Best Lube? or No Lube?

[Furcs]

My leverlocks,I have a few and use them the most for edc. They're not dirty, not that dirty at least, but one by one they're starting not to open all the way after at year or so of of use. If I 'flex' the blade a bit when extended it solves the problem for a short time so I don't think it's the springs, but I know that's not a good thing to do or a solution.
I'm thinking WD-40, but the contrasting opinions here on lubes are giving me second thoughts.

Thanks in advance my brothers.

[Bill DeShivs]

Blow them out with copious amounts of WD 40, work the actions, wipe them dry.
Most will work fine.
Some lever locks like a bit of lithium grease.

[Vagrant]

WD-40 is a great cleaner but only a "so-so" lube
Lithium or molybdenum grease is nice.
If grease doesn't help try the lightest oil - like sewing machine oil.
[but you will have to use it more often than grease]

[john]

I use a very light weight oil like Vagrant suggested and they do need t be oiled frequently.

[j.a.c.]

Another vote for a very light machine oil. Somewhere I picked up a few small bottles of sewing machine oil and it work the best of all the stuff I've tried.

[j.a.c.]

WD-40 is a great cleaner but only a "so-so" lube
Lithium or molybdenum grease is nice.
If grease doesn't help try the lightest oil - like sewing machine oil.
[but you will have to use it more often than grease]

I remember reading somewhere years ago that W.D.40 was invented by a gentleman who had a military contract to create a spray that would protect electronic equiptment from water. The W.D. actually stands for water displacement and the 40 was his 40th attempt at creating a formula. One of those things that was meant for one thing and ended up becoming a household remedy for everything.


http://inventors.about.com/od/wstartinv ... Fourty.htm

[FreeTheArmy]

so.... no one would suggest a teflon based oil?

[Razor_54]

Has anyone tried the Benchmade BlueLube Lubricant? Have heard good things about it.

[Bill DeShivs]

WD 40 was developed to protect nuclear missiles.
Different knives like different lubes. Some work better with no lube.
I have been using a lot of Latama Quick Release lately. I also use TriFlow-which has teflon.

[FreeTheArmy]

WD 40 was developed to protect nuclear missiles.
Different knives like different lubes. Some work better with no lube.
I have been using a lot of Latama Quick Release lately. I also use TriFlow-which has teflon.

thank you, sir.
what would be the best placement of lithium grease; as in which knives would be best for its use?

[Vagrant]

Every knife is an individual
Try a lube if it makes it better - use it
If it slows it down, flush it off and try another

[Cryptomecanic]

dont use Bacon Grease it has salt and nitrates,use it on green beans

[whippersnapper]

Every knife is an individual
Try a lube if it makes it better - use it
If it slows it down, flush it off and try another

Exactly, some folks almost act like they are going to do permanent damage by spraying the wrong viscosity of oil on a knife.

[Furcs]

Not that I'm surprised but, man, you guys know what you're doing. I did the copius amounts ofWD 40 treatment and that did solve the problem. For good measure I worked a little lithum grease in, and now seems like they are all opening just like new.

It's funny. These aren't the most expensive, or for most the type of knife you'd consider that special, they're standard Italian leverlocks ( Massaro, AKC, etc). But I like them a lot, and use them a lot, so to have them going again with just a little tinkering makes me feel real good.

Thank you very much, very kind of you to reply and it was a big help.

[birdieman]

Quick Release is the best IMO