Hi every1
I'm river rafting in a few days, and want to take my wave with me. i want to keep it on me while i'm going down rapids, which means it will get wet often, if not most of the day.

How do care for it so that it wont develop rust? Even though it says "stainless steel", i've had other "Stainless" knives rust and, and i'm very protective of my wave.

thanks for the help.

I´d put it in a waterproof pouch or at least a ziplock bag. You can coat it with oil (I use Break Free CLP similar ocassions) but this would be messy and files don´t work well with it. If it gets wet make sure to dry it completely. If your wave has a leather sheath don´t put it there while the sheath is still wet. I treated the sheath of my wave with warm vaseline so it doesn´t get soaked with water anymore.

BTW: Spec sheets for "stainless steel" tell that you will loose a certain amount of steel in a specified environment due to corrosion and that there is no pitting corrosion. They don´t claim that it´s rustfree .

Those knives rust very easily. Mine rusted and I've never taken it in water ever. I live on a small Island things rust very easily. You should get something waterproof like a bag of case
http://www.inventivesolutions.net/itmidx1.htm
or
http://www.pelican.com/main.htm
Oil it before and after even if you use WD 40 it's better than nothing.
Hope this helps.

Frank

I scuba dived with my wave, swam with it in the river, I used it to clean small game and yes it will rust. Before I head out on any adventure I will spray my Wave with WD40 or any other Lubricant (Remington Teflon Gun Lube) I have at home. I would wipe it dry so my tool doesn't drip. After the trip I will rinse the Wave with water and repeat the clean/lube procedure. This time I will pay more attention to the hinges. Than again I would wipe the excess of oil with a tissue paper. When around salt water I rinse my tool with "sweet" water after each submersion (at teh end of the day). About Wave rusting I learned it hard way. I went rafting and for three days I was in and out of the water having Wave constantly on my belt. I got home and didn't pay my tool 2 cents of attention since it was stainless steel. After a few weeks I saw some brownish spots on my blades and other tools were hard to open. I than disasembled my Wave, cleaned it and put it together but it was tought to get rid of the blemishes on the blade. Now after I started doing the simple prevention/after use cleaning procedures I have no problems at all. Still I pay no mind to my blade when out in the field. I only make sure that they are secured and I won't loose them. But when I get home they are getting a right treatment. Hope that helps.

Matt

Sentry Solutions "Tuf-Cloth" & "Tuf-Glide" are the best products I've found.

Earlier this year, while on vacation, I had a couple of my knives in the ocean (off & on for a week), with no problems.

I'm beginning to treat everything--knife, gun, & other tools, that is--with this product, replacing even my much-beloved BreakFree CLP!

David

Matt,

"....I than disasembled my Wave..."

That probably piques some interest... I'm at least mildly interested. Did you find a ready source for the tool to fit the security socket on the machine screw or...?

Tom

Yes my dad was a source. He used a similar screw bit to secure locks during the construction project. Are they really so hard to come by?

http://www.hobbytool.com/Products/Weekly%20Specials/3033.htm
http://www.widgetsupply.com/screwdrivers/hex-bit/hex-bits.html

Matt

Polak

Do you ussually dive with your wave?

Yes all the time.

Matt

Thanks for posting these... widgetsupply in particular seems to be a great source for hard-to-find stuff, and great prices.
_________________
Yes my dad was a source. He used a similar screw bit to secure locks during the construction project. Are they really so hard to come by?

http://www.hobbytool.com/Products/Weekly%20Specials/3033.htm
http://www.widgetsupply.com/screwdrivers/hex-bit/hex-bits.html

Matt

Polak, you may be my new hero! I've tried everywhere to buy a tool that will open up my Wave. Leatherman says they MAKE the tool themselves, and nothing available commercially will work.
On either of your links, could you specify which bit actually worked? It looks like a star security bit, but that won't usually work because the WAVE has a milled point in the center of the star. Did you have to do anything special to take it apart.

If I do get it apart, what do you guys think of trying the modification to the file like the PS2 mod. referenced in ETS? Think it will work?

Naro,

the bit I used was the one that came supplied with my fathers security plates for locks shipment. At WidgetSupplu link when you look at sets BCU06 and BCU13 you will see that they have a hole inside to accomodate the pin that wave has. When I get some time I will go to local Home Depot and see what they have in terms of similar items but it won't be for the next two weeks since EMT exams are really catching up with me.

Matt

Good luck on the exams. Listen closely to the instructions of the evaluator. The day I took the practical portion of my National Registry Exam was one of the most stressful days I have ever had <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. They herded us into a large room at the fire academy during the summer, it was not air conditioned, so it was around 90+ degrees. They gave each of us a number and you had to wait for your number to be called for each of the 5 stations. Waiting in that heat, wondering how you did, since they would not tell you until the end of the day, just added to the stress. The written exams for both the National Registry and Maryland were not to bad. Pete

I can only find 6 pointed star drivers at Widget Supply. The Wave is a 5 sided star with security hole.

Polak187, take a close look at your Fathers bit set and see if you can get a manufacturer or item number. The 5-sided security torx bits are not commonly available. Many of us are looking for these. I have even tried to modify bits with no success to date.

Hmmm there are no markings on the bit at all. Except for number 6. How about using a Penta-Drive bit and predriling a hole? Or taking an Eight-Wing bit and filing down some? Check those guys out:
http://www.lara.com/reviews/screwtypes.htm


Matt

[color:"red"]My email to manufacturer: [/color]
----- Original Message -----
From: Jachyra, Matt
To: 'info@lara.com'
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 1:56 PM
Subject: penta-Drive bits
I'm looking for bits that would be able to open Leatherman Wave tool. Those are identical to your Penta-Drive bits but with a hole inside such as one that can be seen on your Torx Tr or Hex Tr. Do you have something like that? If it helps, kick plates and lock covers use similar screws to meet NYCHA standards.

[color:"red"] Answer: [/color]
Matt,

To the best of my knowledge, the Leatherman uses TORX-PLUS tamper resistant screws. The
bits for these screws are controlled, but you can get them with a little legwork. Please see our page at

http://www.lara.com/torx-plus-tr.htm

Best regards,
Lara Specialty Tools
Your one source for exceptional tools
http://www.lara.com
1.800.620.5272