Leek Maintenance?

[nmb]

I'm loving my first real pocket knife, a Kershaw Leek and I find myself whipping it out for everything. It is much more convenient (and fun) to pull out the Leek and flip it open than it is to get a paring knife to cut up an apple for a snack. So, in the two weeks I've had the knife, it's seen lots of cutting action.

My question is about maintenance. I've been keeping it sharp with steeling and stropping regularly and only once really sharpening it. But, it is starting to get a bit sticky compared to how it was when it first showed up. Plus, there's junk around the thumb studs and the top of the clip. What is the right way to clean and lube this knife (or any knife for that matter)? I'm a total newb, I don't know have any idea what solvents, applicators, lubricants or tools to use for the job, nor how to take this thing apart (if necessary).

Thanks BladeForums for all the help.

 

[screwthe49ers]

Keep it sprayed out w/ a can of compressed air. About once a month should do the trick. Every time you spray, while the blade is open put 3-4 drops of Mystery oil at the blade pivot. You can find it at Wal-Mart. Also, those tiny packages of different lubes they sell at Auto Zone, Advance Auto, etc also work great.

 

[SPXTrader]

nmb, there are two different ways you can free up the action and clean your Leek. The first is to liberally spray the pivot area with WD-40. That should remove most of the lint/gunk that builds up around the pivot. Let it dry, and put a drop or two or oil (Hoppes #9, Super Lube, etc.) or apply a dry lube like Mil-Tec. Work it down into the pivot and wipe the knife down. WD-40, if enough of it gets into the torsion bar chamber, will start to dissolve the grease that's in there. You might, and this is a very slight chance, get a little rattle in there. If this happens, go to method 2:

Open the blade, and using a #6 torx, remove the handle screws. Remove the pivot screw with a #8 torx. Take the knife apart, clean the PB washers, pivot, pivot area on the blade and check the torsion bar cavity to make sure there's a dab of grease in there to keep it lubed and quiet. After polishing and cleaning everything up, lube the parts and put it back together! This is really easy, and shouldn't give you any problems.

You can remove the clip for cleaning or reversal with the #6 torx head, too. You can find a torx set for cheap at any big box store or auto store, or Kershaw makes an excellent one. Here's the link for the tool on Kershaw's site. They are available from most any Kershaw dealer.

It's a piece of cake!

 

[svrider3]

screwthe49ers,

Then it needs to be in the for sale sub. Your risking an infraction
posting here..........Heads Up!!

Might want to edit your post.

 

[riffraff]

While WD-40 will certainly clean out the pivot, I'd suggest CLP (Cleaner Lubricant Protectant) over WD-40. Why? If any WD remains, it will eventually gum up (nasty!). CLP will not.

Another cleaner that would probably work well with a complete tear-down, brake cleaner...though I've never tried it, and it could conceivably mar some finishes. Use at your own risk (but report back to us!).