ST-X clean and lube.

[thebullfrog]

I know this gets talked about to death on these forums, but I just tried out a new method of cleaning/oiling my Swisstool X and it worked really well, if it is a bit labor intensive. Seeing as I had just finished up the housework and was bored I thought I'd spend more time on it than usual. Nothing special at first, just rinse it out really well under the sink, making sure to drive out any grit they may have worked into annoying places. Next is using an almost excessive amount of mineral oil on everything. Taking extra care with the pliers pivot to make sure it was VERY well lubricated to reduce wear on it. Individually oiled the pivot area of every implement opening and closing them all a few times. Don't forget the Scissors center pivot. Now work everything opened and closed a bunch of times, fold/unfold the tool, work the pliers, get it all worked in. Then I let it sit for a few min to make sure it has a chance to soak into all those little places.

Interesting note: this wound up flushing a lot of nasty crap out of the pliers pivot. I haven't used the tool in any way since i got it a couple weeks ago that would have gotten that much crap in there myself, especially seeing as I keep it pretty clean, This was dirty, black, gritty crap from the factory.

Now at this point the whole tool has a pretty heavy coating of oil all over it which I just wiped down. Since the tool was slippery as hell, I got some dish soap on my fingers and rubbed down all the surfaces, taking care not to get into any of the pivots, etc. Then with a barely damp towel wipe that all off and dry it. When I was done, the tool was pristine and more or less sterilized (at least as much as my silverware anyway) and the joints stayed nice and slippery. Everything feels like buttered silk and it is oh so very shiny again. Another tip: leave a thin coating of oil on the pliers pivots that the springs ride on. Makes the too folding/unfolding feel a fair bit nicer.

My oil of choice is some of the mineral oil they give you with electric trimmers to lube the blades with. I'm pretty sure it's just plain ole mineral oil, but it's what I always have laying around and in my experience it works really well. Being clear and odorless is wonderful, it lubes well enough, lasts long enough, and is completely sanitary, which is important for me since my multi's do occasionally get used with food.

[Magnus]

I have flushed out joints of folding knives in a similar way after getting sharpening grit in the joint, Although I used bog standard 3 in 1 oil.

[Neil]

I tend to blast out with hot water and then scrub with toothbrushes and dish soap.  Much opening and closing of tools and much rinsing, opening closing etc. 

I then rub dry, followed by either a hairdryer or if there's no hurry just sitting them on a power adapter (wall wart), then I get heavy with the oil.  Rather than rinse it off I just keep closing and opening the tools and wiping away the excess.  I always get a load out gunk out of plier heads as well, it doesn't seem to matter what brand or where you've used them.

[Dunc]

I tend to blast out with hot water and then scrub with toothbrushes and dish soap.  Much opening and closing of tools and much rinsing, opening closing etc. 

I then rub dry, followed by either a hairdryer or if there's no hurry just sitting them on a power adapter (wall wart), then I get heavy with the oil.  Rather than rinse it off I just keep closing and opening the tools and wiping away the excess.  I always get a load out gunk out of plier heads as well, it doesn't seem to matter what brand or where you've used them.

Thats exactly how I do it  Some times when I'm watching T.V I will push blu-tac into the joints to remove any crap .

Dunc

[Neil]

Thats exactly how I do it  Some times when I'm watching T.V I will push blu-tac into the joints to remove any crap .

Dunc

Top tip Dunc

[Dunc]

Thats exactly how I do it  Some times when I'm watching T.V I will push blu-tac into the joints to remove any crap .

Dunc

Top tip Dunc

I've done it for years with all my knives and tools and it works great 


Dunc

[Neil]

Any more cleaning tips  remember I know you own some long pink marigolds with feathered cuffs

[Dunc]

Any more cleaning tips  remember I know you own some long pink marigolds with feathered cuffs

lol . If you have access to an air compresser then thats good at blasting out the crap .

[Magnus]

or used canned air.

[Dunc]

or used canned air.

I had something a little more substantial in mind  but a can would be ok .

Dunc

[thebullfrog]

Wow. I like that blu-tac idea 

[Mike 56]

I tend to blast out with hot water and then scrub with toothbrushes and dish soap.  Much opening and closing of tools and much rinsing, opening closing etc. 

I then rub dry, followed by either a hairdryer or if there's no hurry just sitting them on a power adapter (wall wart), then I get heavy with the oil.  Rather than rinse it off I just keep closing and opening the tools and wiping away the excess.  I always get a load out gunk out of plier heads as well, it doesn't seem to matter what brand or where you've used them.

I clean my knifes the same except i also flush the knifes with WD40 for two reasons WD40 is good cleaner and is very good at preventing rust. If you leave WD40 thick it will become gummy and nasty but if you just leave a thin coat and let set over nite it protects and leaves a nice finish on the metal. I have read several tests on rust protecion on guns and i have done my tests and WD40 rates very high and out performs a lot of gun oils like Hopes, 3in1, Breakfree, Rem Oil and sethic motor oil in rust pertection.

Mike

[nuphoria]

Blue tac is a clever idea 

I like and use WD40 too, it's cheap and it smells goooooood 

[Neil]

Blue tac is a clever idea 

I like and use WD40 too, it's cheap and it smells goooooood 

  Addict! 

[thebullfrog]

haha ugh. I used WD on my Surge once. Never again.