UFO Lame by Wire Monkey

A: The number one cause of a stuck UFO is over-tightening. It should not require much force to prevent the blade from slipping. I recommend mounting the blade with the screw through the middle slot in the blade. This ensures safety and makes it easy to achieve a secure blade. If you’d like to mount the blade off of the screw for more extension of the edge, I suggest either the Corbeau of Nux models as they are stiffer than the other UFO models. Also, keep your UFO well oiled. Any oil that will not go rancid is fine. I soak them overnight in food grade mineral oil before shipping, but the paper wrap inside wicks much of the oil away. I highly recommend a good oil bath to preserve the wood, prevent warping and prevent the UFO from sticking. Wipe off your blade before installing it in your UFO. The Astra blades come with a slightly gummy residue on them-to keep them enclosed in their wrapping. Just wipe it off with a damp towel and you’re ready to go! Try to avoid closing your UFO if there is flour residue in between the two halves, this can turn into a kind of glue, and can result in a stuck UFO as well.

A: A good oil bath when the wood starts to appear dry. If the UFO is not well oiled and gets wet, the wood may warp. If there is flour in the engravings, you can use a stiff bristle nylon brush, like an old toothbrush or our fine brass wire brush, dip the brush in the oil and work out the flour while working in the oil. We suggest using our food grade fractionated coconut oil, as it is not petroleum based, but any oil that will not go rancid is fine. Give the UFO a good soak, overnight is fine. It will darken and look beautiful! Make sure to wipe off any excess oil once the UFO has been fully soaked, and do not wash with water, as it will result in the wood warping.

Check out this helpful video detailing how to clean the UFO