Teflon Tape on the Pivot Screw?

T

Tsuki no Hikari

Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
9
I've got a Benchmade 940, and the pivot screw keeps loosening as I use it, causing the blade to wiggle a little. I've heard that wrapping some teflon/plumber's tape around the pivot screw could help prevent this from happening (I don't want to try loctite).


Does this sound like a good plan?
 
Tsuki no Hikari said:
I've heard that wrapping some teflon/plumber's tape around the pivot screw could help prevent this from happening (I don't want to try loctite).


Does this sound like a good plan?
Click to expand...

Yup! Sounds like a great plan! Every knife I own with a pivot screw has gotten the teflon tape treatment from me, and as a result, I've never had a single problem with pivot screws 'backing out' on me.;)

Regards,
3G
 
Nice.


Any tips on the best way to apply it? I'd assume just wrap it around the pivot screw a few times, cut off the excess, and then tighten the pivot screw to the desired...erm...tightness?
 
That's right. I wrap it around 5-7 times for a tight fit on my Emerson knives. The torx on the Benchmades is a bit smaller so I would wrap it less. The good thing is you can experiment and see the results right away and fix it necessary unlike loctite. So feel free to experiment!
 
Been using this trick for about 10 years now, and it works much better than Loctite IMO.
It just takes a little more time to apply it right.
You have to figure out how much of the teflon tape is enough, but when you found the right amount for that particular screw you're basically set.
Screws won't come loose by itself, and yet you can loosen or tighten them at will using just your screwdriver.
No more heating with soldering irons or cursing because you used too much Loctite and it worked it's way into the mechanism.:D
 
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Can someone post a photo, about this "teflon-wrapping", please?
I have not understood clearly, how it is done.
 
I tried it, and so far it's working great. Before I put the tape on, the pivot screw would back up within ten openings...especially if I flipped it open using the axis lock. Now I've experimented with opening it using the thumb stud, axis lock, and a wrist flick multiple times, and it doesn't seem to be getting looser.


Whoever figured this trick out deserves a cookie.
 
It's weird, most of my Benchmade knives like the Griptilian and 710 have loose screws after less than 10 openings. I just got a mini rukus and the pivot doesn't move at all. I took it out to check if there was any loctite from the factory but it's clean as a whistle. I screwed it back in and the blade has perfect lock up with not even hint of play in any direction. It's been 3 weeks now and it's the same tightness. It's the only BM I have that doesn't need loctite or tape
 
LorenzoL said:
What about using a nut-locking glue?
Click to expand...

That's what Loc-Tite is. And a lot of people don't want to fiddle with it for the reasons stated by kwakster (particularly on small screws). Not to mention that if you don't have it on hand, there's a cost. Teflon tape is cheaper, and since I have it on hand, there's no additional cost. If the teflon tape doesn't work, it's easy to take off.
 
Teflon tape is completely different than teflon washers. The tape is wrapped around the pivot screw to keep the screw from coming loose. Nothing to do with the washer.
 
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