Leatherman rust?

samhain73

samhain73

Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
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My Leatherman xti has rust inside all of the attachments, and thers no way to take it apart and clean it out. I tried soaking it in wd40 then oiling it, but its still really gritty and has some pitting. I was wondering if anyone knew if Leatherman would clean it up under warranty, or if I just deal with it?
 
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You might try working some dental floss between the implements to get some of the grit out.
 
Try spraying it with pinpoint nozzle of WD40, then soaking in denatured alcohol or gasoline, then use a hair dryer to dry it and then using a needle or other slender object, and dribble some Militec 1 in there.
Hi Stormdrane !
 
Soak it in mineral oil for a few days and then blast it with shop air.Eithr that or send it back for a new one.I'm sure they will give you one.I do't thin they would clean it up, they would just replace it.
 
samhain73 said:
My Leatherman xti has rust inside all of the attachments, and thers no way to take it apart and clean it out. I tried soaking it in wd40 then oiling it, but its still really gritty and has some pitting. I was wondering if anyone knew if Leatherman would clean it up under warranty, or if I just deal with it?
Click to expand...

If you don't want to send it in you can get a couple of these to take it apart. It has 5 and 6 point bits.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93388
You will probably need two. One bit to hold, the other to turn.
 
I had a Leatherman rust up worse than I've ever seen a knive, despite no abuse at all to cause corrosion, and very little use at all. I should have sent it in, but instead I just threw it away and bought a Swisstool. Couldn't be happier, really.
 
I would break the tool down with the bits that soleil recomends and use a solvent type cleaner, like Hoppes#9 + a wire brush. See how she cleans up.
 
There have been several Leathermen in my collection from different periods of manufacture over 12 years, including PST, Super Tool, Micra, CS4, Core, plus others I no longer own. All have been used, some more than others, wiped down when wet or dirty and treated to an occasional shot of WD40 or machine oil, normal care for my tools. None have developed any rust whatever.

I live in a moderate climate, which can get seasonally humid and wet, but the multi-tools are not normally exposed to sea air or other corrosive environments. Apparently, some owners are in a similar situation and their tools get rusted anyway. This is perplexing :confused:

Are some Leathermen more rust prone than others? I suspect that dissimilar metals in the Charge might create galvanic activity leading to oxidation, but that is only speculation and only about one model. I wonder what the rusting tools have in common, other than than being Leatherman products.
 
I've got a Leatherman Wave, an older model and I love it, but it does have some rust/staining issues. Nothing bad enough to keep it from functioning, but annoying all the same. Leatherman's customer service is top notch though. I'd give them a call if it bugs you.

GregB
 
Get an old toothbrush, some toothpaste and load up the pivots and scrub the tool down. This will remove the rust and any seized/clogged lubricants.

Dry it in front of a fan or on top of a heater, oil and you'll be good to go.

Does anyone actually own the Harbor Freight set? I'm fairly certain it doesn't have the 5-lobe Torx ++ bits but can't find a definite answer. However, if your Charge is new enough it will have the 6-lobe Security Torx bits that are easy to find.
 
You might also try scrubbing the Charge with a toothbrush loaded with Flitz. That will definitely remove any residual rust that the bristles on the toothbrush can reach.

The only way (unless you take the Charge apart) to remove the grit is too soak and thoroughly scrub the joints.

If you want to take apart and thoroughly clean the Charge, I'd suggest taking some photos of the Charge as you disassemble it. The photos will be a helpful reference when you try to reassemble it.

As pointed out by spoonrobot, you may need a torx plus (five lobe) bit to disassemble the Charge if it's an early production Charge. The Harbor Freight bit kit should work on most later production Charges.

Most hardware stores will carry the torx security bits but obtaining the torx plus security bits will probably be more involved. I posted a link to the WIHA torx plus bits on chadstoolbox.com a while back and I think few people had luck ordering the bits from them. But they were required to submit an explanation of the intended use written on company letterhead. They are a special order and it'll take a couple of weeks to get them. You might also be able to order them direct from WIHA.

WIHA 71650 TorxPlus Security Insert Bit IPR10
 
The toothbrush works well for me, as does a few toothpicks and sometimes a Q-tip. Depending on the nature of the grit, rinsing thoroughly with running water might help. After that, you need to dry and oil of course.
 
I have the same tool and got some rust / pitting on the scissors. Hops gun cleaning solution worked for the rust. Just wipe a little bit of it where ever the rust is let it sit for a bit and then try to wipe the rust off. It worked for me at least.
 
spoonrobot said:
Does anyone actually own the Harbor Freight set? I'm fairly certain it doesn't have the 5-lobe Torx ++ bits but can't find a definite answer. However, if your Charge is new enough it will have the 6-lobe Security Torx bits that are easy to find.
Click to expand...

I do and it has the 5 point bits, not quite the same as the lobe configuration.
 
SOLEIL, That's great! The WIHA bits were a few bucks a piece. I might stop by this weekend and see if they have them in store. Thanks!
 
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