Noob questions (3)

[OolongRasta]

Hello everyone! Noob here, never really been into knifes before, but just purchased my 4th spyderco in the last 90 days! I think you all can relate!?

My questions are these: 1. what knife lubes are suggested? 2. my most recent purchase is an m4 steel, so what suggested oil would you use if you were living on the west coast near the ocean?
3. I’ve noticed box tape adhesives LOVE S45 and BD1N and seem impervious to rubbing alcohol? Suggestions to clean?

Much much appreciated fam!

[kobold]

Hi OolongRasta and welcome to the forums!

1. Almost anything really. WD40 will gum up in time, so not that. I use sewing machine oil, bike oil or coconut oil when I want to be very food safe, because these are what I have at hand. Or just cut some bacon with the knife.

3. I don't have this problem, but try acetone maybe.

[The Meat man]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

1. I like Nano Oil. One tube will last several lifetimes, and the needle applicator is perfect for precision. Also, I really like CRK fluorinated grease, available from CRK directly I believe.

2. I use mineral oil, or Frog Lube for blade protection/rust prevention. Both are food safe.

3. I have found that WD-40 cleans off the most stubborn tape residue. Spray the blade down good, let soak for a minute or so, and wipe off.

[TomAiello]

Welcome to the forum!

1. I like Knife Pivot Lube (KPL). You can find it at online retailers (I buy it from DLT).

2. If you aren't cutting food, I recommend Tuf-Glide. Get the cloth applicator, rather than the bottle, and just wipe the blade down every now and then. If you are cutting food, then mineral oil is my first choice, but mostly because I have a bottle of it in the kitchen for our countertops (soapstone). The only non-stainless kitchen knives I have, I just tend to let patina.

3. I'll second WD-40. Works great for me.

[Albertaboyscott]

Welcome to the forum! I use g96 gun treatment to remove the toughest of tape residue. Its a lube also so can spray the pivot too. Not food friendly though

[attila]

3. Most oils will soften/dissolve packing tape. Even skin oil works well.

[vivi]

1. what knife lubes are suggested?

Mineral oil. Cheap, can be purchased at any grocery store or drug store, and it is food safe.

2. my most recent purchase is an m4 steel, so what suggested oil would you use if you were living on the west coast near the ocean?

I've heard good things about sentry solutions tuf glide. Personally I just carry a rust proof knife, since that's much less hassle than fighting rust.

3. I’ve noticed box tape adhesives LOVE S45 and BD1N and seem impervious to rubbing alcohol? Suggestions to clean?

If you can just use the very tip to cut tape on boxes it makes this a non-issue. Otherwise a mineral oil soaked rag wipes it off quite easily in my experience.

[JRinFL]

Mineral oil on a microfiber cloth, it cleans, lubes, and protects. I suspect it is the basis of many “wonder lubes” you see pop up every year.

[JRinFL]

Oh, I forgot to say it, welcome aboard!

[RustyIron]

My questions are these: 1. what knife lubes are suggested? 2. my most recent purchase is an m4 steel, so what suggested oil would you use if you were living on the west coast near the ocean?
3. I’ve noticed box tape adhesives LOVE S45 and BD1N and seem impervious to rubbing alcohol? Suggestions to clean?

Welcome, brother. West Coast? Senegal? Sierra Leone?

Really, any lube that you'd use on your guns, fishing reels, sewing machines, will be fine. I generally use Ballistol. I can't argue that it's better than any of the other myriad of products available, but just minutes ago I used it to remove sticker goo from the sheath of a hori-hori that was just delivered.

P.S.
I really like M4.

P.P.S.
My hori-hori is Japanese, but not Spyderco.

[OolongRasta]

Thank you to you all! Much appreciated all the great feedback and suggestions!

[Holland]

I use oil from my hairline to get tape residue off. Works awesome.

I no longer use oils for my pivots. I found vaseline works the best for me.

Could use your M4 knife in the kitchen for a while until it develops a nice patina. Should help with unwanted rust

[metaphoricalsimile]

3. Most oils will soften/dissolve packing tape. Even skin oil works well.

Yup. Adhesives are usually medium-weight polymers, and as they say "like dissolves like" so oils tend to work well. I just use regular ol kitchen vegetable oil for tape adhesive.

[Bloke]

my hairline

[Wartstein]

Welcome Oolongrasta!

- Knife lubes: Many good choices, I personally use Victorinox multitool oil. Works perfectly for me.

- M4 steel: I don't protect my tool steel blades at all. You could also consider letting them develope "personality and uniqueness" by patina and even some rust spots...? I do like such used looks, but know and respect that many don't.

[aicolainen]

So, when mineral oils are suggested, it's obviously implied that one means food grade mineral oil, but since we're giving advice to a self declared noob, it's probably a good idea to point that out. Just in case..

[Michael Janich]

Dear oolongrasta:

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

Stay safe,

Mike

[zemogKA]

Gunny Glide is a new pivot lube that uses graphene and has some really impressive results. REC (rivers edge cutlery) and Omaha knives have had it in stock recently.

I’ve used nano oil, kpl and militec in the past and this gunny glide blew them out of the water.

For adhesive removal I use goo gone. It works quick.

[Doc Dan]

I no longer use oils for my pivots. I found vaseline works the best for me.

I second that. Plus, the paraffin combined with mineral oil in it protects the metal very, very well, and is food safe. It is good all around stuff.

[OolongRasta]

Hi OolongRasta and welcome to the forums!

1. Almost anything really. WD40 will gum up in time, so not that. I use sewing machine oil, bike oil or coconut oil when I want to be very food safe, because these are what I have at hand. Or just cut some bacon with the knife.

3. I don't have this problem, but try acetone maybe.

Thank you! Haha bacon, I’ll keep that in mind!!