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Gerber Fend For Yourself - We design the tools, knives and outdoor gear that are essential, not only for the task at hand, but for bringing back something lost: our self-reliance.
Q: How often should I sharpen my knife or tool?
A: How often depends on what you were cutting and how many times you cut with the blade. However we highly recommend frequent light sharpenings. This will ensures that your blade is always sharp. Dull blades are far more dangerous than sharp blades.
Q: Will Gerber sharpen serrated knives? If not, why?
A: Wear and tear on a knife edge is considered normal. Over the life of a knife, the edge will require sharpening several times depending on the use. The advantage of a serrated edge is that it will cut certain materials like rope and cardboard better than a straight edge and it will generally outlast a straight edge almost 10 to 1. The disadvantage is that a serrated edge is more difficult to resharpen due to the irregular grooves. There is no automated way to recreate the serrated edge after it is made. Only by a skilled hand sharpener, reworking each groove one by one, can the edge be rebuilt. The Gerber factory does not provide that service. Many cutlery shops will offer this service if you ask and are willing to pay.
Q: I own a Gerber knife with a serrated blade. How do I sharpen the serrations?
A: Use the Gerber Diamond Sharpener and lay the shaft of the sharpener in the serrations at a 15-degree angle and file down in each serration along the entire blade. When sharpening of a serrated blade is sufficient, a burr can be felt on the flat, or reverse side, of the knife blade. If no burr appears, then the angle was too small, and the work on the grooves must be repeated using a larger angle. You can feel the burr with your fingernail when successful. Finally, this burr should be removed by rubbing the back side of the knife on the Gerber Diamond Sharpener with a circular motion.
Q: Is it true that Stainless Steel knives don't rust?
A: Stainless steel sink and faucet materials have a great resistance to rust but do not have the properties for strength and edge retention to make a good knife or tool. Our products use 100% hardenable stainless steel. Hardenable stainless steel is not completely resistant to rust but rather is more corrosion resistant to rust. Corrosion can occur in the absence of proper maintenance or in continued damp or humid environments. Your Gerber product should be cleaned, dried, and re-oiled periodically to inhibit rust and corrosion; this is especially true in a damp or marine environment. If your Gerber product comes in contact with any substance that you are uncertain about, it is always a good idea to wash your blade off with tap water, dry it, and apply a light coat of oil to it. If your Gerber product comes into contact with saltwater you must flush it with tap water immediately after use and coat it with good quality oil. Salt water is extremely corrosive and will attack and destroy any type of steel. After cleaning, re-oil your Gerber product with gun oil or 3-in-1 oil. Buff stained areas with a polishing cloth or a non-metallic abrasive, such as a Scotchbrite pad.
Stainless Steel may look homogenous but it is really made up of grains of steel connected together (look at lava rock some time - it is just like that). Each grain has different properties. Rust attacks these grains. Sometimes these very small grains are not as corrosion resistant as others and they are attacked individually - it can actually eat the entire grain in thin materials leaving a small hole.
Q: The black finish on my blade is peeling or coming off? Is there anything I can do? Will Gerber Blades warranty the finish or refinish the product?
A: Black Teflon is applied to some knife blades for ornamental reasons. Continued rubbing on a sheath or pants pocket will cause the coating to wear through over time and that is considered normal wear and tear. Black Teflon can be scratched off if the blade comes in contact with a hard metal objects which would not be covered by warranty. If the black Teflon is peeling off and there are no signs of scratching or abrasion, then the coating is defective. There is no way to repair the coating. Blade replacement is the only solution.
Q: What tool do I use when tightening handle or clip screws for my knife products? How can I keep the screws from falling out?
A: The most common tool used for knife handle screws and clip screws is the T6 Torx Wrench. These tools are not provided by Gerber Blades but can be found in most hobby stores. We strongly recommend using a very small drop of Loctite thread locker when tightening or replacing any screw on a knife or tool. The Loctite will help hold the screws in the products steadfast and they won't work lose during use as easily.
Q: Can I clean my Take-A-Part Game Shears in the dishwasher?
A: Just like any good kitchen knife, these shears are Stainless Steel, it is recommended that you do not wash them in the dishwasher, but rinse them in running water, promptly dry them and apply 3-in-1 Oil or a light gun or machine oil to help prevent corrosion.
Q: I own a Gerber knife. Can I send it in for factory to have it sharpened?
A: We do provide our sharpening service that will put that factory edge back on to your knives. The charge is $3 per knife for single edge knives and $6 per knife for double-edged knives. Plus, there will be a $3 total charge to ship the knives back to you. At this time we are unable to sharpen the serrated edges. To obtain our sharpening service, send the product, along with an explanation of you request, your name, address, and phone number, and check or money order to the address below:
Gerber Legendary Blades
Attn: Service Dept.
14200 SW 72nd Ave
Portland, OR 97224
It is recommended that you send your package via UPS, FedEx, or insured mail. Gerber Blades is not responsible for lost or damaged warranty returns in transit.
Q: Should I oil my Multi-Plier?
A: Yes. Use a lightweight 3-in-1 oil. But before you do, make sure that it is clean of debris and moisture. Your Multi-Plier can be rinsed in clear tap water in order to remove most of the debris. If you still see dirt or grime in the grooves, handles, etc, use a q-tip or soft brush. Make sure to dry the tool completely than apply the oil. Stained areas can usually be buffed out using a polishing cloth or non-metallic scouring pad.
Q: How do I clean my gear?
A: Maintaining your saw, pruner, spade, etc is important. You'll want to make sure that you clean it after each use. Rinse the gear in clear tap water, dry thoroughly and lightly oil the metal and pivot ares-using a lightweight 3-in-1 oil.
Q: Can you send me a replacement LED?
A: The LEDs are not replaceable. For warranty reasons, we do not send or sell the LED and/or circuit boards. Also, attempting to disassemble your Gerber light yourself may result in lost components and compromised the overall performance, plus it may also void your warranty.
