When your SAK scales just don't click.

[TheDude]

Converted an old Timekeeper with silvertech replacement scales to a compact some tmes ago and they just didn't click. Tried G clamps and all kind of things but they just didn't seat properly. I still carried it round from time to time and enjoyed the tool. I figured maybe it was just because the SAK was a 20 year old beater that had been the go to bottle opener in the kitchen draw for years or whatever.
Recently I swapped scales from it with a newer SAK and new ones clicked right it to place on the old compact/timekeeper and the Silvertech replacement scales still don't seat right down on the new SAK. Even put it in an adjustable workbench this time.
Hard to tell in this pic. But some say it lasts longer with pictures.

[Corwyn]

Are you sure you didn't break/crack their ring when putting them in/removing them? Are you sure there are no bits of plastic or dirt in the hole?
I broke rings quite a few times and the scales wouldn't stay on... you must either dab tons of glue or just scrap the scales...

[TheDude]

What should I scrape it with? Dremel or sandpaper? And how?

[Corwyn]

I meant scrap as in throw away, not scrape... 

The issue is with the little holes where the pins click in.
If they are dirty just check and clean them.
If the little rings from the top (see below) are broken or cracked, you can either use a lot of glue to supplement for the lack of tension or just throw away the scales completely.

[firiki]

What he said ^^

I believe that if the ring is damaged the only way to go is glue. Any (practically inevitable) remaining bits of plastic aren't a good sign; I'd just remove those before trying to fit the scales back for the first time. Should no click be heard then glue.

I've done three scale swaps so far, both cellidor and nylon scales and despite the material removed I seem to have had good luck, the scales snapped back on. Only a pair of nylon scales shows a tiny gap in the middle of the knife.

Maybe others with more experience will have more info on the matter. One thing about silvertech scales, it appears they are a tad more brittle than cellidor ones but I have no first hand experience with those.

[magentus]

I find the scales sometimes lift under tension from the tweezers unless you glue them. This was happening with my Green Jelly scales until I decided to glue them in place. Now they have a bubble effect which is quite nice;

[tattoosteve99]

Essentially they don't snap in or on. It's a one way thing. The bushing has a type of hook to it. If the hole for the scale has any debris at all it won't fit properly. Also when you remove the scales it will drag out a small piece of plastic with it. You must remove this before reinstalling them. It does take a lot of pressure to push them back on, more than you think. The click or pop heard when putting them back on is from where they was before. If it's clean and still doesn't sit right epoxy is the way to go. Don't use thin glue like superglue. It will seep down into the pivot and lock up the knife. Hope this helps.

[sLaughterMed]

Essentially they don't snap in or on. It's a one way thing. The bushing has a type of hook to it. If the hole for the scale has any debris at all it won't fit properly. Also when you remove the scales it will drag out a small piece of plastic with it. You must remove this before reinstalling them. It does take a lot of pressure to push them back on, more than you think. The click or pop heard when putting them back on is from where they was before. If it's clean and still doesn't sit right epoxy is the way to go. Don't use thin glue like superglue. It will seep down into the pivot and lock up the knife. Hope this helps.

Just to be contrary, ive had a lot of success using a tiny drop of superglue in the problematic hole on reused scales.

[tattoosteve99]

Essentially they don't snap in or on. It's a one way thing. The bushing has a type of hook to it. If the hole for the scale has any debris at all it won't fit properly. Also when you remove the scales it will drag out a small piece of plastic with it. You must remove this before reinstalling them. It does take a lot of pressure to push them back on, more than you think. The click or pop heard when putting them back on is from where they was before. If it's clean and still doesn't sit right epoxy is the way to go. Don't use thin glue like superglue. It will seep down into the pivot and lock up the knife. Hope this helps.

Just to be contrary, ive had a lot of success using a tiny drop of superglue in the problematic hole on reused scales.

  I guess as long as it don't run down into the pivot area but still

[windson]

I'm going with the Victorinox policy on my SAKs: Scales do not get re-used here; only for absolute beater knives. Otherwise, I try to have a selection of new spares around.

[strmliner]

What he said ^^

I believe that if the ring is damaged the only way to go is glue. Any (practically inevitable) remaining bits of plastic aren't a good sign; I'd just remove those before trying to fit the scales back for the first time. Should no click be heard then glue.

I've done three scale swaps so far, both cellidor and nylon scales and despite the material removed I seem to have had good luck, the scales snapped back on. Only a pair of nylon scales shows a tiny gap in the middle of the knife.

Maybe others with more experience will have more info on the matter. One thing about silvertech scales, it appears they are a tad more brittle than cellidor ones but I have no first hand experience with those.

Firiki, I think you hit the nail squarely on the head with your comment regarding the Silvertech scales!   

My process for changiing scales is to heat water to just below boiling, pour in a plastic bowl, place the SAK in the water and let it sit for 5min.  Then pull it out, place a small diameter torx into to the T&T holes and gently pry one end of the scale up.  Then I use a dulled bladed Wenger I keep for just this (similar to a watch blade) to gently pry up the rest of the scale.

I've used this method on dozens of SAKs and have only trashed a few scales.  After cleaning up and polishing scales, I've successfully reused them and haven't had to use glue once...yet.   

However, last night I did three SAKs, one of which was a Silvertech.  I noticed the scale appearing to crease/crack      when starting to use the torx to begin releasing the scale.  So I stopped, added more hot water to the bowl and let it sit for another 10min.  The only other times I've had something similar happen is when somebody had glued the scales back on the knife.   

I was able to get the scales off a bit easier the second time, but I did notice the difference and had the same thought as you     ...that the Silvertech scales are a bit different and I think they're a bit more brittle than the Cellidor and Nylon scales.

I haven't tried to re-use these yet, but probably will in the next week...should be interesting to see how they work out.

[gingerman]

where do you buy the scales?

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[TheDude]

I bought mine new from Feline Vet. I think they come from swissbianco?

[strmliner]

where do you buy the scales?

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I'm still looking for more outlets, but Feline Vet, Swiss Bianco, and eBay are where I get most of my scales.  I keep trying to find more Vic 84mm scales with some color variation...but I think I'm just going to have to work on 3D printing.

[nmpops]

To add to this "Goop" works quite well. Holdthe scales on and allows you to remove and reuse the scales.

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[firiki]

Firiki, I think you hit the nail squarely on the head with your comment regarding the Silvertech scales!   

My process for changiing scales is to heat water to just below boiling, pour in a plastic bowl, place the SAK in the water and let it sit for 5min.  Then pull it out, place a small diameter torx into to the T&T holes and gently pry one end of the scale up.  Then I use a dulled bladed Wenger I keep for just this (similar to a watch blade) to gently pry up the rest of the scale.

I've used this method on dozens of SAKs and have only trashed a few scales.  After cleaning up and polishing scales, I've successfully reused them and haven't had to use glue once...yet.   

However, last night I did three SAKs, one of which was a Silvertech.  I noticed the scale appearing to crease/crack      when starting to use the torx to begin releasing the scale.  So I stopped, added more hot water to the bowl and let it sit for another 10min.  The only other times I've had something similar happen is when somebody had glued the scales back on the knife.   

I was able to get the scales off a bit easier the second time, but I did notice the difference and had the same thought as you     ...that the Silvertech scales are a bit different and I think they're a bit more brittle than the Cellidor and Nylon scales.

I haven't tried to re-use these yet, but probably will in the next week...should be interesting to see how they work out.

I was only repeating info I read on MTO, lots of people have commented on this and it seems you had the same experience. Looking forward to hearing how the scale swap went.

[TheDude]

To add to this "Goop" works quite well. Holdthe scales on and allows you to remove and reuse the scales.

Sent from my BNTV400 using Tapatalk

You mean this?

[Flint Hills]

What he said ^^

I believe that if the ring is damaged the only way to go is glue. Any (practically inevitable) remaining bits of plastic aren't a good sign; I'd just remove those before trying to fit the scales back for the first time. Should no click be heard then glue.

I've done three scale swaps so far, both cellidor and nylon scales and despite the material removed I seem to have had good luck, the scales snapped back on. Only a pair of nylon scales shows a tiny gap in the middle of the knife.

Maybe others with more experience will have more info on the matter. One thing about silvertech scales, it appears they are a tad more brittle than cellidor ones but I have no first hand experience with those.

Firiki, I think you hit the nail squarely on the head with your comment regarding the Silvertech scales!   

My process for changiing scales is to heat water to just below boiling, pour in a plastic bowl, place the SAK in the water and let it sit for 5min.  Then pull it out, place a small diameter torx into to the T&T holes and gently pry one end of the scale up.  Then I use a dulled bladed Wenger I keep for just this (similar to a watch blade) to gently pry up the rest of the scale.

I've used this method on dozens of SAKs and have only trashed a few scales.  After cleaning up and polishing scales, I've successfully reused them and haven't had to use glue once...yet.   

However, last night I did three SAKs, one of which was a Silvertech.  I noticed the scale appearing to crease/crack      when starting to use the torx to begin releasing the scale.  So I stopped, added more hot water to the bowl and let it sit for another 10min.  The only other times I've had something similar happen is when somebody had glued the scales back on the knife.   

I was able to get the scales off a bit easier the second time, but I did notice the difference and had the same thought as you     ...that the Silvertech scales are a bit different and I think they're a bit more brittle than the Cellidor and Nylon scales.

I haven't tried to re-use these yet, but probably will in the next week...should be interesting to see how they work out.

I did this this morning, worked like a charm. I used a tiny screwdriver in the t&t holes and then used a blade to get them the rest of the way off. I'm going to take the inline phillips out of the Spartan Lite, so I thought I'd use the clear scales on my Explorer that I carry quite a bit. Looks awesome now I think!

[TheDude]

Off the hook ...my good man.

[nmpops]

To add to this "Goop" works quite well. Holdthe scales on and allows you to remove and reuse the scales.

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You mean this?

Yup, that's the stuff.

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[Oclip]

Guys, I just wrote a "tyrade" on my clip ideas, on 50ft's ModSquad, Pocket clip ideas (available in UK)? thread.  Deep in the center of my part of that mess, I asked about this very question. Thank you all, acknowledged.
Being a nubie, I probably don't know when to keep my mouth shut, but I might add this from my other worldly mechanical experience.  I'm going to do exactly what you all said just above, as well as put the SAK in the freezer for 1/2 hour, and then lower just what I believe to be the nylon scale, into the boiling water for a few seconds, and see if that will give an even better result. It may not be necessary, but if I do get the clip thing going as I might like, I will need all the grip between pin/bushing, and the nylon scale gland, that I  can get.        I'm just sayin'.......
                               
                                              Thanx, You Guys
                                                                        Oclip     

PS I also called Kieth in Mass @SAK, to ask how this is done at the "factory" I haven't spoken to him yet. One or some of you "Knights" should ask for a factory tour, to get all the "tricks", someday!

[hiraethus]

Don't bother freezing the SAK.  The bushing will shrink by less than 4 thousandths of a mm (0.00015") if it's been in a domestic freezer which will make practically no difference to the fit of the scales.  And don't boil the scales either, you'll warp them.  Gently warm them in hot water instead.

[Oclip]

hiraethus; Copy all that!  Thanx, Oclip                Wonder how the factory does it on first assembly?

[AimlessWanderer]

Oclip, they are designed to clip on, but not necessarily designed to clip off again  the warming is (I believe) to soften the plastic and aid flexibility rather than for expansion. 

[strmliner]

Oclip, they are designed to clip on, but not necessarily designed to clip off again  the warming is (I believe) to soften the plastic and aid flexibility rather than for expansion. 

+1

correctamundo...