Remove glued on scales?

[DustinY]

Sorry, i'm sure this has been discussed at length, but I got a CRK Nyala in for service and the scales are glued on. They have bolts and hardware running through, but on top of that, they are glued. Any idea how to safely remove them without damaging the micarta scales?

 

[Evan Wilson]

if you are able to remove the pins without issue you might try boiling or close to boiling water to loosen the glue.
one of the reasons japanese kitchen knife are not pinned of to soak the handle in a pot of boiling water to loosen the glue just enough to remove the handle so it might be worth a try.

 

[HSC ///]

Soak in acetone?

 

[Cypress Creek Knives]

I have found pretty good success placing the knife in a ziploc bag and then simmering in hot water for 20 minutes or so. That should soften the adhesive enough to let you pop off the scales.

 

[REK Knives]

It depends what was used to glue them on... If CA glue they will loosen up at 200f or so. If epoxy like gflex or blade pro they will need to be ground off. Those won't release with heat.

 

[Cypress Creek Knives]

It depends what was used to glue them on... If CA glue they will loosen up at 200f or so. If epoxy like gflex or blade pro they will need to be ground off. Those won't release with heat.

If you simmer gflex long enough it will loosen to the point that you can pop off the scales (they are often reusable too). Ask me how I know

 

[REK Knives]

If you simmer gflex long enough it will loosen to the point that you can pop off the scales (they are often reusable too). Ask me how I know

Really?! That's amazing to know... I tried blade pro up to 500f and it wouldn't loosen at all. I assumed g/flex was permanent like that. What temp did you use just the boiling point?

 

[Cypress Creek Knives]

Really?! That's amazing to know... I tried blade pro up to 500f and it wouldn't loosen at all. I assumed g/flex was permanent like that. What temp did you use just the boiling point?

I soaked the balde(s) for a good 20-30 minutes at a high simmer/low boil. So right around the 212* mark. I also try to keep the blade out of the water and just soak the handles.

Once I pull the knife out of the water I put the blade in a vise and use a little wedge between the spine and scales and they tend to pop right off.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No need to protect the blade from the water. It won't hurt al all if boiled fully submerged. Just wipe it dry when you are done. Rust forms in air, not water.

 

[DustinY]

And because you lovely folks, my inspectors gave me the gold star for getting these puppies off undamaged. Good note Stacy, I had them in a bag, but it worked in the end.

 

[Cypress Creek Knives]

Awesome! I'm glad to see you were successful.