Micarta Handles?

[gdeno]

I have the micarta handles on all my beckers 2, 9, and 11 (and hopefully the 14 when it becomes availiable). My question is to keep the screws from loosening i am using red loktite on them. should I use it on the slabs themsselves also, as glue to insure they dont move around, or would that be overkill? Any opinions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[JV3]

i use blue loctite on the screws only. torque it down tight and it should never come loose.

red will be semi-permanent as it'll require a lot of heat before it'll break down. with the size of typical knife scale fasteners, you'll probably strip it first way before it loosens. try red on a spare nut & bolt first and try to loosen it after 24 hours to see if that's what you really want.

 

[dawsonbob]

I have the micarta handles on all my beckers 2, 9, and 11 (and hopefully the 14 when it becomes availiable). My question is to keep the screws from loosening i am using red loktite on them. should I use it on the slabs themsselves also, as glue to insure they dont move around, or would that be overkill? Any opinions are welcome. Thanks.

Well, personally — and this is just me — I would have used the blue Loktite so I could get them back off if I need to someday. Blue holds very well, but you can un do the bolt when necessary. Red is forever.

No, I certainly wouldn't use red Loktite to glue the scales to the knife. If you have them screwed down tight, then they're not going anywhere.

 

[MikeyJ]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't seem to have much of a problem with my screws loosening up too much. I've got micarta scales on both my BK7 and BK2. They seem to stay tight enough...

 

[shaving sharp]

I am in charge of weapon maintenence for about 50 weapons. Now, I understand that the gun grips are not going to take as much inpact as the handle slabs but what I use to keep screws from backing out on expensive weapons is clear nail polish. I works really well and we put alot of rounds thru our weapons. I would never use locktite on a gun screw because I do not want to have to drill it out if I cannot get the locktite (no matter what color) to release.
I got this tip from a Guns and Ammo magazine many years ago and I am very satisified with the results. Handle slabs on a big chopper knife may be a different story. I would probablly epoxy the slabs before I would locktite the screws.

 

[midnight flyer]

... but what I use to keep screws from backing out on expensive weapons is clear nail polish. I works really well and we put alot of rounds thru our weapons. I would never use locktite on a gun screw because I do not want to have to drill it out if I cannot get the locktite (no matter what color) to release.
I got this tip from a Guns and Ammo magazine many years ago and I am very satisified with the results. Handle slabs on a big chopper knife may be a different story. I would probablly epoxy the slabs before I would locktite the screws.

I saw the nail polish trick long before Locktite was easily available everywhere. It works great! Good tip! :thumbup:

 

[gdeno]

thanks, good to know. I havent opened the red loctite yet. I'll take it back and get some clear nail polish. Thanks everybody!

 

[JV3]

I am in charge of weapon maintenence for about 50 weapons. Now, I understand that the gun grips are not going to take as much inpact as the handle slabs but what I use to keep screws from backing out on expensive weapons is clear nail polish. I works really well and we put alot of rounds thru our weapons. I would never use locktite on a gun screw because I do not want to have to drill it out if I cannot get the locktite (no matter what color) to release.
I got this tip from a Guns and Ammo magazine many years ago and I am very satisified with the results. Handle slabs on a big chopper knife may be a different story. I would probablly epoxy the slabs before I would locktite the screws.

in my experience, screws on a weapon will vibrate loose way faster than on any knife, especially the grip screws and back up iron sites. for those, aside from thread locker, i use witness marks as a quick visual every time i do a function check.

nail polish, loctite, teflon tape, super glue - they all work as a thread locker. i just like sticking to loctite since it's an industry standard and the break away characteristics in various temps are very well known. the aerospace industry is far more strict when it comes to these things than the firearms world, even military, and they prefer loctite.

for knife handle screws? even bubblegum on the threads will work

 

[snowalker]

I went to Lowe's and got Nylok nuts, they have a nylon insert that holds the screw tight. Size 10-32, get the stainless ones and while you're at it, get new socket cap bolts the same size, 10/32 at 3/4" long. You'll have to grind a bit off the bolts as they don't have 5/8".

 

[frontline29]

Blue lock tight will work just fine. That's all I use on all my knives.

It will not come loose on you, and it will unscrew without too much force.
Grab some. It's cheap, works great, and a tube will last you a long time.:thumbup:

 

[AF]

Glue is overkill. The scales won't move around with the bolts in place. Any moisture that might get under the scales will not be a problem because the tang is coated.

 

[Reorx]

I have the micarta handles on all my beckers 2, 9, and 11 (and hopefully the 14 when it becomes availiable). My question is to keep the screws from loosening i am using red loktite on them. should I use it on the slabs themsselves also, as glue to insure they dont move around, or would that be overkill? Any opinions are welcome. Thanks.

I would not glue the scales. I would use Loctite purple (222MS) on the screw threads only. Be sure to clean the threads of the nut and the screw very well before application. Then assemble the knife. Back the screws out a bit and with the nuts up, pool some 222MS in the hole in the nut where the screw goes. Tighten and loosen the screw 2 or 3 times to get the loctite on the threads. Then tighten the screws down as tight as you want them and wipe away any excess 222MS with a dry Q-tip. Let it set for 24 hours - DONE!

From their PDF >>> "LOCTITE® 222MS™ is designed for the locking and sealing of threaded fasteners which require easy disassembly with standard hand tools."

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