Cleaning SAK?

J

JDX

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Mar 2, 2014
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So I have a Victorinox Fieldmaster II. And I've noticed a slightly scratchy noise when opening up the blades or other parts, and I see a bunch of dirt and debris in the area where the tools usually close into.

I've tried using q tips and toothpicks, but I was wondering if anyone had really easy and effective ways to clean it? And it sounds like dirt or sand is in the pivot areas..what should I do? Oil? Wd40 to drive out whatever moisture is in there?

I can't take it apart like my other knives so I'm just lost as to what to do. Thank you
 
I use pipe cleaners and oil. The grit should work out if you oil it several times, opening and closing it, and wiping off the excess. A spray can of Rem Oil also helps place the oil where you want it. I don't use WD40 for anything other than as a lubricant on my Norton stone.
 
I have (accidentally) found that leaving a SAK in your buttoned pants pocket and washing it with the rest of your clothes does a great job.

SAKs are made of plastic, brass, aluminum and very stainless steel. A wash and dry cycle won't hurt anything. Oil when done.

Alternately, clean with soap, hot water and a long bristle brush (kitchen sink), then oil.
 
I drop mine in an ultrasonic cleaner from time to time. Works great.

Guess you could use some canned air to blow out the debris.

A can of carb cleaner should work well if your knife is Alox. Don't know what it will do to the finish on red shield though.
 
In the Care Tips .pdf on swissarmy.com, it says:

Cleaning
(see separate instructions for the USB stick)
Open and close the blades several times in warm water until they
move easily again. Remove the battery for all models with integrated
electronics. After drying, place a small drop of oil between the blades
and the tool casing or spring as well as other friction surfaces. Never
clean your knife in a dishwasher!

source: http://tinyurl.com/jrwsn4g
 
I used a bunch of mineral oil to work junk out of the joints by opening and closing. Worked great and brought the snap back to my oldest Climber.
 
Water pick & ultrasonic cleaner, steam nozzle on the espresso machine. Blast out with compressed air. CLP the moving parts and get opening and closing reapplying the clp (mineral oil, wd40... all work) to remove any oxidation. Clean up with some sort of solvant and lube.

Bamboo kabob sticks, dental tools, floss, soap snd water, then follow up with the clp treatment.

Ive restored many SAKs that were beyond hopeless without having to open them up.

One trick I am playing with is packing the pivot area with some chromium oxide\oil mix and working the pivot to remove oxidation. followed by a steam clean.
 
BTW, plain old soap & water, while working the pivots and then oiling afterward (plain old mineral oil) is what I've done for mine. Just did it a few days ago for my Tinker that had gotten kind of stiff and it's nice and snappy again. I've done the same with my Soldier. I have an older Wenger that got had lost its snap and I did the same thing and it worked on all but the smaller blade, IIRC, but I get the feeling that was more of a spring issue than a dirt-in-the-pivot issue.
 
RX-79G said:
I have (accidentally) found that leaving a SAK in your buttoned pants pocket and washing it with the rest of your clothes does a great job.

SAKs are made of plastic, brass, aluminum and very stainless steel. A wash and dry cycle won't hurt anything. Oil when done.

Alternately, clean with soap, hot water and a long bristle brush (kitchen sink), then oil.
Click to expand...

This^^^^ really does work really well or compressed air with oil afterwards.
 
I use WD-40 on my Soldier with good luck, spray it inside and work the blades/drivers open and closed. I found my Soldier it in the bottom of a flea market bin where it had been for years (never used!), so it had some dust down inside. I also have done the accidentally running it through the wash in my jeans.
 
I use water, soap, a toothbrush, and if it's really gunky ill fill up a syringe with some simple green (1:50) and water and squirt it in and work the tools and blades clean.

Connor
 
Ive used synthetic aafe gun scrubber. Worked fine to blow out the deep imbeded nastiness. Had no ill effects. Although good old fashioned hot water and soap does just as well just isnt as fast and had to blow it dry with compressed air and wd40 to displace the water and it gets everywhere even under the scales. Use my gun scrubber method at your own risk. I havent long term tested it.
 
Warm water & Dawn liquid detergent in a bowl.
Soak for a while and then old toothbrush while opening / closing the blades.
Hair dryer to remove water,,, lub of your choice.

Regards,
FK
 
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