Best Way to Clean a SAK

I think it's because the spirits dilute the oil. It evaporates/dries up within a few days and you've lost your lubrication. It's still been cleaned so it works OK if everything is smooth inside, if not, you're back to where you started.


I learned this the hard way; never use WD-40 as a lube on a high speed shaft :(
 
I've tried WD-40 on knives. I found it to be a very poor pivot lubricant.
 
WD-40 is a poor lubricant. After I've used it on several SAK's I noticed that it does drive out water but lubricates rather badly (the tools don't open as smoothly even after a thorough cleaning). I always go back to Tuff-Glide to lube my SAK's.

To the original poster;
Try a soak in warm soapy water then rinse it. Do this about three times then let it air dry. Use the steel wool you mentioned, green scratch pad, toothbrush, whatever to remove surface rust. If you still have some rust spots and are picky, use some Flitz or Metal-Glo to polish away some rust. Lube with mineral oil, or 3-in-1 oil (leaves a smell IMHO) or Tuff-Glide. Wipe off the excess and it's ready. I've done the above with old SAK's and they came out fine.
 
some simple green desgreaser,dry it off,,then apply some mineral oil ,,good to go,,
 
I use the same thing I use on everything else: CLP and a G.I. toothbrush after a quick rinse in warm running water to wash out the worst of the crud. The solvent in CLP helps loosen up whatever is left, and the pivots run quite nicely on it after I let it sit and soak for a day prior to wipe-down.

CLP is an excellent lubricant and retards rust extremely well in my experience. I live in one of the most humid areas of the U.S., and CLP has prevented my tools and knives from rusting in conditions I would never have expected it to.

Plus, I get it from the workshops here on post for the asking, so as long as it's free I'll keep on using it.
 
A Q-tip squashed flat with pliers makes an excellent swab for cleaning out the recesses between the liners. Moisten it with a little lighter fluid to remove old oil, stuck lint, etc. Then oil it up.
 
i put mine opened in the dishwasher, then hit it with WD40 and finish with a stringent rubdown with Q-tips, and i usually polish the tighter areas with a wooden toothpick soaked in WD40(mostly the areas where the spring meets the Tang of the tools

Cheers!

the Colonel
 
I've tried the method of rinsing in water,qtip swabbing the innards,then used comprseed air to blast water from inside. Let it air dry a little while,then lube the pivots with a a few drops of mineral oil. As I use my SAKs around food, I don't trust the "machine" lubes.
 
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