Most used saks are more than likely to be abused by their former owners... never have I found the case for brand new ones...Just pop the scales, get a peen ball hamer and tap on the middle pin than holds the back tools... tap and check often for play... be careful not to overpeen though...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Broken/bent/loose corkscrews are my most often seen damage on used ones.
I must be a lucky guy then, never had any problems with used Sak's so far. But then again i only have 4 used ones...
I hate the idea of removing scales because I feel like I'm ruining them, and buying replacement scales often costs more than the used SAKs themselves. I'm still not completely confident with the saks I've reattached scales using super glue though. On the plus side, I was able to repair a crack in the scale from the inside with super glue that was bugging me.Oh by the way, I also peened the bottle opener pivot because that also had some play. Everything seemed nice, smooth and snappy until I glued the scales back on. Then it all became very tight and unsnappy. That actually really surprised me. I'm not sure if it was because of the pressure I used to squeeze the scales back on or the glue possibly seeping into the pivot (this seems unlikely). Anyways, I'm not sure if this was the best way, but I used my new vise to clamp down the bottle opener and applied abusive force twisting, pushing, and pulling the handle to loosen the pivot. Eventually it finally worked. Now my most irritating spartan is one of my favorites!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Glue getting into the pivots is my guess...Heat/warm the scales prior to opening... I use a hair dryer to di this... Soaking in luke warm water should also do it. This should prevent the scales from damage... And should snap back on without the need for glue... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you are near the Vic Rep/Importer in your country you can try and buy scales and parts directly from them, and not on retail stores on on-line where the prices for those often border on the absurd... I always get new sets of scales every time i stop by my Vic Rep to get something, it's about €1,5 a pair (normal red 84 or 91mm). About removing scales, from experience the best way for me is to insert a long thin Allen wrench on the T&T slots (close to the slot wall) and pop it up carefully but firmly. You won't damage or marr the side of the scale this way like you probably would prying it with a blade.If i have to glue back the old ones i always use Araldite or some kind of epoxy glue type (not superglue), and only apply a very small amount with a toothpick around the inside of the scale's rivet holes. That's enough to secure the scales rock tight again when it dries, and i can take them off relatively easy again if i need to some day. Regarding the tools feeling a bit stiff (esp. the can opener) after you apply pressure to fit the scales, it's normal the first few times you open it. Just open and close a few times and it will get back to normal (providing no glue got in the pivot point's, that is...)