Cellidor Scale Removal Made Easy

[space cowboy]

Hey guys! I just removed the scales from a Sportsman model. I removed the tweezer & toothpick by sliding a wooden toothpick down the empty channels. This popped off the first stud. I then worked a nail file down to pop off the other two studs easy as pie. I put the knife in very hot water & let it soak. I let it dry & oiled it. I then snapped on the scales & was done!

[PTRSAK]

I know too much heat can warp cellidor scales, but I have been meaning to play around with some scrap scales to see if putting the knife in hot water will soften the plastic a little and stop the bushings ripping the centre out of the bushing holes when you lever them off.
I find that the little piece that the barb on the bushing takes with it means that the scales are never a "like new" tight fit when you put them back on.
  I don't know, maybe heating (warming) them up will stop that... maybe it will make it worse.

I'll use my coffee thermometer and try to work out how hot is "too hot" i.e. warp the scales hot. And try it a bit under that temperature.

[space cowboy]

I took off the scales first then put the metal knife in hot water. I would not ever put the scales in hot water.

[J Mackrel Jones]

"Boiling water: 30 seconds immersion put a white powder on the
surface of the Vic scale which could be rubbed off, and immediate removal
of the scale from the knife slightly damaged the rivet-sockets -- the scale
stayed flat; 60 seconds: slight hole-damage and no warping of shape; 90
seconds: very slight hole-damage, slight scale warp, flattened by weighting
with a food can; 2 minutes: when scale removed immediately from knife
all 3 sockets OK, slightly bent scale straightened with food can; Wenger for
2 minutes: scale came off with no damage to the 3 sockets, was not bent.
When cool, the Wenger and Vic scales pressed securely back on the knife."
SAK Owner's Manual -  "not an owner’s manual originating with the manufacturer."