I recently started using canned air to clean out the lint and dirt from my folding knives. However, I've noticed that some of them have built up gunk in them that won't blow out. Anyone have a solution for getting that stuff out? I was thinking about cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol, but there's probably something better, eh?

I use a product called Break Free http://www.break-free.com/. It is a milspec clean/lube/protect. If I'm feeling lazy,
I'll just blow it out with WD-40.

if you disasseble it, it will be much easier....

I should have mentioned that some of the knives cannot be disassembled, a SAK for instance.

Using the tweezers frome th SAK I'll use Q-tip tops or gauze or a small piece of cloth to really get down into the SAK 'grooves' that are under the blade. The q-tip with most of the cotton removed also fits quite nicely into those grooves and I'll put some lube on it to touch up the knife. Hope this helps.

Ors:

You can clean any SAK by submerging the entire knife in warm water, opening and closing the blades a few times as per their web page . Dry the knife throughly and lubricate it with a light oil. You can use breakfree as mentioned, 3 in 1 oil, WD-40, Boeshield etc, etc. Oh and keep using the canned air, I have noticed it seems to have cut down on my knife maintenance. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Take care,
Stargazer

ASAP = Always Suspicious, Always Prepared

hot water and some brushes seems to do the trick for me. Some oil afterwards. I use the brushes from a east german AK 47 cleaning kit.

I use the compressed air can for my knives also. to get rid of the "gunk" I use a little water and dawn to cut the built up greese and the i take a small brush .I use one of my kids brushes they use for their braces. of coarse they don't use it again. its a very small brush long ang thin. it work great to clean out the grunge. then i use a blow drier to get rid of any water and 3in1 multi oil to finish the job.

I have stopped carrying my sak in my pocket because there it (the sak) fills up with sweat, pocket lint and unknown sticky type material. This makes the parts very hard to open. I have had past success using soap & water in an ultrasonic bath. Then, rinse thoroughly with clean water & dry overnight. Next, soak in WD-40 for a while. Drain, & wipe down carefully. Just be sure that you don't leave it in the ultrasonic bath for too long. Over time, the bath tends to gets hot and the water evaporates. Petrified soap is very difficult to remove. I really wish that the sak could be easily disassembled for cleaning.

I've been carrying a pocket knife every day for over 25 years now. Never had to resort to scrub brushes and solvents. A toothpick works great, the wood fibers crush down into those little slots and gets it all out. Lightly oil just the pivot pins. Work the blade back and forth a couple of times to get the oil in and then try to wipe the oil off. Wipe it good, you're not going to get it out of the pivot, and any extra will just be a dirt magnet. For the oil, I really like a synthetic, high viscosity, extreme pressure rated bicycle chain oil. The bicycle racing community is not going to risk their equipment or a race using cheap oil, this is good stuff!