What to do: accidentally washed and dried my mini grip

M

Marty_E

Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
59
Today when I went to retrieve my mini griptilian it wasn't where I store it. First thing I thought was, oh sh!t, I hope my wife did not do the laundry. Sure enough she did and I found it clipped to my pants pocket. What if anything should I do other than to oil the entire knife?
 
If something is wrong with it, send it to Benchmade for warranty work. If it's still okay, just use and enjoy.
 
It works fine I have oiled really well and wiped of the excess. I think it's good to go. Just wanted to see if others find issues that I need to tend to.
 
It should be fine, just make sure it's completely dry which I'm sure the dryer did that already and a little oil on the omega springs to combat any rust. I've seen them fail pretty quick, (if you're an obsessive flipper this can accelerate the failure to only a few months) if left wet and rust is allowed to get a foothold on any part of the springs radius. The rust propagates and the constant flexing of the spring flakes off any old rust exposing the bare metal again which rust and the cycle gets repeated till the material is to thin and the spring breaks. Every one I've ever seen break has broken somewhere along the radius of the spring.

My black and purple 730 Ares bought new when it was released at the turn of the century, the dawn of the new Millenium, 17 years ago, still has the original omega springs. It's been pressed into hard service for 15 years as a mechanic/tradesman. Working for the county and as a subcontractor it's done everything from cut steel banding and plastic 55gal drums in half to cuttin' boxes and canvas bags. In between it's been opened and closed at least a half a million times in that 17 years of it's life.

Like I said I wouldn't be too concerned, if it operates like before use it, if there's a problem clean it, dry it and lube it. If that don't fix it send it in for repair. :thumbsup:

My 730 Ares with my 551

SsUBAth.jpg
 
Lather
Rinse
Repeat

If a trip through the washer and dryer did some damage you need a better knife or a better understanding of what a knife can handle.
 
My wife's washed more knives on me than I remember, the ones that seemed to fare the worst were the natural materials, woods, even stabilized can bee affected by bleach, pearl and ivory also don't do well with hot water and tumbling around a hot dryer. Mostly the older traditionals seem to be affected, most modern knives made with modern materials should do ok as long as they're dried and relubed. Knives are tougher than you think they are. ;)
 
A stock mini grip should be fine going through the wash cycle and dryer.
 
Be grateful it wasn't AO. My wife put my ZT0770 CF M390 through the wash and of course it opened. Didn't do the edge any good at all.
 
An impromptu washing of a knife shouldn't do much harm. Using a blow dryer set to low heat will be followed by a bit of your favorite lube should do the trick.
 
There are a few threads that suggest not to oil the tang. or clean it off with zippo lighter fluid and or acetone if you did.
 
One tool learned along the line, purchase a package of pipe cleaners. These are very useful for both pocket lint removal, and If the knife gets a soaking help to dry the innards without dis-assembly.
 
As long as my knife didn't open, I'd be stoked to have a nice clean knife. A drop of Tri Flow on the washers and in the axis mechanism followed by a light compressed air hit would leave any of my Benchmades in better condition than before they went in the hamper.
 
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