Leatherman Wave hard to open/close

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone.  As you know I got a new Wave for my birthday on 5/24.  When I got it, it was a bit stiff on one side of the handles when you open/close the pliers.  Well I added a drop of 3in1 oil to it and have been working it a little each day.  It is now maybe a tad better but it still is tight.  I just soaked the tool in WD40 spray and will let it sit and then wipe it down and see what it does.
I know there is a conflict about WD40 but I had it around and I thought I will try it.  I know metal and skin are different but I sprayed some on my hands and let it dry, there is no doubt the stuff can be slick.  I also noticed how much slicker it does get when you try and wash it off, thus the water displacement part.  It took two washing of dawn to get it off my hands. 
We will see what it does to the Wave.  Any oil is going to attract dust and dirt, so I do not buy in to the WD40 attracts dust train of thought,all oils do.  The 3in1 did not free it up much so I will give this a try.  I am wondering if the 3in1 oil was too thick to get into such a tight space with such a close tolerance, whereas the WD40 is thinner and can get in there.  We will see once I let it sit and dry and wipe off the access. 

[lovenhim]

Well here is my update on the WD40 soak.  The Wave is shiny now and slick.  It opens and closes better than it did when I had the 3in1 oil on it.  I am a bit surprised to be honest.  The only other issue is that after wiped off the letting the tool sit it was a tad bit sticky.  That also wipes off with another towel.  I am not sure what to think of WD40 yet, but I had to try it. 

[AHB]

Now sit down, watch a good movie while you give the pliers a good workout.. 

[lovenhim]

OK will do, now what to watch?    I will find something or other.

[Mercury]

Well here is my update on the WD40 soak.  The Wave is shiny now and slick.  It opens and closes better than it did when I had the 3in1 oil on it.  I am a bit surprised to be honest.  The only other issue is that after wiped off the letting the tool sit it was a tad bit sticky.  That also wipes off with another towel.  I am not sure what to think of WD40 yet, but I had to try it. 

And it will stay slick until it's not. WD40 does tend to goop up with time.  What you have is a tool with one handle tighter than the other.  My ST300 is the same way.  It truly doesn't matter what you use, WD40, 3 in 1, or spit, the tool will work easier with the lube in it.  The only reason you are using lube is to keep the joints from galling.  As far as when your tool gets loosened, I really would stick with the majority vote here and go with Nano oil or 3 in 1.  They are meant to diffuse friction and heat, something WD40 is not meant to do.  And as far as it attracting dust, as long as you are conservative with it, it won't attract much, but it will still hold more than 3 in 1 oil will.   No oil will fix your tool, only working it will fix it.  Since it seems to bother you, why not run down to the hardware store and pick up some TR10 bits and some loctite?  Then you could disassemble the tool and reglue your pivots at a looser tension.

[Zed]

Mine are still a little stiff, but TBH my old waves was so loose i kind of like it, feels a little more solid, there wear in in time, 

[DaveK]

What you have is a tool with one handle tighter than the other. 

Don't forget that one handle should always be slightly "tighter" than the other on Leatherman tools - it's by design so that the tool breaks in the right way when closing it. This, in turn, ensures that the pliers don't get wedged / forced against the fragile pins in the handles when closing and eventually snap them off.

When you take enough of these things apart, you start to appreciate the little subtleties and really quite remarkable engineering that goes into these things that you might be unaware of in general use.

[lovenhim]

Alright after reading your posts on this, I am simply going to just use the Wave and enjoy it and forget about it being a bit tight.    I do not want to go causing any problems.  I was thinking because i have never owned a multi tool before that the tightness of the tool was a defect so to speak from Leatherman.  Well if it is sapose to be that way by design then so be it, who am I to mess with an engineered tightness in the tool.    So no more messing with it, just use it and enjoy the thing.  Thanks for the help folks. 

[Nikos]

What you have is a tool with one handle tighter than the other. 

Don't forget that one handle should always be slightly "tighter" than the other on Leatherman tools - it's by design so that the tool breaks in the right way when closing it. This, in turn, ensures that the pliers don't get wedged / forced against the fragile pins in the handles when closing and eventually snap them off.

When you take enough of these things apart, you start to appreciate the little subtleties and really quite remarkable engineering that goes into these things that you might be unaware of in general use.

Wow, that was indeed a new one!

[DaveK]

That one came from Kwakster I think

[Mercury]

In retrospect, it actually makes quite a bit of sense!

[Nikos]

Just out of curiosity, is it always the same side (e.g. main blade side) that is tighter?

[DaveK]

I haven't been that observant tbh! But it would make sense if it was consistently done on the production line I guess.

[Nikos]

Thinking aloud: it would make one handle a better choice to grab when trying to flick-open a well-used tool...

[lovenhim]

Just FYI, I was @ Wally's World today and bought a 16oz bottle of mineral oil for under $2.  Now I am not saying I am going to go crazy with it lubing tools, but people on here talk about it a lot and i did run across it today so I pick it up.    It was in the pharmacy section with all the laxities and such. 

[Mr. Whippy]

Just FYI, I was @ Wally's World today and bought a 16oz bottle of mineral oil for under $2.  Now I am not saying I am going to go crazy with it lubing tools, but people on here talk about it a lot and i did run across it today so I pick it up.    It was in the pharmacy section with all the laxities and such. 

It IS a lubricant afterall....

[Mercury]

Just FYI, I was @ Wally's World today and bought a 16oz bottle of mineral oil for under $2.  Now I am not saying I am going to go crazy with it lubing tools, but people on here talk about it a lot and i did run across it today so I pick it up.    It was in the pharmacy section with all the laxities and such. 

It IS a lubricant afterall....

I think I'll try vegetable oil next...

[Nikos]

Unless you were kidding, don't. Vegetable oil tends to go rancid with time, leaving your tools sticky and smelly and (did I mention) sticky too... (ask me how I know... )

[lovenhim]

Unless you were kidding, don't. Vegetable oil tends to go rancid with time, leaving your tools sticky and smelly and (did I mention) sticky too... (ask me how I know... )

Ummm, hmmmm, how do you know?  LOL    I could not help myself, sorry. 

[Mercury]

Unless you were kidding, don't. Vegetable oil tends to go rancid with time, leaving your tools sticky and smelly and (did I mention) sticky too... (ask me how I know... )

I was totally kidding.     I only use 3 in 1 oil after years of trying other things.

[DaveK]

There's been loads of talk about oil lately hasn't there?

I (unintentionally) had my Charge lubed with bacon fat following the UK meet. I washed it out in a stream last weekend when I noticed that it ponged a bit You can see the cleansing process here: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,83.msg380723.html#msg380723

[Nikos]

There's been loads of talk about oil lately hasn't there?

I (unintentionally) had my Charge lubed with bacon fat following the UK meet. I washed it out in a stream last weekend when I noticed that it ponged a bit You can see the cleansing process here: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,83.msg380723.html#msg380723

No! So it wasn't really Excalibur?

By the way, lubing and sharpening are two of the most frequently discussed subjects. Perhaps a sticky would be a good idea?

[DaveK]

There was a multitool TLC thread if I remember rightly 

[Smitty44]

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,1559.0.html

[DaveK]

That's the one Smitty - thanks 

[lovenhim]

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,1559.0.html

Thank you for this link.    This is a great forum. 

[gino753]

So when you go to fold the tool,one half of the plier head is a little tighter recessing into the inner part of the handle and the other half of the plier head goes in with a bit less force?

My new surge does this too,and there is some wear inside the handle on big handles but a little more in the handle that the plier head is more snug going into

And wear on the face of the pliers so this is normal ?