help needed

[blade_lover228]

alright guys i need some help. i have a SAK that is some years old, dont know how old my dad gave it to me about 2 years ago and it has been used pretty good, but the blades and all the tools are becoming very hard to open and close. is there a way i can take it apart and clean it up? if not what do y'all suggest i do? thanks for any help.

JLee

 

[jacktrades_nbk]

put it under warm water with soap, open it close it under water a few times, use maybe an old toothbrush to clean it well,maybe some compressed air, dry it carefully and try again to open it
if this trick doesnt work, there is always good old wd-40 that will do the trick for sure
any petroleum based lubricating oil would do just fine, nut be sure to try the warm water with soap first

 

[flashlife]

As a chemist with several decades of "cleaning technology" background, here's how:

1. Avoid water (and soap) on a folder. It's too hard to get it absolutely dry so it's apt to rust...even "stainless".

2. Slosh it around in a petro solvent, WD-40, turpentine, Zippo lighter fluid, diesel fuel, etc, and work all the moving parts while the solvent's dripping off.
Avoid anything with acetone, MEK, tetrohydrofuran (PVC solvent) etc, as these are apt to attack the plastic scales.

3. Repeat #2 until everything works smoothly and the solvent drips clear...ie, all the grit is out.

4. Slosh-rinse with denatured alcohol ( not 'rubbing' alc. which is ~30% water).

5. Blow dry with a hairdryer (on 'warm' to avoid condensation).

6. Lube with the oil of your choice.

This works 'cause the petro solvents have very low surface tension and float away grit, etc but don't have any water to promote rust later. The alcohol removes all the solvent traces then the air-blow removes the alcohol.


JMH

 

[jacktrades_nbk]

As a chemist with several decades of "cleaning technology" background, here's how:

1. Avoid water (and soap) on a folder. It's too hard to get it absolutely dry so it's apt to rust...even "stainless".


JMH

if that were so true, we would have to use all of our knives in a perfectly dry environment, which never happens

 

[flashlife]

As a chemist with several decades of "cleaning technology" background, here's how:

1. Avoid water (and soap) on a folder. It's too hard to get it absolutely dry so it's apt to rust...even "stainless".

if that were so true, we would have to use all of our knives in a perfectly dry environment, which never happens

You're right, soap and water are not the 'end of the world' for a folder (as you point out).