Oh, this is so important-if you skip cleaning it right away, dried filler will turn your knife into a useless lump of metal. Trust me, I've had to throw away a perfectly good knife 'cause I forgot to clean it overnight. Let me walk you through the easy way.
First, do it immediately after using the knife-don't set it down and walk away! If the filler is still wet (most water-based fillers are), grab a damp rag or paper towel and wipe the blade down. Scrub gently to get all the filler off-pay attention to the edge and the base of the blade where it meets the handle, 'cause filler loves to hide there. For sticky or oil-based fillers, use a little warm, soapy water-just dip the blade in, wipe it with a sponge, then dry it right away.
If you waited too long and some filler dried on the blade? Don't panic! Soak the blade in warm, soapy water for 10-15 minutes-this softens the dried filler. Then use a plastic scraper (not a metal one, you'll scratch the blade!) to gently scrape off the gunk.
Once it's clean, dry the blade thoroughly-even a little water can make steel rust. I always wipe mine with a dry cloth, then set it out to air-dry for a minute before putting it back in my toolbox. Pro tip: If your knife has a wooden handle, don't soak it-just wipe it with a damp cloth to avoid warping.
filling knife from hanke tools
