Graphite as a Knife Lubricant?

M

missin_hobo

Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
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I was recently talking to my boss (and fellow knut) when he mentioned that he sometimes used powdered graphite to lubricate his knives.

I didn't even know the stuff existed - all my knives use CRK flourinated grease. I understand that graphite is mostly used in padlocks, but since a little tube was only $2.50 or so at Home Depot, I picked some up, and now I'm not sure which knife to try it on.

Has anybody used this stuff in their knife pivots before? If not, I'll throw it into one of my beaters and we'll see how well it slides.

Cheers,
Mike
 
Tried it. Worked OK but not satisfied so I switched to PTFE (teflon), from, of all places, Radio Shack - the Precision Oiler. Works great! I use it on all my knives' pivots. :thumbup:

Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll pony up to Tuf Glide.
 
I've used the lock type stuff. Wet graphite lube. It works well. Actually, i use it on my bicycle freewheel too. I'd try it, it doesn't attract debris when its dry.
 
UpChUcK said:
Tried it. Worked OK but not satisfied so I switched to PTFE (teflon), from, of all places, Radio Shack - the Precision Oiler. Works great! I use it on all my knives' pivots. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup:
The Teflon-based oils work the best IMO.
Superlube reigns supreme. You can find it at gun stores, sporting goods places (ie Academy, Dick's)
A little goes a long way.

mike
 
I think of teflon and silicone based lubricants as too good. They are hard to remove and can be spread to places that you don't want them. I developed this opinion back when I used a lot of high strength adhesives. You need to do an extremely good job of cleaning your bonding surfaces before gluing. If you get your hands or tools contaminated with some of these artificial lubricants you can find your adhesive joints failing. I don't do as much epoxy bonding as I used to, but I now have elevated awareness of how these materials can be transferred around. I often use my knives on food and I don't want any PTFE in it. I would prefer graphite (though it tastes bad). Often I use plain mineral oil or dry paraffin wax.
 
In a pinch, I've used graphite from a pencil as a lubricant. In fact, I did just the other day. Had a kayak paddle that was sticking. I finally got it apart and marked the female end all over with lead from a #2 pencil (you used the side of the sharpened point). Has worked great ever since.
 
I like graphite and learned to deliver graphite into tight places etc. I suspend it in rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with adjustable stream or a needle oiler,or a syringe.. yadayada.

The alcohol will carry the graphite into place, the alcohol will evaporate quickly and leave the graphite in place. I like using ISO Heat myself but the under a buck pharmacy brands works also.

Peace
ST~
 
Graphite is almost pure carbon. Carbon absorbs and holds water.

Water vapor is actually a necessary component of graphite lubrication.

I prefer other dry lubes such as moly-based lubes.
 
Graphite and moly stain clothing black.Stick to light oil or teflon.
 
Graphite and moly stain clothing black.Stick to light oil or teflon.

That's what was worrying me. I'll try it out on one of my >$50 beaters.
 
missin_hobo said:
I was recently talking to my boss (and fellow knut) when he mentioned that he sometimes used powdered graphite to lubricate his knives.

I didn't even know the stuff existed - all my knives use CRK flourinated grease. I understand that graphite is mostly used in padlocks, but since a little tube was only $2.50 or so at Home Depot, I picked some up, and now I'm not sure which knife to try it on.

Has anybody used this stuff in their knife pivots before? If not, I'll throw it into one of my beaters and we'll see how well it slides.

Cheers,
Mike
Click to expand...

Try it on stainless steel. Not carbon steel.
Graphite is cathodic compared to carbon steel. It can cause a corrosion issue.
 
I use a pencil (graphite) to "write" on the tang of folders w/ a ball/detent closed blade retention on the arced path where the ball rubs... works GREAT as a lube... I think it MAY not last as long as Miltec1, but I also think it is a lot less poisonous!
 
I just used my Spydie Emerson Endura for a couple of work shifts with Graphite around the pivot. Performance is about the same as with CRK grease, but there was a bit of bleeding onto my pocket, and my hands every time I opened the knife. I guess some folk find it less messy than the liquid lubes, but not me. Won't be using it again.
Good to know it reacts badly to carbon steels. Not that it does me any good, but someone else might benefit from the knowledge.
Thanks, guys.
 
I use some stuff from the fabric store called white oil. It is used on sewing machines and will not discolor your clothes or harm inlay materials.
 
CWL said:
Graphite is almost pure carbon. Carbon absorbs and holds water.

Water vapor is actually a necessary component of graphite lubrication.

I prefer other dry lubes such as moly-based lubes.
Click to expand...

Not to sure about that one, Carbon in the form of graphite is highly hydrophobic, and doesn't absorb or interact with moisture.

The mechanics of graphite's lubricant properties is the molecular structure, Carbon in graphite forms "plates" that slide past each other easily with little friction.

http://www.worldofmolecules.com/materials/graphite.gif

I've used it on a knife, my only complaint is that it is hard to get good even application of the powder. Suspending it in a solvent sounds like an excellent idea.
 
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