QUICK blade cleaning tip

marcangel · Jul 23, 2006

I discovered this one by accident after opening a bunch of packages. Often your blade gets covered with adhesive from packing tape which can be a royal pain to remove. If the package contains styrofoam one quick and easy way to remove the adhesive from your blade is to simply plunge the blade into the styrofoam. I've used styrofoam coffee cups as well and have be very pleased with the results. It certainly beats searching for alcohol or goo gone.

Gryffin · Jul 25, 2006

I've done that, too... it works well for the heavy stuff, but always seems to leave some adhesive smeared on the blade.

I don't have any Goo Gone around, and haven't had much luck with alcohol; but lighter fluid, on the other hand, just melts the adhesive away and leaves no residue.

Greg · Jul 25, 2006

If you don't have lighter fluid around eucalyptus oil dissolves all sorts of glues and gums and then evaporates.
Greg

tim8557 · Jul 25, 2006

WD-40 makes a pen that has a push down applicator tip. Very handy for your pocket, glove box, desk drawer, etc.

Ebbtide · Jul 25, 2006

WD40 and a rag works for me.
If I'm at work (art studio) Bestine Rubber Cement Thinner and a Webril pad.

marcangel · Jul 25, 2006

Basically, any organic solvent will clean the adhesive off a knife blade. Working in a hospital, alcohol pads are pretty easy to find. I guess if I was a mechanic WD-40 or CRC would be pretty available. It amazes me how many "dull" knives are actually just dirty and gunked up and in more need of a cleaning than a sharpening!

Gryffin · Jul 25, 2006

marcangel said:
Basically, any organic solvent will clean the adhesive off a knife blade. Working in a hospital, alcohol pads are pretty easy to find. I guess if I was a mechanic WD-40 or CRC would be pretty available.

True, but some definitely work better than others.

I use 91% isopropyl a lot around the shop and around the house, and used to use it on adhesive. It works "OK", but once I tried lighter fluid (as recomended by someone on here, actually), I gave up using alcohol for goo completely. It really is that much better.

erdvark · Jul 26, 2006

If you take a strip of tape and stick it down on the blade, when you pull it up it will take the sticky stuff with it (usually). This works with any kind of tape residue that isn't too old.

GibsonFan · Jul 26, 2006

Gryffin said:
once I tried lighter fluid (as recomended by someone on here, actually), I gave up using alcohol for goo completely. It really is that much better.

I assume you guys are talking about naptha (Zippo fluid). That's what I use too.
Works great but open a window and turn a fan on

The litte cans of Zippo fluid are pretty cheap and will last a long time.

Charcoal lighter fluid would probably work but it's even stinkier and kind of greasy; I wouldn't recommend it. I have used charcoal fluid as a honing oil on Arkansas stones; it definitely worked but I got tired of the stench real quick.