White lithium grease ?

[softrockrenegade]

is white lithium grease a good idea for folders ? i just put some on one of my striders and its very smooth ! just wondering if there are any cons to this as a lube ?

 

[cziv]

None! Only if a lighter lube is called for. I wouldn't load up the pivot of a Kershaw Leek with it. If it helps your Strider don't worry at all. It's good stuff.

I first ran into it as a lube for the action on fine double shotguns. I stil use it on the guide rails of semi-auto pistols.

I read it recommended in a thread on Zero Tolerance knives recently - for lubing the inside of the scale that houses the spring.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I use it quite often on lever locks.

 

[KennyB]

Well, I'm sure it would lubricate a stiff joint into operational satisfaction, but I don't think it really stacks up to more purpose-specific lubricants like Benchmade's BlueLube or various gun oils. I mean, really the thing to pay attention to is that it's grease, not oil. It builds up a lot of grime, and the best word I can use to describe it when it needs to be cleaned and reapplied is "viscous". All in all, it's not what I'd use ideally, as it's generally used to grease very hot, fast moving parts like gears or bearings, but it works and isn't detrimental. Also, it may just be the brand I had, but it's really smelly stuff.

I used it on my Kulgera at first. It opened smoothly and all, but I was trying to get the AXIS action to open and close under the force of gravity, and BlueLube was better for that. I doubt you really need a specific brand, I would just go with an oil over a grease.

 

[Jason B.]

I always found it to make the action stiff and collect lots of dirt. YMMV

 

[stitchawl]

I like it!! I bought some originally to try to restore a very large motorcycle lock that had lost it's youth, and discovered that I liked it for many different uses!! I bought some cans of spray grease, which has a solvent like WD-40 so it really penetrates. But the spray is serious over-kill for knife pivots.

It has two main drawbacks; it can collect dust and grit, and it can be VERY messy. So.... If you're going to use it in place of oil, use it SPARINGLY! Did you get that? SPARINGLY. For the pivot of a folder, I put it on with a toothpick and spread it around. It will stay a good long time.

The other drawback is that it's messy in exposed places. There are many good lubes that dry to a film. Grease is NOT one of them. I'm only using it in places where I won't come into direct contact with it. But for those... it's great!!

There are several different greases available, but for non heat or saltwater uses it doesn't make a difference which you choose. Wheel bearings need one type, and marine environments need another, etc. Knife pivots don't care which you use; lithium, urea, Moly, etc., etc.,

But the upshot is, that old motorcycle lock of mine is acting friskier than brand new brass, a back to doing its job of protecting my ride. My EDC jumps out of the handle when I need it to. Grease works.

Stitchawl

 

[Incahiker]

Guess it couldn't hurt. But I always take and polish the bronze washers and the blade where the bronze washer meet the blade and then add just a spec of mobil one synthetic motor oil. Just enough oil to cover the washer. After that the knife is smooth as silk.

 

[65535]

A thicker grease works great on a folder like a Strider which has a relatively rough blade finish under the pivot, so the thick grease greatly reduces friction. I'm very fond of HiSlip Grease from Sentry solutions (I believe it's a graphite base as it's rated to 650C I think).

I've also had amazing results with Finish Line teflon bearing grease.

I'm not a huge fan of white lithium, and prefer the other two I listed over it. But it does do the trick.

Now for more smooth folders or folders that use plastic washers, use VERY little grease on the pivot pin itself and just a hint on the washers and blade. I don't personally lube the scale side of the washers.