Maintanence specific to traditionals

[Guitarist7.62]

That stuff is a dry lube too, right? I've never tried it, but I've heard great things from gun-land.

How does everyone flush out the factory gunk? I feel like I don't do a good enough job there.

You can apply a little and then remove it, leaving behind just enough, but I always leave a little more then required. It's not really a dry lube, but rather a paste. You can buy it It in liquid, or just do what I do and heat it up a little. It melts and turns into a liquid then cools back into a paste.

For removing the factory gunk I use a sewing needle or a toothpick and just scrap, oil, scrap, oil until there is none left. Often times a little rubbing alcohol to flush out the oil and degrease everything after each scrapping, Depending on how careful you are and what scales you have I guess some brake cleaner would work better.

 

[Macchina]

That stuff is a dry lube too, right? I've never tried it, but I've heard great things from gun-land.

How does everyone flush out the factory gunk? I feel like I don't do a good enough job there.

Factory gunk is usual polishing compound from the final buffing phase. Most polish (fine abrasives) are suspended in wax and therefore you have to dissolve the wax. I like to flood the knife with WD40 and work the blades as well as run a twisted paper towel in the channel with a toothpick. After all the gunk is nice and loosened I wash with hot water and Dawn dish soap. I then oil with mineral oil and always try to carry a knife for at least a day after washing it, it seems to really help dry a knife when it's exposed to body heat and use.

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

It's the washing a carbon knife under water thing. I'm always hesitant to douse a traditional in water, I feel like I'd miss something and rust it up.