How to remove crappy scales?

[Archangel14]

Gents, I inherited a nice old SR. The blade is in good shape and is a great candidate for restoration. But the scales are terrible. The scales are that old, cream colored "bamboo" pattern. The blade rides very loose in it. As such, when you close the blade into the handle, the tip will often strike one of the scales if care is not taken. I want to get rid of the scales.

What's the best way to remove them? Thanks.

 

[ladykate]

You will get several answers. My 'favorite' way is to just grind the pin head down with a Dremel tool. I use a cutoff disk - it comes with most Dremel kits. You can do it with a file but the Dremel is easier. Don't have a Dremel? Now is the time to get one.

I recently had to take the scales off a Mk 31 custom that was not assembled with washers and subsequently was screwed up. I had to save the scales and the blade. The Dremel and some water for cooling (ice cubes work, too), made it happen. Slow and easy if you want to save the scales. Grind away if you don't care.

 

[jpcwon]

I use this pair of Flush Cutters & just lop the "head" off of the pin..(if you don't care about saving the scales)...

http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-170M-...&qid=1362959720&sr=8-13&keywords=flush+cutter

 

[pmaster]

You will get several answers. My 'favorite' way is to just grind the pin head down with a Dremel tool. I use a cutoff disk - it comes with most Dremel kits. You can do it with a file but the Dremel is easier. Don't have a Dremel? Now is the time to get one.

I recently had to take the scales off a Mk 31 custom that was not assembled with washers and subsequently was screwed up. I had to save the scales and the blade. The Dremel and some water for cooling (ice cubes work, too), made it happen. Slow and easy if you want to save the scales. Grind away if you don't care.

So funny, I just bought one today! Been wanting one for a long time and finally I had a good excuse!

If the scales are crap, you can easily file the thing away without watching if you hit the scales or not. Should come off relatively easy (relatively....sometimes those damn pins don't want to slide off)

 

[henrythehab]

If you want to keep the old scales and use them as a template for shaping the new scales, then you should avoid damaging them. If your skills with a Dremel or other grinding power tool are not that good, then you may want to try hand filing the pins down. The pins are made of soft metal, so they should file down easy.

 

[Doc226]

Any way you like.

I like to save even crappy ones just to have a template for future work. I write the razor they came from on a small paper and glue it to the inside of the scales with some CA

 

[mycarver]

Just grind the pin with whatever you have handy and watch them fall off. But if it's just a matter of some looseness etc. they might be saved. Call me crazy but I save them and use them on some of my other rescales. I think they add some interest to a collection and look pretty neat. I just hate to see these classic old scales tossed for no good reason.
I'm guessing you're talking about ones that look like these?

 

[Legion]

I drill the head away with a drill press, put the other side over a hole in a piece of wood, then tap the pin out with a nail. That usually gets the scales off without damage.