Xicar Maintenance

[gweilgi]

My go-to cutter is a standard model Xicar, but recently the action has been a tad sticky.  The blades stick when I push the button and do not open properly.  They are still sharp, so I don't want to send it in for refurb.

Does anyone have any hints or tips?  My non-cigar-smoking wifely person has suggested putting it in the dishwasher, but I hesitate....

 

 

[GotaCohiba]

Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle has worked for me in the past

The spray bottle allows for a little force of fluid

 

[Fuzz]

27 minutes ago, GotaCohiba said:

Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle has worked for me in the past

The spray bottle allows for a little force of fluid

 

Second this. I used some rubbing alcohol to clean my Palio. The amount of gunk that builds up over 9 years of use is surprising.

[cardinalfan85]

I was wondering the same thing... thanks for asking!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[gweilgi]

Thanks, I will give alcohol a try!  

One sip for me, one drop for the Xicar...

[TheLiquidGator]

Warm water and dish liquid in a bowl. Toss in your cutter and let it soak over night. Rinse and wipe. Now silky smooth.

[rascalmonkey]

forgot about this - thanks for reminding me!

[5thStarChicago]

Also try compressed air in between the blades, the housing and the release button.  Little bits of tobacco clippings fall into the body of the cutter and can jam up the springs and the mechanism.  Giving it a good old tap on the table can help jar it loose too. 

And as mentioned above,  get those blades clean! 

[NSXCIGAR]

Above advice is good--isopropyl alcohol, dish soap and water soak, compressed air.

If the problem still occurs after all this, send in the cutter to Xikar.

I had one a few years ago that got "loose" at the rivets and too much space between the blades. Sent it in and Xikar sent me a new cutter.

[gweilgi]

15 hours ago, 5thStarChicago said:

Also try compressed air in between the blades, the housing and the release button.  Little bits of tobacco clippings fall into the body of the cutter and can jam up the springs and the mechanism.  Giving it a good old tap on the table can help jar it loose too. 

And as mentioned above,  get those blades clean! 

Last time I gave a Vicar a good old tap, the little plastic mouldings on one of the blades came off.  So I glued them back on, no biggie -- even managed to avoid gluing my fingers together -- but I am reluctant to try that one again.... 

Compressed air is a good idea -- if it works for keyboards, it should work for this, too!  

Will try and report back...

[OZCUBAN]

All of the above and try a bit of dry lube on the mechanism 

cheers 

[Fuzz]

5 hours ago, gweilgi said:

Last time I gave a Vicar a good old tap,

[gweilgi]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

Oops.