Just received a new Spyderco Lava in the mail today, but the lock on it is really bugging me. It seems to take too much force to depress it, and it is VERT gritty..... to the point where depressing the lock release is a gritty click. Almost makes your thumb sore after doing it a number of times. The locks on my other knives are super smooth and soft to depress, with no grit whatsoever.
Is this normal? It really bugs me as it gives me the impression that the tang/lockbar mating surfaces weren't cut properly, and the fact that the knife cost a fair bit of money. The knife is brand new in the box, and is not a second.
Lockback with very gritty lock...
-
yablanowitz
- Member
- Posts: 7367
- Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:16 pm
- Location: Liberal, Kansas
It sounds to me like it needs a bath in hot, soapy water, working the action while it is submerged. Followed by a hot air drying and one drop of oil.
Is it normal? Please define "normal". :D It is not unusual for a knife assembled in a place where a lot of grinding is done to aquire a bit of grit either during or after assembly. If a thorough washing doesn't resolve the issue, return it to Spyderco for evaluation.
Is it normal? Please define "normal". :D It is not unusual for a knife assembled in a place where a lot of grinding is done to aquire a bit of grit either during or after assembly. If a thorough washing doesn't resolve the issue, return it to Spyderco for evaluation.
I don't believe in safe queens, only in pre-need replacements.
Thanks yablanowitz,
I have worked the lock a LOT, and have added a drop of oil, and repeated. I also inspected and cleaned the mating surface of the tang... though there was no gunk or grit in there... it's very clean throughout. The opening and closing has become a tiny bit smoother (was nice and smooth enough to begin with), but the grittiness is still there. The lock release still 'pops' when depressed. I am in Canada, so I'm not sure if US Customs will even allow me to ship there. I have heard a lot of horror stories of knives being confiscated.
I have worked the lock a LOT, and have added a drop of oil, and repeated. I also inspected and cleaned the mating surface of the tang... though there was no gunk or grit in there... it's very clean throughout. The opening and closing has become a tiny bit smoother (was nice and smooth enough to begin with), but the grittiness is still there. The lock release still 'pops' when depressed. I am in Canada, so I'm not sure if US Customs will even allow me to ship there. I have heard a lot of horror stories of knives being confiscated.
-
yablanowitz
- Member
- Posts: 7367
- Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:16 pm
- Location: Liberal, Kansas
From what I've heard, most of the confiscation has been liner lock and other easy to flick open knives going into Canada. Shipping to the US shouldn't be a problem, and return shipping of a lockback with a short blade like the Lava is pretty low-risk as far as Customs goes. Their excuse seems to be stopping "gravity" or "flick" knives from entering the country. Your Lava has already cleared once. 
It is possible, although unlikely, that the lockbar or blade was not properly heat treated, resulting in galling of the mating surfaces. If that is the case, the problem will only get worse over time. That possibility cannot be evaluated over the internet. The people in Golden would have to have the knife in-hand to tell if that is the problem. In fact, I'm not 100% certain I know what you are experiencing. If it started out smooth and became gritty in use, the problem could be external (aquired grit) or internal (galling of mating surfaces). There are many places for grit to hide that you can't see, which is why I suggest working the action while the knife is submerged in hot soapy water.
It is possible, although unlikely, that the lockbar or blade was not properly heat treated, resulting in galling of the mating surfaces. If that is the case, the problem will only get worse over time. That possibility cannot be evaluated over the internet. The people in Golden would have to have the knife in-hand to tell if that is the problem. In fact, I'm not 100% certain I know what you are experiencing. If it started out smooth and became gritty in use, the problem could be external (aquired grit) or internal (galling of mating surfaces). There are many places for grit to hide that you can't see, which is why I suggest working the action while the knife is submerged in hot soapy water.
I don't believe in safe queens, only in pre-need replacements.
-
vampyrewolf
- Member
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
usually giving a good washing with hot soapy water and working it a few times under that, will be enough to loosen up grit.
typically stainless spydies will be tighter and have some grit when new. Hot soapy water, shot of compressed air to dry, and some oil afterwards is enough.
typically stainless spydies will be tighter and have some grit when new. Hot soapy water, shot of compressed air to dry, and some oil afterwards is enough.
Coffee before Conciousness
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
Sorry yablanowitz, what I meant was..... the opening and closing movement (swinging of the blade) got a bit smoother, though it was smooth enough to start. But the gritty 'pop' when depressing the lock release has not changed at all.
It's a bit of a pickle, because this knife is my backup/safe queen. I wanted to keep it knife mint, with the protective sticker still on it, in case later on, if after having my 'user' Lava for a bit I find that the Lava is not for me, I can sell it NIB.
I can't, in good conscience, sell a knife as NIB when I have torn off the protective decal, and dunked it in soapy water...
It's a bit of a pickle, because this knife is my backup/safe queen. I wanted to keep it knife mint, with the protective sticker still on it, in case later on, if after having my 'user' Lava for a bit I find that the Lava is not for me, I can sell it NIB.
I can't, in good conscience, sell a knife as NIB when I have torn off the protective decal, and dunked it in soapy water...
-
vampyrewolf
- Member
- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
get out the compressed air and mineral oil then.
I cleaned my knives when I worked in the tarp factory with compressed air every shift. Enough pressure and practice will have it moving smoothly in about a minute.
I cleaned my knives when I worked in the tarp factory with compressed air every shift. Enough pressure and practice will have it moving smoothly in about a minute.
Coffee before Conciousness
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
I may be misreading you, but it sounds like you have another Lava that is a user? How is the lock up/unlock on that one? If you plan on keeping this one as minty as possible with the stickers still on the stainless handles, use the other one and forego the oil, cleaning, and fiddling on the NIB one, and just leave it gritty. If you do sell it, you could say, "Hey, it's SO NIB that it's still gritty. Never even been oiled after leaving the factory."Shifty wrote:It's a bit of a pickle, because this knife is my backup/safe queen. I wanted to keep it knife mint, with the protective sticker still on it, in case later on, if after having my 'user' Lava for a bit I find that the Lava is not for me, I can sell it NIB.
I can't, in good conscience, sell a knife as NIB when I have torn off the protective decal, and dunked it in soapy water...
-
The Deacon
- Member
- Posts: 25717
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Upstate SC, USA
- Contact:
There's probably nothing wrong with it that a good cleaning and a bit of break in would not cure. However, if you do decide to return it to Spyderco for evaluation, I'd suggest checking with Canada Post first and asking them if there's a specific procedure you need to follow when returning an item to a US manufacturer for repair to insure that you will not be asked to pay duty on it when it is returned to you.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
-
Nifty_Nives
- Member
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:05 pm
- Location: Maryland, USA
Oddly enough, my Meadowlark began to do the same thing. Randomly, it just started being EXTREMELY difficult to open and close, and nothing had gotten "stuck" in it, but it just feels very grainy, and kind of nasty to attempt to open. Should i do the same for this model knife? Its very difficult to get apart, but if i could, i would...Shifty wrote:Just received a new Spyderco Lava in the mail today, but the lock on it is really bugging me. It seems to take too much force to depress it, and it is VERT gritty..... to the point where depressing the lock release is a gritty click. Almost makes your thumb sore after doing it a number of times. The locks on my other knives are super smooth and soft to depress, with no grit whatsoever.
Andy