How do I remove my Ratmandu Scales?

bpiatt

bpiatt

Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
644
I am curious if its possible to remove and re-attach the handle scales on my Ratmandu and what tools it would take to do so. Thanks everyone!

-Ben
 
Very Very Very Carefully. It can be dangerous....
Most people drill out the fastners.
You could send it to the Swamp, and have them do it. They know how.
 
azwelke said:
Very Very Very Carefully. It can be dangerous....
Most people drill out the fastners.
You could send it to the Swamp, and have them do it. They know how.
Click to expand...

Ah ok, I wasnt sure if there was anyway to reuse them. Guess its going to have to go on the drill press. I am thinking of removing the scales, stripping the coating off the blade and then re-attaching them using screws so I can remove them with ease at my leisure.

Thanks man!
 
Yep. That is possible. Plenty of threads in the past on the Busse forum on how-to. One within the last 3 weeks or so. IIRC, it's a 1/4" drill bit to drill em out.
 
If you do drill them out, PLEASE use a vise. One of our members got a rather nasty injury from a spinning blade. The vise is cheap, emergency rooms are expensive. :eek:
 
FWIW, the blade can be stripped while leaving the handles on with absolutely no damage to the handles... just so you know :)
 
I have stripped quite a few blades and I always use pure acetone that I have access to through work. I soak them for about 3 hours and then it just peels away effortlessly. Im not sure what kind of havoc acetone would unleash on my beautiful handle scales, but im scared to find out. I would much rather remove the scales prior to the acetone bath. Plus, I think it would be nice to have the option of removing the scales for cleaning purposes, and I am thinking of making some of my own scales...something ive never done before.

And I will definitely use a vice, im not dummy ;)...even though my wife says different.
 
The fellow that tried to remove his hand is a pretty bright fellow, just didnt think it through that day I guess.

You'd be surprised at how many people dont think about the most basic of safety issues in the shop. I've caught myself many times with sleeves down at the grinder and getting my long old beard a little too close to the belt sander, it would be interesting to explain why my nose is a little shorter. :eek: :p
 
Good paint stripper will remove the coating in about 5 minutes.
 
Paint stripper wont affect the scales. I've stripped quite a few and none showed ill effects.
 
leatherman said:
Paint stripper wont affect the scales. I've stripped quite a few and none showed ill effects.
Click to expand...

what brand stripper do you use? i wonder is a certain brand would hurt the scales yet a different brand will not. it would be nice saving the work of removing the scales. I guess I could live not having the easily removable.
 
Just a heads up, the finish under the coating is NOT nice. It'll take quite a bit of work, especially if you don't have a belt grinder/sander.

I used the spray can kind, I believe klean strip was the brand.
 
I used some aircraft stripper on my SAR warden (yellow G-10 scales) and it did affect the color of the scales slightly, they look almost sun bleached.
 
leatherman said:
If you do drill them out, PLEASE use a vise. One of our members got a rather nasty injury from a spinning blade. The vise is cheap, emergency rooms are expensive. :eek:
Click to expand...

I remeber that, the pictures were horrifying.
 
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