Microtech and Loctite

Well, I didn't just try to make Microtech tea last night, I made Microtech stew.:D

I boiled the thing for over six minutes and the pivot still did not come loose. On the plus side, the whole knife is squeeky clean. I guess I'll be calling the Micro-folks in Florida.
 
Boil it all day and it won't help.

Boiling water is about 212F (depending on your altitude and the barometric pressure that day, it can vary a few degrees). Releasing most thread locking adhesives requires 325 to 350F. You're over a hundred degrees shy.

Ditto for common hair dryers: not hot enough (and thank UL for that. A 350F hairdryer would burn your scalp and maybe set your hair on fire.)

Before you wreck an expensive knife, go to the nearest Radio Shack and invest $10 in a cheap soldering iron. Better yet, find a friend who's got one and borrow it for ten minutes. Buy him a beer when you're done. I've got a soldering iron. If you live around here, you can buy me a beer.
 
Did you try applying pressure with a padded screwdriver between the bolsters at the front of the knife? What has happened is that the whole pivot assembly is turning when you try to unloosen it, you wouldn't be able to tighten it any either because of the turning. By applying pressure as you turn the screw will come out. The boiling just softens the loc-tite enough for the screw to move out. Even with a soldering iron you are going to have the same problem as MT does not provide any means for the pivot to remain unmoving. I have just finished putting a Pat Crawford KFF back together and he has a small protrusion at the base of the pivot pin that fits into a notch so that it remains in one position and can't turn with the screw.

Good luck!
 
I'll give it another try. I like Microtech knives and this the only one I've had that has a problem, but why do they have to go overboard with the Loctite? Personally, I think that the hole "disassembly will void the warranty" thing sucks. I mean, if the user wants to take his knife apart for cleaning or adjusting, so what? Companies like Emerson Knives don't have a problem with it. It just goes to show you that sometimes less bells and whistles are better. Besides, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to disassemble a linerlock knife and put it back together.
 
Personally, I think that the hole "disassembly will void the warranty" thing sucks. I mean, if the user wants to take his knife apart for cleaning or adjusting, so what? Companies like Emerson Knives don't have a problem with it.
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We've discussed the issue of warranties and disassembly before. The bottom line is this: companies are free to write their warranties as they see fit. You can read the warranty before you buy a product. If you don't like it, then don't buy the product. But if you decide that you want the product bad enough to accept the warranty terms, then that is your decision. Nobody is forcing you to buy that product. So don't whine about it after the fact.


but why do they have to go overboard with the Loctite?
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As I stated in my earlier post in this thread, Microtech is obviously having some process control issues with their application of thread locking adhesive. While to much adhesive is annoying as you're now finding out, what's really bad is no adhesive and having the knife fall apart, which others have reported.

I have, myself, received one MT Tachyon with one screw hanging out, not even finger-tight. Obviously, no thread locking adhesive on that one, no torque driver used either, and no final inspection.

If it was just one experience, I'd overlook it. Even the finest factory can slip once and while. But lately there seem to be to many reports of problems with the assembly of MT products.
 
Regarding Microtech & their use of loctite - I just received a brand new ultratech. I love the knife, but noticed that there was a bit of play in the front plate - the part that has the logo etc etched on it. I used the point of a pencil to poke at the 6 different 3 hole screws that hold the plate on. All of the screws were loose. Do they usually put loctite on those? Those screws shouldn't be loose on a new knife should they? thanks
 
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