Wobbling opinel

F

FarmKid

Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Messages
405
Hey guys, I got an opinel 7 and there is a lot of blade wobble until u turn the ring super tight. Is this normal?
 
Not sure. Seems off to me. Mine is pretty stiff the whole way open/closed. Did you buy it new? Might be worth an exchange. Somebody may be able to chime in with a fix. I love mine though. Right now it is serving PSK duty, though one of the sharpest and more unique looking knives I've bought. Very cheap too. Don't lose hope!
 
I bought it new and the handled swelled I think. Put oil on it now it's too loose. If u don't lock it up in the closed position the blade comes open and closed. Idk? Paid 5$ for it but I'd like to fix it if this problem ain't normal.
 
Mine might be the odd one. I usually don't bother with the lock since it stays open well enough. Pain to have to wait again for the knife, though may be the best option.
 
You could remove the locking ring and lightly tap a few times on the end of the pivot pin with a hammer, with the opposite end of the pin braced on a hard backing, like an anvil or vise. Just enough to compress the ferrule slightly and snug things up. I'd go about it very gently though, so it doesn't end up too tight.

A pair of snap-ring pliers works very well for removing and re-installing the locking ring.
 
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Your knife may have been stored somewhere with really low humidity too. A soak overnight in some linseed oil wouldn't do any harm. I do this to all my Opinel's after removing their varnish coat which I don't like very much.

Sam
 
Or mineral oil I suppose. That seems popular around here especially for eating knives.
I have 3 Opinels and none of the blades will fall open or closed by themselves.

Obsessed, thanks for the snap-ring pliers tip.
 
As David already said - it might be a problem of the pivot pin paired with low humidity. You got it new, right? I would not give a bath in linseed oil, this you can do everytime. I would first keep it for some days in a regular room-humidity. Maybe the wood will extend a little. Though imo, the locking ring shouldn´t have a cause on extended wood.

I had an Opinel #6 (stainless steel) in my office at work in the desk. It was very easy to open, the blade fell out of the handle. It is a very dry air in there. I took it home for sharping. And forgot it in my workshop. A couple of days later I found it again and it was hardly not to open.

But, as David already showed would work very fine, too.

Kind regards
Andi
 
scrteened porch said:
Or mineral oil I suppose. That seems popular around here especially for eating knives.
I have 3 Opinels and none of the blades will fall open or closed by themselves.

Obsessed, thanks for the snap-ring pliers tip.
Click to expand...

I'd like to take credit for that, but at one time or another in the past, others have offered the same tip here, and on other forums. Once I tried it out myself, it seemed as if the snap-ring pliers were made for this job. So, I don't hesitate to shout it to the rafters, when it may be helpful to someone here. Really works great. :)
 
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Andi brought up a good point about varying humidity having an effect. Might be worth 'testing' the fit & function in several environments, over the span of a few days or even weeks, before rushing into making any adjustments to the pivot. I wouldn't tighten the pivot if the current environment for the knife is very dry, as it might swell under more humid conditions later, and make that newly-snugged joint impossible to open. I'm reminded of this lately, as it's the so-called 'monsoon season' here in NM, and humidity indoors is up around 40-50%, as opposed to the more typical sub-20% we usually see (with swamp coolers running; otherwise it's usually below 15%). We have at least one wooden door in the house that simply won't close, these days. Swelled too big to fit in the jamb. My Opi's are feeling a bit 'tight' too.
 
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Put it in the bathroom. Take a really steamy shower. Keep the door closed and let the wood swell a bit.

Pack the joint full of Vaseline, open a close a few times, then wipe the excess out with a paper towel. That's how Carl did mine. It works great. Apparently that's how the French actually do theirs.
 
medicevans said:
Put it in the bathroom. Take a really steamy shower. Keep the door closed and let the wood swell a bit.

Pack the joint full of Vaseline, open a close a few times, then wipe the excess out with a paper towel. That's how Carl did mine. It works great. Apparently that's how the French actually do theirs.
Click to expand...

you beat me to it! plus one on that
 
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