Balisong LM

[LatinoHeat]

Hey guys, just curious.  Anyway to get aLM loose enough to flip like a butterfly knife?  I have a sideclip, Wave, ad Blast and I notice that they all tighten up as the pliers open, even if they start off loose.  Any way to wear the handles all the way down and be able to flip them around?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Be careful what you wish for....  I always flipped open my PST II like that until the whole thing became loose.  Now when I try to flip it closed the blade comes out and I stab myself in the bacl of the hand!

The Surge opens one handed quite nicely, but make sure you have a good hold of it as it will do some serious property damage if it slips!

Def

[prime77]

The Core opens good with a flip of the hand also.

[jdailey4206966]

I broke mine in over the week of the 4th of July this year. They were really stiff, but I played with them alot while watching tv or movies, and I also used wd-40 on the pliers everyday. You will know when it is getting in the pliers because you will start to see black crap coming out of the pivot point. All in abut 3 days, they were good and loose. Now, I can open them like a balisong, but I just prefer flip it one handed. Too me, if you use it like a balisong for too long, it will increase the wear on the tool.

[Spoonrobot]

Well, you could either grind down the handles or the friction ramps. It does make the whole tool close to useless though.

Friction Ramps.

[Poncho65]

Well, you could either grind down the handles or the friction ramps. It does make the whole tool close to useless though.

Friction Ramps.

  That doesn't sound like something you want to do Navajero  I have my Blast where it opens one handed but like you say right @ the end tightens up, but it's close enough for me My Wave also does the same thing
Like Def said though be careful I was playing with the Pulse back and forth opening it to loosen it up and the ole knife blade came out and sliced my finger a little

[jdailey4206966]

Well, you could either grind down the handles or the friction ramps. It does make the whole tool close to useless though.

Friction Ramps.

  That doesn't sound like something you want to do Navajero  I have my Blast where it opens one handed but like you say right @ the end tightens up, but it's close enough for me My Wave also does the same thing
Like Def said though be careful I was playing with the Pulse back and forth opening it to loosen it up and the ole knife blade came out and sliced my finger a little

I had this same problem with my fuse. I have never had the tools or knives open up on the wave though.

[Poncho65]

I had this same problem with my fuse. I have never had the tools or knives open up on the wave though.

Yeah the Wave does seem pretty tight with the tools That's why they cost more

[jdailey4206966]

Yeah the Wave does seem pretty tight with the tools That's why they cost more

A guy I work with has some Gerber compact 400 MTs that I asked to see today. I used to have these and they broke, but they feel so flimsy compared to the wave. The wave is solid!!

[duckman1975]

I think the surge is just right for balisong method of opening not too tight not too lose 

[Leatherman123]

I agree.. I personally don't like loose handles..

[jdailey4206966]

I have heard that people using the balisong method will wear the tool out quicker. I doubt this, and I have also heard that people who have used the pocket clip and open like a balisong, that the tool will come open in the pocket easily. Mine opens very easily with this method, but the handles arent loose,and the tools also closes still with a crisp snap, so I don't think i will have to worry about that.

[jdailey4206966]

Not sure if its true or not, but I have heard of people using mineral oil on their leathermans. They say that the metal just soaks it in, and  becomes basically rust proof. It also works as a good lubricant.

Just think, an oil used to loosen bowels is the same oil used to loosen Leathermans. LMAO!!!

[Sea Monster]

Do any multis (not SAKs) come with bronze bearings/liners whathaveyou

[DaveK]

When any of my LM handles start to loosen up - I tighten them again! I hate loose handles...

[jdailey4206966]

When any of my LM handles start to loosen up - I tighten them again! I hate loose handles...

Hard to do unless you have the 6 pointed bit for them

[Spoonrobot]

When any of my LM handles start to loosen up - I tighten them again! I hate loose handles...

Hard to do unless you have the 6 pointed bit for them

The 6-lobe bits are readily available at a wide variety of stores. They're most common at Automotive places around here. Not sure on the size but I think it is a T6 or a T8. Alternatively you can just break off the center post and use regular Torx drivers but this may void the warranty.

The 5-lobe bits are harder to find but as I understand it there are some 100pc sets coming out of China that have the bit in there but it's never been verified by anyone who actually owns a set.

Failing that you can use a flathead screwdriver to tighten the 5-lobe fasteners but it's very easy to break off the center post so be careful.