How to replace Vic scissores spring?

Joined
May 13, 2008
Messages
111
What technique do you use to install a scissors spring on a Vic. I have a Vic Craftsman, purchased in 1974, the scissors spring broke in '98. I ordered a new spring and have been trying off and on for the past decade to install that spring. LOL. I know there must be a simple technique that I am not aware of. Cannot get the loop in the hole!!:mad:
 
depending on where you are in the pacific NW you can bring it to excalibur cutlery they have a tool designed just for doing that and the spring if you dont have one is pretty darn cheap.
 
depending on where you are in the pacific NW you can bring it to excalibur cutlery they have a tool designed just for doing that and the spring if you dont have one is pretty darn cheap.
And if you get them to do it take your camera with you to video it.
Or at least take a pic of their spring installing tool. please.
:)
I've replaced two vic scissor springs.
I clamped the scissor blade (open) onto a flat surface. Then pinched the tiny circular part of spring slightly with needlenose pliers while setting it in its little slot. Also had a tiny little hammer to tap the spring fully in place when i finally managed to get it in there a little bit.
Each installation took a couple of fiddly hours.
Both were older vics with scissors blades that could be removed (had screws instead of pins).
With the blade of the scissors out of the way its a little less fiddly to do.

Basically the whole process is try and try again, and again and again and again....
Factor in a certain % of the time for cursing under your breath and likely very audible cursing as well.
:D
A very fiddly procedure, at least it was for me.

I'm sure somebody here will come up with an obvious and simple method that will make me go "D'Oh why didn't i think of that".
There are lots of really handy/smart people here at bladeforums!
:thumbup:
 
And if you get them to do it take your camera with you to video it.
Or at least take a pic of their spring installing tool. please.
:)
I've replaced two vic scissor springs.
I clamped the scissor blade (open) onto a flat surface. Then pinched the tiny circular part of spring slightly with needlenose pliers while setting it in its little slot. Also had a tiny little hammer to tap the spring fully in place when i finally managed to get it in there a little bit.
Each installation took a couple of fiddly hours.
Both were older vics with scissors blades that could be removed (had screws instead of pins).
With the blade of the scissors out of the way its a little less fiddly to do.

Basically the whole process is try and try again, and again and again and again....
Factor in a certain % of the time for cursing under your breath and likely very audible cursing as well.
:D
A very fiddly procedure, at least it was for me.

I'm sure somebody here will come up with an obvious and simple method that will make me go "D'Oh why didn't i think of that".
There are lots of really handy/smart people here at bladeforums!
:thumbup:

LOL!! tholiver, I think you probably got it right, I'll have to be relentless and curse the loop into the hole, as I have done in the past with most of my other fiddly jobs.:D
 
The Victorinox tool is just a punch with a little tit on the end that goes in the loop and a small anvil with a clamp on it for the scissors. Theres also a little punch to make sure the hole is cleaned out well before installing the new spring.

If you lay the scissors on an anvil or piece of metal and put the loop of the scissors on the hole, it will usually go right in with light tapping from a ball peen hammer. If the loop gets bent out of shape, it might make it really difficult.
 
The scissors spring hole appears to be tapered. You want to set the spring into the "big" side. It also helps to lightly chamfer the edge of the hole.
I have had pretty good results using pliers (beryllium copper that do not mar) to set the spring. Scibeer's method probably is better. His work speaks for itself.


--Mike L.
 
I once had a spring in a Classic replaced at a local knife shop franchise that has since closed; the guy behind the counter used a needlenose pliers and it seemed to take him about a minute to take out the broken part and replace it. Too bad I did not pay too much attention. :(
Jim
 
Guess What?? No! Couldn’t have!! I must have scared that spring, and it jumped right into that hole to escape me! LOL! After all this time I did something different, and the difference made it easy. After seeing the post by “James Y.” I decided to get serious, take my needlenose, and squeeze that loop into that hole. I used the same old spring that I ordered 10 years ago, still no luck. I, recently had ordered half a dozen more springs, so out they came, I eyeballed all of them. One had a smaller loop than the rest, I pulled it from the little bag, laid it across the hole and squeezed it in with the needlenose. Had to do a little finagling and body English, and finally cursing. That did it! POP! Took off my needlenose, and the job was finished. Wow! About 60 seconds, with the right spring. The only difference in size was the loop. Thanks Gentlemen, for all those ideas.:D
 
Yep, that's where I got mine too. I used to just use chanelocks and honestly, it almost faster that way. You have to get the loop just so and it presses right in.

But the kit is nice and you'll have all the springs you need for a long while. I can't believe it only goes for $36. The tools are pretty nice and the little anvil looks like it wouldn't be cheap to make. I'm sure I saw these on some of the euro sites for over $100 not long ago.
 
The kit has been ordered! Thanks much, to all you Gentlemen. What could I have done without the Blade Forum and SAK community??:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::D
 
Back
Top