Ultrasonic cleaning for SAK

carboncopy101 · **on:** July 01, 2017, 02:53:48 PM

I got some dirty saks here and i was wondering if it would be a good idea to put it into an ultrasonic cleaner. Any comments?

dks · **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2017, 02:56:56 PM

It helps

carboncopy101 · **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2017, 04:20:18 AM

Quote from: dks on July 01, 2017, 02:56:56 PM

It helps

Thanks! I was wondering if I'll have a problem with the scissors and pliers. They're the new ver, not screwed.

dks · **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2017, 03:33:35 PM

no, it will however remove the oil, so you will need to oil the joints again.

in theory the vibrations may loosen screws, but I have never had it happen

carboncopy101 · **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2017, 06:25:00 PM

Quote from: dks on July 02, 2017, 03:33:35 PM

no, it will however remove the oil, so you will need to oil the joints again.

in theory the vibrations may loosen screws, but I have never had it happen

Thanks dks!

El Corkscrew · **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2017, 10:47:20 PM

Most narrow toothbrush w/longest bristles is what I go for, the toothpick comes in hand for digging stuff deep inside and the joints. Oil-based soaps leave your knives looking shiny..

I always use mineral oil b/c it's food-safe and SUPER cheap. Vic oil is more viscous but mineral oil seems to do the trick just fine.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2017, 11:37:18 PM

I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner, and have no interest in getting one. I don't think I'd get value from one.

However, if I already had one, I would certainly throw a grubby SAK in there to help loosen up stubborn gunk if I felt it was necessary.

carboncopy101 · **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2017, 02:44:43 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on July 02, 2017, 11:37:18 PM

I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner, and have no interest in getting one. I don't think I'd get value from one.

However, if I already had one, I would certainly throw a grubby SAK in there to help loosen up stubborn gunk if I felt it was necessary.

We have one in the lab. Tried using it earlier. And wow it did clean up the sak well.

jaydar · **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2017, 04:25:16 PM

Sometimes it goes wrong

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,28627.msg495334.html#msg495334

Don Pablo · **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2017, 04:28:04 PM

Quote from: jaydar on July 03, 2017, 04:25:16 PM

Sometimes it goes wrong

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,28627.msg495334.html#msg495334

(Image removed from quote.)

Did you ever repair/mod it? $:-\$

jaydar · **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2017, 04:42:10 PM

Quote from: Pablo O'Brien on July 03, 2017, 04:28:04 PM

Quote from: jaydar on July 03, 2017, 04:25:16 PM
Sometimes it goes wrong

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,28627.msg495334.html#msg495334

(Image removed from quote.)
Did you ever repair/mod it? $:-\$

Excellent question ..... no idea I remember throwing it in the back of a drawer ... maybe I will have a dig

Don Pablo · **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2017, 04:59:19 PM

Quote from: jaydar on July 03, 2017, 04:42:10 PM

Quote from: Pablo O'Brien on July 03, 2017, 04:28:04 PM
Quote from: jaydar on July 03, 2017, 04:25:16 PM
Sometimes it goes wrong

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,28627.msg495334.html#msg495334

(Image removed from quote.)
Did you ever repair/mod it? $:-\$

Excellent question ..... no idea I remember throwing it in the back of a drawer ... maybe I will have a dig

Wild speculation here, but when you put it in the cleaner, the spring was under the maximum amount tension as it ever can be under, due to having both tools partially opened.

I heard that partially opening multiple tools at once is disencouraged due to the slim possibility(not quite so slim for older vintage springs) of damaging the spring? See Huntsmans' experience, ending up with a broken spring on a 58mm SAK after a tool was left partially open all night.
A novice's guide to Victorinox 58mm spring replacement/modding(pic heavy!)

So maybe, with the spring under maximum tension, the ultrasonic cleaner pushed it over the edge?

Another possibility is that the spring broke purely because the tools were left partially open for 8 hours, and the ultrasonic cleaner had nothing to do with it. There is prior precedent after all.

El Corkscrew · **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2017, 05:29:38 PM

That totally sucks.

Again, I don't really see a major drawback with hand cleaning. Soaking in plain ol' soapy water or oil works great for SAKs that you can't get open/have lost snap. I personally enjoy hand cleaning.

Mattexian · **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2017, 11:51:25 PM

The best cleaning I ever got on one of my SAKs, a Wenger SI, was hosing it out with the spray nozzle on the garden hose and opening it a couple of times. I've done the soap-n-water in the sink with a few others, but not to my complete satisfaction. (The Space Shuttle MC looked to have been forgotten in a drawer. Twenty+ years of gummed up oil in the joints doesn't come out easily.)

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Chako · **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2017, 02:09:39 AM

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners work great. I have one of the cheaper units with no heater, and I find it does a great job.

redmond · **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2017, 02:29:23 AM

My trusty Executive from the '70s has cracked scales so I ordered new ones - black this time. Took the old ones off and ran the carcass through the ultrasonic cleaner in soapy water, then plain water, then soaked it with WD40 overnight to remove residual water. Oiled everything with mineral oil (actually choji oil, but very similar). Looks great. Can't wait to get the new scales.

Nix · **Reply #16 on:** August 22, 2017, 10:30:56 PM

Another fan of the UltraSonic cleaners.

I use my wife's jewelry cleaner to clean all sorts of stuff, e.g. carburetor parts, and it works great on SAK's. I used kerosene with this SAK, and it came out fantastically clean.

This model cleaner looks a little small for 130mm SAK's, haven't tried cleaning one of those yet. Maybe I should get her a larger Ultrasonic cleaner for Christmas.....