If you’re a craftsman, you know how beneficial a pocket knife can be. It is essential, for instance, when going hunting or fishing. Additionally, it is useful for a variety of housework tasks.
However, only a well-kept and sharp blade cuts effectively. Folding knives inevitably accumulate minute pieces of detritus from use and storage in a pocket or somewhere else on the blade and in the pivot. It could make the knife difficult to open, close, or lock, making it deadly.
So it’s crucial to understand how to clean folding pocket knives. Let’s look at pro tips to clean and maintain your favorite tool.
1. Use Toothpicks to Deal with Lint and Gunk
To remove lint or grime lodged in the knife’s handle, open it up and use toothpicks.
It might make the locking mechanism functional again. Use a dry knife for this task; otherwise, removing the wet material will be more difficult.
2. Rinse it and Scrub it Down
Once the grime has been removed, proceed to a sink and rinse the knife’s handle inside and out with warm water. Scrub the entire knife gently but thoroughly with a drop of soap on your brush. Keep a close eye on the lock mechanism and make sure you clean it of any debris, sand, or dirt. Cleanse the handle and blade.
3. Clean Each Tool Individually
Open one tool at a time and start scrubbing while cleaning a multi-tool or Swiss Army-style knife. Clean each tool individually before closing. After cleaning each one separately, open all tools at once, scrape and clean the inside of the body. Get into corners and grooves of the inside space with the Q-tips as you clean. Thoroughly rinse the knife, and pat it dry with a towel.
4. Dry the Entire Tool and Let it Fully Air Dry
Avoid disassembling your knife to clean the insides because doing so would likely violate the guarantee offered by the majority of manufacturers. Most businesses offer outstanding warranties and will fix your tool if you ship it back to them if you have a major issue. They’ll usually fix it, clean it, and professionally sharpen the blade if you return it. Quite a good value!
5. Lube it up, But Do So Sparingly
After the knife is completely dry, oil the pivot, blade, and other moving parts. You can use a variety of lubricants; the majority are petroleum-based materials, just like any lubricant you might use for a sewing machine or as gun oil. Even though these might work the best, you might want to consider using a food-safe lube if your knife doubles as an eating utensil. Although you could also use vegetable oil, we recommend mineral oil.
6. Wipe it all Down
Dab the lubricant onto the hinges and other moving parts while applying it gently. Use sparingly; a little goes a long way. To remove extra oil from the surface, use paper towels. Cleaning the blade, tools, and the handle is a good idea to avoid further rusting. Even if your instrument is made of stainless steel, it may rust; however, a small amount will suffice.
7. Keep it Focused
Sandpaper can occasionally stretch out and damage the blade of a pocket knife while being used to clean it. Therefore, mastering the art of pocket knife sharpening is essential. A dull knife is deadly because it has to work harder to do it.
Conclusion
There are various uses for a pocketknife. The applications range from opening an envelope to slicing fruit to simple self-defence. But that will be the case if the blade is properly handled and maintained.