What Lubricant Should I Use for My Folders?

Blood_Grooves

Blood_Grooves

Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
931
Well the title says about everything, but I want to make it so , My ZT 0200 is a little smoother. :)

Any recommendations?
 
I try to keep my knives food safe. I "wash" in IPA, then oil with mineral oil. If that's bad, please offer suggestions.
 
Personally, I would recommend not using any of the Tuff-Glide products or similar waxy residue leaving products. The waxy leftovers can screw a knife mechanism up.

I've pretty much stuck with Militec, but any liquid lube is fine.

As to food safe, I don't see it as much of an issue. It isn't like I'm going to drink the lube, after all. At worst, a mild aftertaste
 
orthogonal1 said:
Personally, I would recommend not using any of the Tuff-Glide products or similar waxy residue leaving products. The waxy leftovers can screw a knife mechanism up.
Click to expand...

I've been using Tuff-Glide on all of my folders for well over three years now and never had the slightest problem. Benchmade, Spyderco, Strider, all working well. I haven't noticed any build up of residue.
 
Become a huge fan of Militec-1 ever since they sent me a free sample. Excellent for folders with metal pivots, my Delica is smooth as silk and doesn't pick up a lick of grit (Did not use it on my Native since its a metal-frn pivot).

In the past I've used Hoppes lubricating oil, which it basically refined mineral oil. Works good, but doesn't last terribly long and picks up grit (not badly if you use it sparingly). Big fan of Boeshield T9, though. Use the drip bottle as it sets up better and thicker. TriFlow is another good one, but again it will pick up grit if you don't use it sparingly.

I tried White Lightning (its a wax lubricant suspended in a solvent to facilitate application). Didn't care for it much. If you want dry, just go with Militec and then blow/wipe away the oil after heat cycling.
 
gajinoz said:
I've been using Tuff-Glide on all of my folders for well over three years now and never had the slightest problem. Benchmade, Spyderco, Strider, all working well. I haven't noticed any build up of residue.
Click to expand...

Build up is an issue with knives having enclosed (relatively) mechanisms, e.g. plunger locks, paul locks, "bolt-action" locks, ball-bearing locks, etc. Note build-up is possible in the spring cavity for axis-locks. Also, the solvent can affect some "rubber" handles (I've got an old Cold Steel from the '80's to attest to that).

Looks like the knives you have are frame locks, lockbacks, and maybe an axis-lock (or rolling lock).

Tuff-glide makes a reasonable blade preserver, preferably for fixed blades.
 
It's messy annoying and takes time, but graphite powder with a light coat of Tri-Flow after assembly into the pivot is super smooth. My 940 swings like a ball bearing pivot and has 0 blade play.
 
This might sound stupid, but if you have a laser printer that uses fuser oil, then try it. I have some that has silicon in it and it works great. :)
 
Coon P from SMKW I ordered from Knives Live a while back and the operator talked me into it and I have been using it every since, seems to work good so far.
 
gajinoz said:
I've been using Tuff-Glide on all of my folders for well over three years now and never had the slightest problem. Benchmade, Spyderco, Strider, all working well. I haven't noticed any build up of residue.
Click to expand...
Same here. 3-4 years using Tuff-Glide on BM axis lock knives, and a variety of frame-lock, liner lock, lockback, etc knives. No issues whatsoever. I don't recall having any rubber-handled knives though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top