Can use some experienced tech help. Spyderco PM2

recondoc1

recondoc1

Joined
Apr 27, 2001
Messages
595
Background: I recently traded into a PM2 and received it in the mail yesterday afternoon. The knife was in "Used but Good" condition and it appears that way all around. When I first examined it I thought it was odd that there was a purplish splotch on the scale. In my attempt to clean the splotch off, lots more purple started showing. I was, pleasantly, surprised to find that the previous owner had taken one of the Blue/Purple scale PM2s and sharpied it black. I really like the Blurple color so this is great.
I decided to remove the scales and give them a quick acetone bath to clean the sharpie off thoroughly. THAT is when I ran into an issue. I broker out my torx tool and found that I have some screws that are seriously STUCK. With the smooth standoffs and the narrow space, I'm have not been able to get a good grip to keep them from turning with the screw. I suspected someone may have loctited them with Red so I put my soldering iron on the screws for a while to get them hot. (I thought about using my burnzo torch but don't want to damage the scales.)
As I examined the knife, I can see signs that the previous owner worked on these for a while as, although not completely stripped, I do get some slippage on the torx heads and they show wear/damage.
I need some help on getting these out without damaging my the rest of the knife. I will order a replacement set from Spyderco or maybe one of the nice titanium sets for sale out there. I really want to pimp this one out a bit because the blurple scales just beg for it. I was able to get them pretty clean with soap, hot water and a no-scratch brillow blue.
Thoughts?
 
Spyderco uses red Loctite. Some come with a lot more than others. I had the same issue with mine. One of my stop pin screws was loaded with it. I ended up using a pair of very small vice grip pliers and tightening them down as much as I could. Then I used a wood burner and heated up the head of the screw. This combination got mine out but it was very difficult. Make sure you have a really good set of torx bits or you will likely strip the screw head and then you will be screwed pun intended. Wiha are the best ones out there imho. But a wiha t8 before you do anything else or you will likely strip it. Hope this helps.
Also
If it has blurple scales then is it the s110v steel version? If not then the original owner swapped the scales. If that's the case might be worth asking what he used on the threads. If its the blurple s100v version then it is red Loctite for sure.
 
recondoc1 said:
Background: I recently traded into a PM2 and received it in the mail yesterday afternoon.... I was, pleasantly, surprised to find that the previous owner had taken one of the Blue/Purple scale PM2s and sharpied it black.
Click to expand...

If it is Sharpie... isopropyl alcohol does a good job of removing it... might try that.
 
Might be worth posting this in the Spyderco forum as well. Spyderco is known for using red Loctite so there will be many others with similar experiences.
 
Could always try putting it in the freezer overnight then trying. If they still don't come out then put that soldering iron on the stand off.
 
If it's got red loctite in the threads, you wont bust that loose without heat. I'd take brake parts cleaner, electronic cleaner or rubbing alcohol on a rag and try to remove the marker that way first..
 
The person who put magic marker all over your nice knife : What a DUD !

Spyderco : red not good. Too strong. If it's regular Loctite. Red. It's too strong.

Now . . . I got that out. I feel better now. Let me take off my boots and put on my slippers and relax.

Ahhhh that's better. Another snow day / regular day off. Anyway . . . often I have less than perfect results using rubbing alc to remove marker. I don't oil my blades; maybe that's why. I wash them with soap and water; maybe that's why (too receptive a surface and it really gets a grip).

Anyway this stuff, in the can on the left, is the ACTUAL thinner in magic markers. = Xylene
You might try this stuff if the alc isn't working'. I use it to keep my markers fresh and working as well as possible.

There's no hope for my black Para2; it really is black. I like it though.

So if you see pics of my blades and they have marker tick marks all along the edge it means the rubbing alc didn't work and I was too lazy to go down to the shop to get this stuff.

Not sure if it will effect the integrity of your scales. Probably not. About the only thing that is going to is lacquer thinner or paint stripper.

 
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Be careful using solvents. Acetone and Xylene eat some materials like epoxy or vinylester, which may be used in G10. Isopropanol is safer in that respect as well as for your safety.


Miso
 
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