how do you clean a used SAK?

W

winkydo

Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
99
i received my first swiss army knife, a little used minichamp on the flee bay. (i should have pulled the trigger on one of the new vegabonds i keep seeing.)

anyhow, how do YOU clean a used sak? i pulled the scales off with my buck 309 pen knife blade. it's not horribly dirty, but it would be nice to get any gunk off since i will be using it for things like peeling an orange i'm going to eat. :cool:

:edited to subscribe:
 
Last edited:
Me: dishwasher, with all of the implements unfurled. Dry thoroughly and lightly oil the pivots.

Others: blast with very hot water, dry, lube.

You can use a toothpick to dig out skank which gets trapped in crevices.

Whenever I get the chance, I blast something with WD-40 as well, on general principles.
 
I buy used sak's from TSA confiscations, and I use very warm running water, Dawn dish detergent, and an old toothbrush. Scrub well, flush and dry. Done.

Pulling the scales of is not a good idea. They are snap on from the factory, and once you pry them off, it's a 50/50 shot you will need new ones, or just glue the old ones on with GOOP. I saw on a sak forum that GOOP is THE recomended glue for scales.
 
some scales are more brittle than others (age, how they were treated/weather exposure); some come off easier, some go back on easy and hold, some do not, just be careful and don't do it often.

old toothbrush and a good dish-soap work for me (and a little elbow grease). you won't get the scratches and nicks off but it should be fine.

if you need to lube (and most times you don't) use something like a little mineral oil. I personally never liked using WD40 because it's not a lube but a water-displacer (WD) and I don't wanna eat it! some do and they say it's fine (gawd bless em).

i've also read and heard some diswashers can ruin scales (hot steam) so I would never do it, but you do have the scales off!

you can also buy new scales in several colors and the implements, i.e. toothpick/tweezers/etc; I like felinvet or rotokid.

give us some before and after shots if you can, always nice to see new life in an old SAK!

Good Luck ;)
 
where do you buy new sak scales? i've been looking around the net. i scrubbed it down with some dish soap and a toothbrush and it cleaned up nicely. went to clean the scales and realized i lost the little grey plastic piece that holds the pen. looks like it went down the drain. i pulled it apart but knew it was long gone.

victorinox says they replace broken scales, does that include a missing pen slider piece? too bad they'll have the knife for 4-6 weeks. :( at least i can have them sharpen and clean it up for me while it's in to see the doctor.
 
winkydo said:
where do you buy new sak scales? i've been looking around the net. i scrubbed it down with some dish soap and a toothbrush and it cleaned up nicely. went to clean the scales and realized i lost the little grey plastic piece that holds the pen. looks like it went down the drain. i pulled it apart but knew it was long gone.

victorinox says they replace broken scales, does that include a missing pen slider piece? too bad they'll have the knife for 4-6 weeks. :( at least i can have them sharpen and clean it up for me while it's in to see the doctor.
Click to expand...


Psssst winky, think felinevet like was said. He's at sosak online. Tim is a great strait up guy, and he and rotokid can supply ypou with and mod stuff to your hearts content.:thumbup:
 
For the outside: Hot water and rubbing alcohol if ncessary.
For the inside: Open up all tools. Blow out with compressed air. Use a reamer to scrape out any stuck-on gunk, then wipe with a Q-tip saturated with rubbing alcohol. Repeat as needed. Lubricate the joints (I use Tuff Glide), check for sharpness, a final blow-out with the compressed air to distribute the Tuff Glide, and you're done.
 
I've gotten quit a few TSA donate SAKs. I've always just cleaned them with dish or hand soap, dried it with compressed air and give it a shot of WD-40. The one thing I have always made sure to do is to change the toothpick. No telling where that things been.
 
fruitbat said:
I've gotten quit a few TSA donate SAKs. I've always just cleaned them with dish or hand soap, dried it with compressed air and give it a shot of WD-40. The one thing I have always made sure to do is to change the toothpick. No telling where that things been.
Click to expand...

I used to have a T-shirt with your avatar's pick on it. Awesome.:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top