Alox scale repair

[egr3]

I am new to SAK moding.  I recently disassembled an alox Classic SD and damaged the alox scale.  Is there a way to fill in the damaged holes, and then redrill them?

IMG_20241015_203140508_HDR.jpg (Filesize: 173.94 KB)

I thought of using an aluminum or metal epoxy, but am concerned how it would stand up to peening.

I appreciate any help. 

Thanks, EGR3

[Huntsman]

Hi - Welcome to MTo and .... oh dear !!

I am not an expert - But would have thought that a metal filler compound would be OK.
Even wood fillers say that they are drillable once fully cured.

Also the new rivet holes will be through the original hole - So the peen could even help hold the filler in place
- As long as you peen really, really carefully .... which you have to do anyway for the tiny 58mm rivets.
And of course drill the new hole really, really carefully 

[egr3]

Thank you.  I am leaning towards an epoxy metal filler, just need some research to get the right one. 

[Huntsman]

Actually one thing that I know some of our modders have done (typically to fill an old hole in a foldable tool when new hole has to be drilled as it is needed in a different place - eg moving scissors from 91mm to 84mm)  - Is that they hammer brass into the hole -

Although this might be tricky in this case due to the ribbed scales - and the fact you'd need to subsequently drill most of the hole out again

[egr3]

I saw that on one of the YouTube videos, and tried it with 91mm small blade and awl I plan to put in a 58mm.  It did not occur to me to try it with the scales.  It would be tricky for the reasons you mentioned.  Thanks.  I will give it some more thought.

[nate j]

If you fill the holes with something, whatever you use will only have a small contact area due to the thinness of the scale and the small diameter of the holes.  And it would have to stand up to the drilling, peening, and subsequently holding the knife together, all without breaking loose.  Doesn’t seem promising to me.

I actually think the best solution here may be the simplest.  When you reassemble a knife with the damaged scale, leave yourself some extra pin length and peen the ends of the pins so that the pin material fills the damaged areas.  It will look a bit wonky, but may be your best shot if you want to salvage something usable out of that scale.

[Huntsman]

Great minds think alike Nate -     

I was thinking about this overnight and had the same reservations - And came to exactly the same conclusion/idea

[nate j]

Great minds think alike Nate -     

I was thinking about this overnight and had the same reservations - And came to exactly the same conclusion/idea

HM

EGR, if you move forward with any repair or reuse, I hope you’ll share some pics.

[egr3]

Thanks Nate.  After reading your post I am thinking having extra pin material to peen is the better way to go.  With the size of holes in the scales, there would be minimal filler, and the force of peening could crack the filler.  I will provide pictures of the finished product, but it may be a few days.  Thanks also to Huntsman.  I do appreciate both of you providing your advice.

[nate j]

 

 

[ComboTool]

Assuming the holes are still narrow enough to hold the pins in place (it seems to be the case for at least three, I'm not sure for the top right one), I wouldn't bother with filling them prior to peening. Once peened, you can fill the remaining gaps (if there are any) with nail polish of matching color. It holds quite well and can easily be replaced when it falls apart.

[Explorer]

i'd probably start over from scratch because trying to make that one scale work is more trouble then just picking up a cheap, used; or on sale classic alox. since one of the scales is still usable you could buy a classic alox in another color and do a two-tone type deal which could be cool.

 

modding is fun! 

[MadPlumbarian]

OUCH! There’s that JB weld metal two part epoxy, my worry would be when peening it that it would break off, so I’d peen it then use the epoxy around the peen, unless you make the peen wide enough to cover it?
And welcome!
JR

[egr3]

Thank you all. 

ComboTool, I took pins, and peened one end.  The hole in the scale, top right is a bit big, but the peened pin does stay.  I think it could work, but I think a bit more peening is needed.

I have the same concern as MadPlumbarian with filler epoxy. 

I did consider using aluminum solder as filler, but it would possibly cause more damage to the scale, and add to the frustration factor.  While it might be fun to experiment, taking Explorer's advice to get a doner Classic Alox sounds pretty good .

Thanks again for your suggestions.  I will let you know how it goes.

[gustophersmob]

Assuming the holes are still narrow enough to hold the pins in place (it seems to be the case for at least three, I'm not sure for the top right one), I wouldn't bother with filling them prior to peening. Once peened, you can fill the remaining gaps (if there are any) with nail polish of matching color. It holds quite well and can easily be replaced when it falls apart.

This is what I'm wondering about.  It the pin can move around at all, the snap will be lazy.  I don't know if peening extra material in the oblong holes would be enough to hold it or not 

[Huntsman]

Yeah - My two penneth -
It looks like the top right and bottom left pins needed a bit more material (ie be longer) to be able to force/peen more brass into the expanded holes ..... But maybe just a bit more peening would help.

PS. Also not sure what is happening with the knife held in the vice like that - Hopefully not peening - As that needs to be on a flat metal surface - eg on top of the vice!!

[egr3]

Thanks everyone.  I stalled a bit, other competing events. 

I have not assembled the knife yet.  The pins were peened separately, inserted into the holes and checked for fit.  The vice was used to hold the scale for the picture. 

It will be a day or so before I can get back to it.  Thanks again for all the comments and recommendations.

[Huntsman]

Got it - Thanks for update