What should I clean my Spyderco aluminum handle folder with?

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Geonjules

Joined
Oct 17, 2022
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I have a aluminum handle Spyderco police model and it is very gummed up. Was wanting to know what would be the best way to clean this up? Was thinking about soaking it in Parts cleaner. Life cannot be taken apart either for cleaning and some very tight spaces that need to be cleaned. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Not sure about the guts but I think a scotch brite pad would do the handle some good.
 
I’d go grab a can of non-chlorinated brake cleaner. You can find it at any auto parts store. Go outside and spray all the crud out of it. I’d trust it to get it clean and not hurt it because that’s what I use inside Glock pistol frames, slides, and trigger groups to scrub them clean without actually having to scrub them much if any at all and if it’s safe for polymer it shouldn’t hurt metal. You could also use aerosol electronics cleaner and it doesn’t leave any residue. If you think that’s too harsh use WD40 and some Q tips or pipe cleaners for a gentler clean. Then wipe all the oil off if you do that. If you use one of the automotive products just put a drop of oil on the pivot because they’ll strip away any oil in there which it probably needs anyway.
 
There is metal called Galium. Similar to mercury but not toxic.

(This is a joke, don't do this. It'll literally make your handle crumble).

I'd use toothpick and compressed air for thin spaces and rubbing alcohol for general cleaning.
 
As was suggested earlier just use hot soapy water. Dish soap generally works best. Keep working the knife open and shut while submerged. Rinse with hot water. The hot water evaporates quicker. Hitting it with compressed air to dry isn't a bad idea either, but air drying should be fine if that's not an option. Shake it out.

They sometimes sell cans of compressed air at the dollar store. I'm told that they can be useful for cleaning out folders and such, but I think an actual air compressor would be a lot better.

Hit it with oil. Keep working it open and shut. If it doesn't immediately return to the kind of smooth feel that you think it should, then set it down. Let the oil work its way in. Pick it up periodically and work it open and shut. Just keep working at it from time to time. Eventually it should get back to normal. Make sure to check to see if anything around the pivot is tweaked or bent. That will obviously affect it.

Repetition can and does eventually work, so repeat the whole process a few times if needed.
 
The parts cleaner should work well.
Then, spray it out with WD 40. Dry it thoroughly, and oil it.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
The parts cleaner should work well.
Then, spray it out with WD 40. Dry it thoroughly, and oil it.
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Obviously don't do this if you're planning to process food with this knife, or at least be sure to thoroughly clean it out afterwards and then apply a food safe oil.
 
WD 40 isn't exactly "food safe," but it isn't poisonous, either.
 
I'll admit to using brake cleaner for cleaning out knives like this. Parts cleaner would work too. If you want to go gentle, hot soapy water would be the place to start, but I'm kind of impatient and brake cleaner is really quick.

If you do use a chemical cleaner, it's a good idea to finish off with hot water and soap to get rid of the chemicals, although if you aren't using your knife on food that's not as important.
 
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