Dirty knives..

[Angelus1781]

I think I read on here that dirt and gunk can cause frame and liner locks....well any locks really, to not open and close right. So if you wanted to completely sterile a knife, like its factory fresh clean would you just soak in hot soapy water?

Have you had frame locks that have closed due to dirt and such?

 

[kaosu04]

Typically you can take of little problems like with a little wd40 and compressed air. In extreme situations you can soak it in something like acetone or paint thinner (being mindful of what materials are in your knife, I would only submerge an all metal knife in acetone) and it will clean it out real nice. Otherwise you'd have to take it apart or send it back to get it cleaned.

 

[underaged!]

I have never hade any problems with debris+framelocks.

 

[nelsonmc]

Soap and water, sometimes sandpaper, a little alcohol, put back together and oil... Dun dun dun...

 

[MG_Saldivar]

I've had great success rejuvinating knives with DuPont Teflon Multi-Use Lube, which is available next to machine oil and other lubricants in a home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot, and at some large Wal-Marts.

The Teflon lube is in a liquid state in the bottle - it looks like milk. After you squirt it on metal or plastic, the fluid evaporates and leaves behind a powder residue. This powder can be rubbed off with a cloth, brush, or Q-tip, and as it flakes off, it takes grease and gunk with it. I've purchased a few knives on eBay that were "new in box" but had been in storage for so long that they had stiff actions due to the factory grease having become like tar. The DuPont Teflon lube, applied liberally in two or three applications, make the locks and all other moving parts smooth as silk.

NOTE - this lube is toxic if ingested, so after you clean up a knive with the lube, you'll need to wipe down the blade with soap or some other non-toxic cleaner just to remove the Teflon powder (the powder is water soluble, so the "final rinse" is a breeze).