Cleaning your cutter

[dicko]

I've just got a nice premo cutter (a palio) about a month ago. the difference between it and the cheapies I have been using is huge, well worth the investment imo! (wait till i misplace it haha)

What things should I do to look after it, keep it nice and sharp/clean??

Thanks!

Dicko

[Colt45]

I don't have a palio, but with mine, I just try and remove all the bits of tobacco and tobacco dust. The palio website states their cutters are dishwasher safe.

Link

[thechenman]

I use a can of compressed air, the kind you use for your computer, to clean my Palio and Xikar.

[PigFish]

I use Zinos. I use and old toothbrush and some toothpaste with warm water. Hell I clean my watch the same way! Let it dry or blast it with compressed air. -P

[BobLobLaw]

I have a Xikar. I blow the bits of tobacco off it, but that is it. Once per year I send it back to Xikar to have the blades resharpened. Every time they have just send me a new one that is nice and shiny, sharp and clean. Do the same with my Xikar lighter. Can't say enough about the customer service thus far.

[android]

I have a can of compressed air and I wipe the blades down with rubbing alcohol...the blades are self sharpening.

[purosdave]

Well, for one, don't use the wire wheel on your bench grinder. Don't ask me how I know.

[Wiley]

glass of warm water, add one drop of dishwashing soap, drop in cutter, leave for a couple hours until I remember its in there

[samb]

I have a Xikar. I blow the bits of tobacco off it, but that is it. Once per year I send it back to Xikar to have the blades resharpened. Every time they have just send me a new one that is nice and shiny, sharp and clean. Do the same with my Xikar lighter. Can't say enough about the customer service thus far.

x2. I love the Xikar brand. They really take care of their customers.

[Colt45]

Well, for one, don't use the wire wheel on your bench grinder. Don't ask me how I know.

[Danashan]

q-tip and rubbing alcohol once a few months. My Palio cuts as well as the day I bought it.

[Buch0]

I have a Xikar. I blow the bits of tobacco off it, but that is it. Once per year I send it back to Xikar to have the blades resharpened. Every time they have just send me a new one that is nice and shiny, sharp and clean. Do the same with my Xikar lighter. Can't say enough about the customer service thus far.

I know what my next lighter & cutter will be then.. That's unbelievable in this day and age, rarely do you hear of such great service.

[Buch0]

In actual fact BobLobLaw, your comment about Xikar has just encouraged me to purchase a new cutter and lighter from them now

Xi3 Carbon Fiber cutter

Ultra Lighter : Silver

Thankyou kind sir!!

[dicko]

thanks for all the suggestions fellas!

[Onsto]

In actual fact BobLobLaw, your comment about Xikar has just encouraged me to purchase a new cutter and lighter from them now

Xi3 Carbon Fiber cutter

Ultra Lighter : Silver

Thankyou kind sir!!

I have the ultra lighter. It's a fantastic bit of kit, I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase.

[BobLobLaw]

In actual fact BobLobLaw, your comment about Xikar has just encouraged me to purchase a new cutter and lighter from them now

Xi3 Carbon Fiber cutter

Ultra Lighter : Silver

Thankyou kind sir!!

Ohhh I just checked those out and the Ultra lighter looks really cool! I will admit, the one "problem" with Xikar is that I never have an excuse to get a new toy because they always replace my current one! Either way let us know how it works.

I use the Axia double flame. Burns through fuel quickly but partly because I fuss with my cigars and purge all the time.

[audio1der]

Please be careful when cleaning your Palio! I was "cleaning it" once, and cut my thumb badly enough that I seriously considered going for stitches. It left a beautiful half-moon shaped scar on my thumb; of course we know they're sharp, but they're deceptively sharp. Ouch.

[Ken Gargett]

i love the punch bit for cleaning, just poke out the bit of tobacco and you're done.

[sfordham]

For those singing praises of Xikar service - it is truly great customer service.

Needed to add for Palio that you do not need to send your cutter back to them for service, simply go to a shop that is a Palio dealer, hand them your old cutter and walk out the door with a new cutter in your hand. You can return the cutter to any Palio dealer and received a new one.

[smokem]

Okay, but don't laugh.

I've sonnicated my Xikar. Fortunately we have them at work. I've used alcohol (isopropyl, methanol or ethanol) and then lubricated lightly with corn oil.

[demiurgic]

For those singing praises of Xikar service - it is truly great customer service.

Needed to add for Palio that you do not need to send your cutter back to them for service, simply go to a shop that is a Palio dealer, hand them your old cutter and walk out the door with a new cutter in your hand. You can return the cutter to any Palio dealer and received a new one.

I second this post!

I shipped him a somewhat blunt Palio 2 years ago and a brand new one arrived shortly. ( no local dealers on the Island of Hawaii itself)

Infact, I have been thinking about doing it again since the cap area is starting to rip just a bit recently leaving a tiny bit of stuf hanging there.

Mark at cigarmony who owns Palio is the man (in terms of business ethic, since I dont know him personally)

Send it over to them since they have a propreietary method of blade sharpening. I think you should not be doing it at home

hope this helps.

[Danashan]

...

Mark at cigarmony who owns Palio ...

Just to clear this up - Mark doesn't own Palio. Brother of the Leaf, LLC is the owner. http://paliocutters.com/

Having said that, Mark's service is top notch. In fact, I bought my Palio from cigarmony!

[jacksfull]

Resurecting an old thread, I know, but I've made a new discovery worth sharing.

I just cleaned a really nasty double-bladed guillotine with a citrus degreaser and it was amazing. Just sprayed it on and all the caked on crud and tar just wiped away as easy as you please.

The one I used was labeled "Oranj Peelz", but I'm sure there are others just as good. 100% natural and biodegradable.

The thing I like the best is that any residue left behind shouldn't be much different than rubbing it with a twist of orange zest.

The cutter works much better now. I thought it needed sharpening, but it was just the crud keeping the blades from scissoring close enough together to make a good clean cut (pun unintentional, but relevant).

[Van55]

Please be careful when cleaning your Palio! I was "cleaning it" once, and cut my thumb badly enough that I seriously considered going for stitches. It left a beautiful half-moon shaped scar on my thumb; of course we know they're sharp, but they're deceptively sharp. Ouch.

Indeed. Keep your fingers away from the blades.

[OZCUBAN]

I have a can of compressed air and I wipe the blades down with rubbing alcohol...the blades are self sharpening.

x2 for me