Need advice

[whittlenut]

What is a good way to clean hard to reach area down inside of a pocket knife?

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Toothpicks and pipe cleaners.

[Steve Warden]

yup

[jerryd6818]

And sonic cleaners but the initial cost is rather steep on that solution.

[herbva]

I suspect that everyone has their favorite approach. Mine depends on the condition of the knife. If it's really full of dirt and crud, like some I receive, with the blades open, I use a long, skinny tool like an icepick or a scratch awl and remove the chunks of everything solid that is on the inside that isn't supposed to be there. (Mostly wadded up pocket fuzz.) Then I put the knife on a pile of newspaper(with the open frame facing up) and spray the inside liberally with WD-40. I literally fill it up with the WD-40. Then, let it sit for 20 minutes or longer and then use paper towel wrapped around something thin and firm (like a thin, skinny, flat piece of steel) back and forth on the inside. Just keep changing the paper towel until it isn't coming out dirty anymore. WD-40 is amazing stuff. It will dissolve just about anything that has accumulated and not harm the knife. In addition, when it penetrates the slip joint and loosens up the rust and whatever else has gotten in there frequently the snap is greatly improved.

[royal0014]

Kroil Oil ... it'll make a believer out of you ..
http://www.kanolabs.com/


Compressed air after will get more out than scrapping ....

[XX Case XX]

Dental picks like these work very well for those hard to reach areas.

____________
Mike

[KLJ77]

I've picked up a few knives that were frozen up or hard to open. I have some 'gun scrubber' spray cleaner that I use, let that set for 20/30 minutes, then use my air compressor to blow out any residual cleaner and debris. Once I have them opened up, I do it again, repeat and rinse. I've had really good results from this process. I then spray them with a G96 lubricant/cleaner, let it sit for a bit, then lightly use the air compressor on it again. Opinions vary, different methods abound.

As always...I follow proper safety protocols such as safety glasses when conducting these cleaning processes. Safety first!

PS: I'm going to look into this Kroil cleaner too.

[Doc B]

The above...offers various good ways to accomplish the task.I too, use numerous different methods...picks, ultrasonics, etc.
I've saved a broken-bladed knife and use, in the manner, that I noted, in this post...
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=63579&hilit=broken ... aning+well

[cudgee]

All of the above, and any sort of pliable wire.

[Waukonda]

Dental picks like these work very well for those hard to reach areas.

____________
Mike

Yowwww! Seeing those picks was just like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard, instant chills down the spine!
No offense, Doc B.
Maybe, I too, should check out that Kroil oil.

[Dinadan]

I use a round wood toothpick to get stuff out of the hard to reach corners. Then I cut one of the pointy ends off and kind of shred the end so it is kind of like a brush and try for anything I missed first time around.

[TripleF]

Dental picks like these work very well for those hard to reach areas.

____________
Mike

I like that one Mike!!!! I'll be on the lookout at the next estate /garage sale!!!

[treefarmer]

When our family dentist retired, the young dentist who took over his practice gave me a big handful of old dental picks. They work great in the well of a nasty pocket knife. I have shared some during the POS exchanges.
I always ask her about old damaged picks when I get my teeth cleaned and she says “I am not as rough with the tools as the old man.” I see them for sale now and then on eBay.
Treefarmer

[Colonel26]

Kroil Oil ... it'll make a believer out of you ..
http://www.kanolabs.com/


Compressed air after will get more out than scrapping ....

Kroil is amazing stuff. Knives, stuck bolts, etc.

Not to he hijack the thread, but it’s the best stuff I’ve used to clean the plastic wad fouling in a shotgun barrel.

[1967redrider]

Kroil Oil ... it'll make a believer out of you ..
http://www.kanolabs.com/


Compressed air after will get more out than scrapping ....

My dad turned me on to that stuff, in the orange can. It freed up a rusted drill press that I thought would never work again, never used it on my knives though.

[whittlenut]

Big thanks to all of you
Sooooo helpful. Love this organization !!!!!

[Waukonda]

Dental picks like these work very well for those hard to reach areas.

____________
Mike

If anyone is interested......I was checking out Duluth Trading Co. website and ran across a nice little collection of picks. It is called Dr. Klicks Kit, $44.95 but 30% off right now.

[whittlenut]

Thanks. Very helpful info. All tips, ideas welcome.

[1967redrider]

Just looking at those dental picks makes my teeth hurt.

[steve99f]

Stack a couple of blade type feeler gauges together so their stiff enough, wrap in a gun patch, soak with Kroil. Good to go. Kroil would make an outstanding men's foo foo juice.

[TPK]

Dental picks like these work very well for those hard to reach areas.

____________
Mike

Great idea! Thanks for sharing that one Mike!

[Mumbleypeg]

Harbor Freight has sets of small picks, similar to dental picks. Cheap and ideally suited for this purpose.

Personally I've had good results using toothpicks, wooden match sticks, cotton swabs, with paper towels and soft cotton cloth.

Ken

[RobesonsRme.com]

Working in a hospital, I always had access to wooden cotton tipped swabs; hard to come by otherwise.

I also used to use crocus cloth, which I could buy from a local supplier of abrasives. It is an extremely fine grit cloth abrasive with iron ore dust as a medium.

Fold a piece multiple times until it fit tightly inside the well of the knife and work it back and forth briskly. Repeat as needed. It worked really quite well.

Charlie

[Lansky1]

Q tips always worked pretty good. If not, just wrap a rag around the end of a flat tipped screwdriver - will get most of it.