By Alan Henry, Lifehacker – April 26, 2013 at 08:00AM
You may know how to care for a kitchen knife, but when’s the last time you paid your simple pocket knife the attention it deserves? Instructables user kennethisme has a great tutorial on how to care for your average folding pocket knife, from cleaning the blade to lubricating the body.
It’s something that a lot of people overlook, especially if your primary use for a pocket knife is opening packages, mail, and occasionally cutting zip ties and other tough plastic bits. Just like a kitchen knife, the dirtier it gets the more dangerous it is, so keeping it in good condition is important. Kennethisme scrubs the blade down with warm, soapy water and an old toothbrush, and then moves on to picking the right lubricant to keep the hinge, lock, and other moving parts well oiled. He suggests a petroleum-based wet lubricant, as opposed to a spray-on dry lubricant that will attract lint or dust. Similarly, he points out that you should use a food-grade lubricant if you plan to use your pocket knife in any food preparation.
Hit the link below for the whole guide and a few more tips, including specific lubricant suggestions. He doesn’t get into keeping a pocket knife sharp, but the principles there are similar to other, previously mentioned kitchen skills. Unfortunately taking proper care of a pocket knife is something many of us often forget, and the guide makes it easy.
Pocket Knife Maintenance: Cleaning and Lubricating | Instructables