I recommend that every SAK enthusiast have a Wenger plier used on the 130mm category. It is a very interesting design that gives much knowledge. It is a precision mechanical
device that only the best can make. On the picture today you can see some maintenance tips for this plier. If you clean it then I recommend holding the whole SAK under warm water and use a toothbrush or a brush to clean dirt and substances. If you use some
mild soap like I do then rinse very well. Use softer brushes or medium brush devices inside the mechanism and on every place you can reach.
It is important that
after the tool is clean and dry that you apply some oil. I use the Victorinox multi-tool oil always. Some use sewing machine oil or mineral oils. I recommend food safe oils because this is a safety for food work if you need it. It would be difficult
for the oil used on the plier to not reach the other functions. This is also some of the idea on SAKs that the oil will distribute.
Remember to use the brush well
inside the plier because this is the area that usually gets extra dirty and if you do not clean then some corrosion may happen. If the griping sections of the plier get dirty and with corrosion then the grip function may become slippery. It is no need for
much oil on the grip sections because it may become slippery when you hold a device. Just oil it and wipe off!
It is important to have some oil on is the lever
arm and the plier jaw rivet construction. On the picture you can see the places you need oil. When you close the plier the lever arm will be possible to reach better and to clean. Then oil. I do not let the plier hold in this position more than a few seconds
to reach. Then on the picture to the bottom right I put some oil for the important mechanical function and remember to do this on both sides! Then move the level arm up and down in open position so the jaws move up and down. Use two drops of oil on both sides
because this will secure oil distributing inside the construction reaching the rivet and lever arm as well.
Warm
water update
How warm water? answer is no warmer than you can hold the hands without gloves under the water comfortably!
Funcionality update
It can be smart from time to
time to put a drop of oil on the mechanics and the places for oil.
If you feel that some dirt or substances has built inside between the plier jaws and rivet preventing
the proper mechanic functionality then you can use some WD-40. This you can do when or if warm water and cleaning cannot release it. Let this work for some hours before cleaning it. If you have dirt and substances that prevents the functionality then hold
the plier in open mode and move the lever arm up and down. The jaws will move up and down and the water will release it. Do the same under flowing water as well. When you after this when dry use some multi-tool oil or food safe oil this will also help release
some. It is an advantage to carry a tool in a pouch or in a pocket so dirt will not get into the SAK. Do not drop it in sand. If you use it in the outdoors make sure you rest it at a place without dirt, sand and substances. It is not dangerous for it is just
what the best is and it will give the best functionality. It is not fun if the lever arm will not move the jaws up and down. In pretty much 100% of the cases when a plier is not functional then it is because of no maintenance and oil. This is the key for any
tool in the world.
After cleaning the SAK under water some may experience that when dry that a layer of oil or remains of it are distributed all over the SAK. This
is why I use some mild soapy water two times and rinse a long time and moving all the functions open and closed. If you have that oil layer then use a cloth and clean wipe off every place. Then clean again.