Baby Oil OK for Lubricating Knives?

K

knifezoid

Joined
Apr 17, 2009
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I just got a Benchmade 42 (used) and the pivots are a little dirty (black
and grimy) and it squeaks a little here and there. I heard mineral oil is
good for knives and I read that baby oil is basically mineral oil but just
with a scent.

So that being said is it safe to use baby oil on my knife? I'm only asking
cause that is the only thing available where I am and I am not at my
normal house. OK, that and I'm too lazy to go to the store and buy some.

Thanks for the help.
 
I'm using some and I'm pretty sure it's safe. It's also a lot cheaper than mineral oil (not that that's expensive). There are probably better things out there in terms of lubricating, though.
 
I would maybe want to know what they added for the scent, before using baby oil over just plain mineral oil, just on the chance it's something that could accumulate or attract dust and dirt into the pivot joint.
 
good question. i would like to know more about the different oils too. baby oil, mineral oil ? i have been using olive oil. use some knives with food. what would be safe?
 
Baby oil is scented mineral oil. Mineral oil is food safe, it is after all taken as a laxative. I wouldn't use baby oil on anything you're going to be cutting food with due to the perfume.
 
H2H907 said:
Baby oil is scented mineral oil. Mineral oil is food safe, it is after all taken as a laxative. I wouldn't use baby oil on anything you're going to be cutting food with due to the perfume.
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I'm pretty sure the scents are non-toxic. After all...you rub this stuff on babies and I'm sure they made sure it was fine if it ended up in their mouths.
 
If you have teflon or nylon washers and really want to play it safe you can use a synthetic lubricant by Dupont called Krytox. It is a non-toxic, chemically inert product and there are very few composite materials that it will react negatively to. There are Food Grade offerings available as well.

It is used extensively for synthetic seals and gaskets because it won't absorb and swell most material, nor will it chemically react and dry out the material.

It is available in various viscosities as well as a grease. The most commonly available oil is GPL105 and the most common grease is GPL205.

The only drawback is that this stuff is that it is silly expensive. A 1 oz. bottle of GPL105 often runs between $50 - $75 (check on-line). But a 1 oz. bottle is a lifetime supply for odds and ends lubricating tasks.

Not for everyone, but worth considering having on hand for lubrication of synthetic/composite bushings, protecting weatherstripping on automobiles, etc. etc.

All that said it is generally recommended not to lubricate nylon or teflon bushings on folders because they are considered "self lubricating" and the addition of oil or grease will only attract and hold dust and dirt which will promote premature wear.

Kevin

Info: http://www2.dupont.com/Lubricants/en_US/assets/downloads/H-58505-1.pdf
 
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knifezoid said:
No food cutting with this knife. Gonna see if Target has some mineral
oil and other lubes.
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If you're going to Target, go to the sports section and check out the gun lubes.

Mineral oil isn't that impressive of a lubricant. Heck, even Remoil is better, though I consider that a bit too thin.
 
str8flexed said:
I'm pretty sure the scents are non-toxic. After all...you rub this stuff on babies and I'm sure they made sure it was fine if it ended up in their mouths.
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I'm certain you're correct, I just don't want the taste of that stuff on my food.
 
Over on the balisong forum, Militech is the crowd favorite. You can send them an email and ask for a sample.

I personally prefer Breakfree CLP. Benchmade also has their own proprietary lube as well, but I don't know anything about it.

If you head over to the balisong forum, there should be a few threads about balisong lubricants.
 
They only had Mineral Oil at Target (NJ doesn't sell any guns at large retailers). But I
must say, this stuff is great. Dirt cheap. I dropped a little at the pivots and just went
over the whole blade lightly and then got rid of the excess. No more squeaks and the
thing flips much quieter. I'm sure the $50/oz is better, but I can buy 50 liters of mineral oil
for that much :)
 
Mineral oil is my favorite. I bought a precision applicator on ebay and apply it with that. I found it lubricates much better than tufglide.
 
Johnson's adds "Fragrance" - I never knew what that meant, and still don't know what it's made of. But I have a friend who is allergic to it - puffs up, breaks out in hives. I don't know how she survives since it's in everything.

Anyway, I use mineral oil on my carbon knives if I'm in a trying to keep 'em shiny phase; also on my (wood) cutting boards. Won't use the "Baby" stuff since both of those scenarios are for food; otherwise it's probably okay. But I find that mineral oil in general collects dust and soil, and doesn't last as long as some other lubes. So I don't use it as a lubricant, but I wouldn't hesitate in a pinch if it's all I had. But, again, I wouldn't put the baby stuff near anything I'm going to ingest. You can get "USP" (food-grade laxative) at the grocery or drugstore pretty cheap.
 
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