cleaning pinned construction knife?

KarlMaldensNose · Dec 1, 2009

Got an old Spyderco that is very tough to open and close becuase of resistence, but it's pinned so I can't tike it apart to clean.

Any ideas?

Would it be okay to flush out completely with warm, soapy water, dry with compressed air, then lube as best I can. Or, being pinned, should I avoid the water and flush with WD-40 to clean?

Whitedog · Dec 1, 2009

That will work. Blow dry, go easy on that WD40 and any other lube you use.

FlaMtnBkr · Dec 2, 2009

I stick my knives in running water all the time to rinse them or to get sand out. I would wash it with some hot soapy water and rinse it well and let it dry or if you have a compressor blow it out. Then lube it with something and work it open and closed a bit. It will most likely loosen up some. If that doesn't work let us know as there are some tricks to getting a pinned knife to loosen up.

Bill DeShivs · Dec 2, 2009

Soapy water, rinse dry with a paper towel, and then flush with WD 40 to displace residual moisture. Dry and lube.

SIFU1A · Dec 2, 2009

Bill DeShivs said:
Soapy water, rinse dry with a paper towel, and then flush with WD 40 to displace residual moisture. Dry and lube.

thats how i've done my police model for the last 5 or 6 yrs and its working fine for me........

KarlMaldensNose · Dec 3, 2009

FlaMtnBkr said:
I stick my knives in running water all the time to rinse them or to get sand out. I would wash it with some hot soapy water and rinse it well and let it dry or if you have a compressor blow it out. Then lube it with something and work it open and closed a bit. It will most likely loosen up some. If that doesn't work let us know as there are some tricks to getting a pinned knife to loosen up.

It loosened it up a bit, but not as much as I was hoping for. Now, how about those "tricks"?

sizzler · Dec 3, 2009

I like brake cleaner. I use it on all my guns too. It will bust up grime and caked on crap that soap won't even touch. Plus, since it is aerosol it blows it out of the knife. It is also great for getting oil off of textured micarta.

The knife looks well used, was it always stiff? Is it because of built up gunk that the knife does not function correctly? Tampering with the tolerances or fit of the knife should be done AFTER you are absolutely sure the problem isn't caused by contamination.

Phydeaux · Dec 5, 2009

I haven't had to do this to a knife yet, but I tried it on some scissors and it worked quite well.

We had some kitchen scissors which were riveted at the pivot. After some time, it got junked up and hard to "sciz" the scissors. I plunked them in an ultra sonic cleaner for awhile in warm soapy water. I could literally see the gunk come out of the pivot. It cleaned them really good.

Ric