Cleaning

Good day all. Just picked up these and the mech is a bit finicky. Aside from ultrasonic. What are people using for cleaning? I was thinking boiling water. Seems fairly safe then using a light penetrating lube or gun lube. Any advice? Thanks,

Brettmalcolm wrote: ↑

Jan 20, 2025

Good day all. Just picked up these and the mech is a bit finicky. Aside from ultrasonic. What are people using for cleaning? I was thinking boiling water. Seems fairly safe then using a light penetrating lube or gun lube. Any advice? Thanks,

A very simple way yet some might frown on it is brake cleaner. Spray them down then blow them out with an air nozzle or just let them dry. Then oil them very well. I’ve done several times. Ron J

That sounds like a good idea to me. Great at degreasing the old nasty out. What oil are you using?Thanks. 

Carbie cleaner works.

I use PMA Brake and Clutch cleaner to clean the insides of cuffs. I chose it because it is a good general solvent and it states that it leaves no residue. So since it goes in and evaporates and leaves none of it's own residue, but is a good solvent (even for sticky labels), I use it whenever I get old cuffs to clean out gunk and old lubricant, before re-lubricating with a lubricant of my choice.

I use PB Blaster and I’ve had very good luck with it because it will remove grease and other contaminants and leave the finish largely intact as it was.

Spencer

Brettmalcolm wrote: ↑

Jan 20, 2025

That sounds like a good idea to me. Great at degreasing the old nasty out. What oil are you using?Thanks. 

I use this stuff called CLP clean lube and protect. It’s not expensive and you can find it at most Walmart. But there’s many different lubes and oils. By the way, that’s a nice looking Maltby you got and with the original key. Ron J

rejones68 wrote: ↑

Jan 21, 2025

Brettmalcolm wrote: ↑

Jan 20, 2025

That sounds like a good idea to me. Great at degreasing the old nasty out. What oil are you using?Thanks. 

 But there’s many different lubes and oils.

It's not every day you hear that old line.

For lubricating handcuffs, I mostly use WD40 Specialist Dry PTFE or as it's sometimes marketed as WD40 Specialist Dry Lube. It sprays in wet and evaporates to leave a fine teflon dry powder lubricant. The benefit is it does not attract dirt, dust and debris and doesn't let such things stick and clump. But sometimes on black oxide cuffs or old old cuffs I will use the WD40 Specialist High Performance with PTFE, to get an actual oil inside it to help against the potential for rusting problems.

This stuff works wonders as well. Ron J

Usually, i use a mix of a 5w30 engine oil and a red Lithium grease. 50%-50%. That mix does a very good job.

As a penetration oil, I do prefer just a virgin Mobil 1, 5w30. The same things for all of my regular and collectible firearms. I can guarantee it won't dry, it will stay on. Unfortunately, I've been using that treatment only for a decade only. Maybe little bit over. It works for me, my cars and my trucks love that to.