and am happy with the results. Some people don't like the smell though, it's kinda like black licorice! I also use tuf-glide. Very happy with it as well. To each, his own.

Ballistol has been in use since WWI, really interesting read on their website. Check it out!!

James
 
Try flushing them out with Dawn and warm water while opening and closing. Then blow dry and use one of the products recommended above.--KV
 
Every new knife I get, after a day or so, I take it apart and clean and lube. It makes a big difference in action. There’s always at least a film of unwanted material around the pivot. Even if the knife is perfectly clean, which I’ve never seen, the factory doesn’t send them out with a good lube.
 
JDRanger said:
I use Hoppe’s #9. The knives are stored in a climate controlled garage that was formerly used to store a RV.
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Assuming you're using their Lubricating Oil, and not the bore cleaner that most people refer to as Hoppe's No. 9, it's marketed by Hoppe's as being "high viscosity," which you isn't going to get you a good action on a folding knife.
 
The
JDRanger said:
I have a number of really stiff knives and I was hoping that I could get some good pointers that can help me loosen them up. There are a few Spyderco, three Medford, a Hinderer, and various other random folders.

I’ve been using high-end lube and opening and closing the blade 100+ times plus loosening the pivot screw until the blade is no longer centered.

Any ideas?
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JDRanger said:
I ordered some Tri Flow.

Serious thanks for all the spot on advice!

FOR SALE - one partially used container of Hoppp’s #9. Cheap! (-:

joe
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The Tri Flow lubricant works great. Thanks again for the recommendation.
 
I know that Cold Steel recommends leaving a folder half open for a couple of days to break in a troublesome Tri-AD lock, and it seems to work. I'm wondering if the same trick would work on a traditional slip-joint? I've got a small Sunfish that is a real nail-breaker.
 
You're right to ditch the Hoppes. You want a quality lubricating oil that's right for a knife pivot. I recommend Lubriplate FMO 350-AW. I've been using it for years. It's a quality non-toxic oil that works as well in knife pivots as it does in guns. You can get it (as well as some excellent grease for your semi-autos) here: http://lubrikit.com

First, disassemble your knife. Then give it a good cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and gun cleaning patches. This will get rid of residual Hoppes, whatever it shipped with from the factory, and any dirt or gunk that has accumulated since. (You may be surprised by how dirty some of them are.) Then you'll want to apply a thin coat of protective oil to metal surfaces. You can use regular mineral oil for this or even a decent wax like Renaissance Wax. Just don't put that on the washers or bearings, the detent ball, or detent path. That's where you want to put your quality lubricating oil. Now reassemble your knife and get the blade centered. You'll want it just tight enough to eliminate blade play. Now work that action for a few minutes and recheck pivot tightness. You should be good to go.
 
I’ve been keeping the knife partially open full-time. Every day I change the blade angle a bit. To my pleasant surprise the lock is noticeably loosening itself up.

The difference is really evident. In a week or so I’ll add some Anti-oxidant at the contact point and I may be good-to-go.
 
JDRanger said:
I have a number of really stiff knives and I was hoping that I could get some good pointers that can help me loosen them up. There are a few Spyderco, three Medford, a Hinderer, and various other random folders.

I’ve been using high-end lube and opening and closing the blade 100+ times plus loosening the pivot screw until the blade is no longer centered.

Any ideas?
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Having those issues with so many high end knives is curious. I've got a bunch of much lower end cheapies that have never had a problem with stiffness. Maybe you got a bad bunch or maybe you expect too much ease in operation?
 
Well, I’m lucky and thankful I get to handle the knives even if there is an occasional hiccup (could just be the number of titanium folders ??).

There are millions of people with real problems and I’m almost embarrassed to be worried about lock-stick on an expensive knife.

All’s good. Thanks for the forum support!
 
OP this may seem odd the wall here but are they framelocks you're having problems with? I only ask because I couldn't figure out why no it was so hard to open my Emerson 0630 until I realized that I was applying pressure to the lockbar which prohibited the knife from opening. I payed close attention to my hand positioning and poof. This goes with all frame locks.

Also, I've seen several oils I've used before. Some were too thick and some were too thin. Have you ever heard of KPL? (Knife pivot lube) . Its hands down the best knife lube I have ever used. Absolutely awesome stuff and its not overly expensive. If you haven't tried it I highly highly recommend it.
 
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