How To Clean A Swiss Army Pocket Knife

Fabry Beroplike · Friday, November 19, 2021

How do you guys maintain your Swiss Army Knife? 28373

How do you guys maintain your Swiss Army Knife?

Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?

Do you oil the blade?

How do you guys clean it the blades?

How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?

How do you dry it?

What oils do you use?

etc..

Oh, and on a side note, do you guys just let your SAK blades and tools just snap back when closing? or do you guys ease it back in? thanks

« Last Edit: November 10, 2010, 05:42:29 AM by knowsnotools »

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If my SAK is very dirty by falling in mud or soil, caked on goo or something, I wash it with Dawn and an old toothbrush. It works just fine. I then dry it by hand and blow it out with canned air or an air compressor. I then spray it down with WD-40 to get any left over water and to add a light lube. I then wipe off the access lube and all is well again.

Here's how I do it. YMMV. . .

Q: Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?
A: No. And I would stay away from WD 40. It dries to an ugly, gummy mass that collects dirt. I use mineral oil to lubricate the pivots and joints.

Q: Do you oil the blade?
A: No. The steel is very resistant to corrosion.

Q: How do you guys clean it the blades?
A: Dish soap and water.

Q: How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?
A: Rinse it out under the tap, clean with toothpicks, folded paper, dental floss, whatever works for you.

Q: How do you dry it?
A: Blow dryer - but not too hot. I also leave it out for a few hours, sitting with the tools open, to dry.

Q: Do you guys just let your SAK blades and tools just snap back when closing? or do you guys ease it back in? thanks
A: I prefer to ease the blades in. They can over travel and hit the liners or springs and dull the end of the blade. In a pinch, if the situation requires one hand closing, I'll let it snap.

Q: Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?
A: No, I use "Inox" brand oil, but mineral oil will suffice.

Q:Do you oil the blade?
A: This is not necessary since the blade is SS. Oil will just collect dust and dirt.

Q:How do you guys clean it the blades?
A: I find that gunk and crud can be classified in a couple types. Sticky(tape residue, glue, food, etc.) and dry dirty stuff(dirt, drywall chalk, dust, etc.). First I use a razor blade to gently scrape any hardened debris and then I use either water or Windex to clean the surface. If its sticky I use either 99% alcohol on a rag or you can also use WD40 since it removes sticky stuff really good. I also use a wooden toothpick to scrap debris out of the inside and a nylon bristle brush on the joints and corkscrew to remove general debris and dust.

Q:How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?
A: Rinse under water then dry thoroughly and oil the joints. If it needs longer soaking use only warm or cool water. DO NOT use boiling hot water as it can damage the scales and possible cause other problems. Remember, heat causes metal to expand. I do soak toothpicks and tweezers in boiling hot water to disinfect and sterilize them. I have had no problems doing that.

Q:How do you dry it?
A: With a towel and or air canister. Avoid the hair dryer since it uses so much heat.

Q:What oils do you use?
A:"Inox" branded or mineral oil.

Q:Oh, and on a side note, do you guys just let your SAK blades and tools just snap back when closing? or do you guys ease it back in?
A: I like the sound of a good snap shut so unless I have a problem with a knife I let it snap.

More cleaning tips;
http://sakfan.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-have-cleaned-so-many-swiss-army.html
http://sakfan.blogspot.com/2008/04/here-is-another-example-of-cleaning-and.html

« Last Edit: November 10, 2010, 07:00:36 AM by stressmaster5000 »

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- How do you guys maintain your Swiss Army Knife?

Simple as it gets.

- Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?

No, I never needed it.

- Do you oil the blade?

In fact I have an Victorinox Oil for knives in driver, but I use it very rarely, nearly never.
I prefer water or soap water and "paper cleaning".

I use the oil only rarely – when buying an used knife and there is a lot of mud, then I use oil to loose the blades. With oil it gets sometimes quicker than with water.

- How do you guys clean it the blades?

"Paper cleaning". I just tear/cut a piece of paper, fold it several times till it gets the thickness of the blade/layer and dig out with it the dirty from layers or near the places where blades open and close.

For me it is enough – no need of oil.

A years ago I was very curious what method of knife-cleaning use other people. I read a lot of it. It was all about buying different stuff to clean the SAKs etc. etc. And I was a little bit mixed of it. So I thought of my own method and "developed" this "paper-cleaning" – simple, cheap and possible everywhere – a piece of paper you can find nearly everywhere – in pockets, a piece of ticket etc.

- How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?

Water, or what is near by hand.

- How do you dry it?

Simple – open the blades and let it dry.
Or I hold the knife firm in hands (open the corkscrew for secure) and shake the small drops of water by quick waving with it (how to describe it?). And then use the paper-method to dry the knife.

- What oils do you use?

I bought an original Victorinox oil – but use it very rarely. Water and drying is enough for me.

- Oh, and on a side note, do you guys just let your SAK blades and tools just snap back when closing? or do you guys ease it back in? thanks

Theoretically I never had any problem by Victorinox knives to snap the tools / blades (closing with one hand) – 91mm, 93mm, 111mm – exept one Farmer (woodsaw). But I prefer to close the knife blades and saws with both hands – the knife deserves it (Other tools (no-sharp-tools) openers, screwdrivers, corkscrew etc. I close by snapping - ). Wood saw on 120mm Wengers I close ALWAYS with both hands – it has tendency easily snap with its teeth on liner. OH-blades I close with one hand – it does not have a strong spring.

- etc..

On Celidor models I sometimes use the teeth-thread to get carefully the dirty from under the celidor-scales.
I use the wooden tooth-pick with a small piece of cotton to clean the T+T-holes when it is needed.

Cleaning of the SAK developed for me for a kind of game or ceremony. (?) (something like japanese drinking of tea? )

If you like it – then you can make a science of it – it is your decision. I like this ceremony simple.

I – for example - don´t like cleaning in washing-up machine and other "hi-fi" cleaning methods.

How do you guys maintain your Swiss Army Knife?
I clean it when needed, and keep it sharp.

Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?
I have a small bottle of "Victorinox Multi-Tool Oil" Cheap and seems to last forever. I use this from time to time

Do you oil the blade?
No

How do you guys clean it the blades?
I rinse it off with tap water after use, and wipe it off with a microfibre cloth. Most of the time this gets the job done.

How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?
Running tap water if available, and if it already dried, soak it with water, rinse it off, use a (tooth)brush, toothpicks, and paper towels. Haven't tried that yet, no need so far. But toothpicks work well for getting rid of all the stuff that collects inside after a time of pocket carrying a SAK.

How do you dry it?
Paper towels and letting it dry at the air.

What oils do you use?
see above

Oh, and on a side note, do you guys just let your SAK blades and tools just snap back when closing? or do you guys ease it back in? thanks
I like to let it snap back for the last few cm. If it would harm the tools it would be a warning in the manual.

It's a tool, and I use that tool. I care for the tool, but I don't worry about it too much :pok:

Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?
No. I use nano-oil ATM but was perfectly happy with 3-in-1 before that.

Do you oil the blade?
I've never felt the need.

How do you guys clean it the blades?
Mostly just a quick wipe with a paper towel. If there's stuff in-between the liners etc, I find that a wooden coffee stirrer (Starbucks etc) can be whittled into handy shapes to really dig stuff out. A kiddies paint brush (thick and blunt-ish) is great for getting lint out of the liners.

How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?
As most folks here it's just a case of some warm water and some dish soap. Soak for a little bit and then open and close each tool a few times to check there's nothing grinding.

How do you dry it?
Blot dry with a paper towel and then leave out on a sunny windowsill, tools open and resting on yet another paper towel. Or, I nick my wife's hair-dryer and use that.

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Try not to be the person who blunders around and causes everyone else to get out the way. Everyone else thinks you're a utter...

I'm with Turnstone: the Victorinox multi-tool oil is great for lubrication. It's also food safe so that's a plus if you use your SAK for food preparation So no WD 40 for me, except maybe for removing sticky stuff.

There are different opinions on putting your SAK in the dish washer by the way. Victorinox advise against it

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You should seriously visit vicfan.com. All the hoopy froods are doing it.

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You should seriously visit vicfan.com. All the hoopy froods are doing it.

The oil I use is one found in musical instrument stores. It is "key oil" for woodwind instruments, used to lubricate the moving bits on clarinets, oboes and the like. Works great on a SAK!

What do I do?

Absolutely nothing.

Just wash off any cack that gets on it as I go along.

What do I do?
Absolutely nothing.

Just wash off any cack that gets on it as I go along.

What if it falls in the toilet?

That literally would be a case of removing cack as I went along :rofl:

to clean: only hot tap water and nylon brush dry with soft cloth
oil: mineral oil
:cheers:

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custom swiss army knives

The Quote button is soooo 2009

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You should seriously visit vicfan.com. All the hoopy froods are doing it.

Soap and water and old toothbrush if it gets real dirty, air dry, then oil all the joints with Ballistol. Don't really oil the sides of the blade ect. as they don't seem to rust anyway, but do oil all the moving parts as I figure it reduces wear.

for knives i don't use, i oil them well with ballistol or vic oil and keep them in their boxes. for what i carry, i will clean it with soap and hot water from time to time, and put very little ballistol in the pivot.

Do you use WD 40 on the pivots or joints?

WD 40 dries to a gummy mess. Do not use Wd40.

Do you oil the blade?

nope.

How do you guys clean it the blades?

for spot cleaning: rubbing alcohol.

How do you clean the inner SAK if suddenly falls in mud?

rinse with hot water, dry with blow dryer.

How do you dry it?

blow dryer (see above).

What oils do you use?

Mineral oil on the joints.

Oh, and on a side note, do you guys just let your SAK blades and tools just snap back when closing? or do you guys ease it back in?

Ease the tools back in. Snapping a blade shut is not good for it and also increases the chance of me cutting the piss out of myself. Speaking of which, I saw a goober snap shut his SAK blade and he cut himself pretty good.

I treated my Climber pretty much as a piece of silverware that I washed in warm soappy water with a dish rag. I was amazed at how well the metals resist rust, although I did make an attempt to dry it afterwards. I don't use any oils as this knife may be used on/near food in some capacity.

I treated my Climber pretty much as a piece of silverware that I washed in warm soappy water with a dish rag. I was amazed at how well the metals resist rust, although I did make an attempt to dry it afterwards. I don't use any oils as this knife may be used on/near food in some capacity.

A tiny drop of mineral oil should be OK and will extend the life of the SAK :tu: Alternatively if its washed pretty regularly olive oil or the like will also work OK.

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I'm not taking any more mod orders at present, sorry.

I have found some online sources for mineral oil if I cannot find it at my local stores. Thanks for that tip

I have found some online sources for mineral oil if I cannot find it at my local stores. Thanks for that tip

Most big box stores will carry mineral oil; look in the pharmacy section where the laxatives are located; you'll find mineral oil there.

I clean mine with dishing soap and oil them with Victorinox oil.

Bump!

No WD 40 for me, except maybe for removing sticky stuff.

I suppose WD-40 could be used on this Spartan:

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You should seriously visit vicfan.com. All the hoopy froods are doing it.

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