Maintenance tips?

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
DJD
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Maintenance tips?

#1

Post by DJD »

What's the preferred product to lube Spydercos?
Thanks.
Cujobob
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#2

Post by Cujobob »

I like Nano-Oil for pivots.
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LC Kid
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#3

Post by LC Kid »

Hi DJD!


My first response lube is the Nano Oil as well, for metal liner folders.

For no liners, or for FRN I don't use any lube.
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SpyderNut
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#4

Post by SpyderNut »

I prefer FP-10 lube for my knives. Not only does it work well on pivots, etc., but it also has a pleasant smell. :) It works well on firearms too.
Trout Hound
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#5

Post by Trout Hound »

I would think that some type of dry lube, such as Rem-Dri, applied parsimoniously with a cotton swab, might work well. It won't pick up lint, dirt, etc. the way that oil will.
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DJD
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#6

Post by DJD »

As Trout Hound mentioned....have the oils mentioned ever seem to collect lint or dust?? Just curious if anyone has experienced that and gone to a dry lube.
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SpyderNut
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#7

Post by SpyderNut »

DJD wrote:As Trout Hound mentioned....have the oils mentioned ever seem to collect lint or dust?? Just curious if anyone has experienced that and gone to a dry lube.
No, I've not noticed that, but I think the key is to use any type of lube very sparingly.
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farnorthdan
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#8

Post by farnorthdan »

Nano oil works well, I also use a graphite based lube called Dri-slide bike aid, I started using this on my throttle cables some time ago and have found it works great for knives also.
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paladin
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#9

Post by paladin »

Just Use It...seriously use it / open it a lot...

My EDC is a Spderco gray Calypso Jr. ...

It has never seen a drop of oil...

I wash it with soap & warm water then dry with a blow dryer as needed...

Still opens, closes, & locks up as good as the day I bought it...

Not trying to be a wise guy here, but oil & lubes can invite & retain grit / gunk if over-used...just use it as is out of the box...

Nano oil is a good choice if you must use a liquid lube...but go very easy as SpyderNut advised...

Frog Lube if you want a dry lube...good luck!
DJD
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#10

Post by DJD »

Thanks for the replies!
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HarleyXJGuy
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#11

Post by HarleyXJGuy »

Just having bought a new Spydie I was wondering the same thing.

So far I have not put any oil on mine because of all the dust and dirt where I am. Plus I figure it will help break in what for me seems like a very stiff knife.
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Bolster
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#12

Post by Bolster »

What if you use your knife for food prep? What lubricant then?

Mineral oil? Wax? Vegetable oil? Bacon grease?
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paladin
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#13

Post by paladin »

Bolster wrote:What if you use your knife for food prep? What lubricant then?

Mineral oil? Wax? Vegetable oil? Bacon grease?
Mineral oil, of those you have listed...

The other two will go rancid...

FrogLube is paste that you melt on with a hair dryer, it then "seasons" the steel (think: like how you prep a cast iron skillet), & then dries on it leaving behind a slicker surface...

Plus it's food safe, I've had good luck with it
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#14

Post by Trout Hound »

+1 on mineral oil for food prep. I use it to oil my carbon Mora for that reason.
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MacLaren
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#15

Post by MacLaren »

I most all times use M-Pro7.
Sometimes, I'll use Weapon Shield w/ its needle applicator. Its from the same inventor as FP10. And, it smells good too :)
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WireEdge Roger
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#16

Post by WireEdge Roger »

FP-10 here as well, must be a Hoosier thing? :D I love the smell.

I've used it for years! Good on garage door rollers and patio door tracks too.
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#17

Post by PMBohol »

Another vote for MPro7 LPX. Also, Breakfree CLP is good stuff too.
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SpyderNut
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#18

Post by SpyderNut »

WireEdge Roger wrote:FP-10 here as well, must be a Hoosier thing? :D I love the smell.

I've used it for years! Good on garage door rollers and patio door tracks too.
Haha! It must be a Hoosier thing is right. ;) I've been using FP-10 on my guns/knives for the past 16-18 years. Like you said, it works well in many different applications around the house too. Plus, the smell is very pleasant. :)
swedishgrunt
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#19

Post by swedishgrunt »

i tried many sorts of american oil products and never liked any of them.

so i use the same lube as i use to my fishing reels.
cals universal reel & star drag grease on some knives.
but for most i use TG´s rocket fuel red label.
good stuff.
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Evil D
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Re: Maintenance tips?

#20

Post by Evil D »

Keep them clean. That's the most important thing. You don't need to take them apart to clean them either, just work the pivot in soapy water then work the pivot under running water, blow out with compressed air and drop in a few dops of pretty much any kind of lubricant you have access to. Lots of people over complicate this topic, and the lubes being used are so overkill for such a simple mechanism. While some lubes will no doubt be silkier than others, you can drop some common 3-In-1 household oil and get a smooth action. Dry lubes have their pros and cons just as wet lubes do. I've found that White Lightning make both types and they all work very well for knife pivots and can easily be found at Walmart for cheap and a bottle will last you years.
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