Will cracks in Manix 2 LW scales become a problem?

[Mage7]

I noticed the scales on my Manix 2 LW are cracking around the screws. Probably equal parts me tightening them too much, and me having screwed the plastic up with Rit Dye--boiling them seemed to cause some warping.

The way the scales are constructed, I know there's a lot more plastic around them but I am curious if anyone else has had cracks this bad and if they opened up worse over time? I'm not too worried but wondering if I should be.

[WilliamMunny]

I don't think over tightening those small screws could damage the scales, but I have seen reports of Rit Dye--boiling doing damage similar to your pictures.

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

I'm certainly no FRN/FRCP expert, but I'd definitely be concerned enough to replace the scales.

[RustyIron]

Yikes! That's awful. Just out of curiosity, did you suspend the scales by a wire in the pan of dye, or were they allowed to sit on the bottom of the pan? I've dyed a few sets of scales and never ran into any problems, that's why I ask. At this point, I'd start shopping for aftermarket scales. There are a lot of pretty styles available.

[bobnikon]

Yikes! That's awful. Just out of curiosity, did you suspend the scales by a wire in the pan of dye, or were they allowed to sit on the bottom of the pan? I've dyed a few sets of scales and never ran into any problems, that's why I ask. At this point, I'd start shopping for aftermarket scales. There are a lot of pretty styles available.

This part is gold. The bottom of the pan gets a lot hotter than the water.

That is why double boilers are so good for certain things, they work well for dyeing as well. Personally, I keep my rit dye mixture in a mason jar. I put the mason jar in a pan of water, boil (just below actually) the water, and still suspend the scale in the jar. Then when done, cool the mixture (still in the mason jar), the lid goes back on the mason jar until next time. Nothing gets stained, nothing gets wasted.

Cheers

[vivi]

Should only need a few 10 second dunks to dye FRN....

[Flash]

Treat it to some AWT scales (or similar) and be done with them.

[bobnikon]

Should only need a few 10 second dunks to dye FRN....

I have had varying experiences with varying materials. The FRCP manix scales I dyed tool a lot longer than the FRN, which I agree, go pretty fast. My Caribbean took about 20 minutes to reach the colour I was looking for.

[SpeedHoles]

You can try a low viscosity 3M scotch-weld PR adhesive, which should flow into those cracks and bond. But that won't cure any warping issues.

Also, I'm not sure on the details on difference between FRCP there and more common FRN, and how they react to boiling/dying differently. FRN seems quite friendly for that process, but FRCP may tend to be more brittle, resulting in things like this? Only speculation on my part.


Side note, I myself have never changed a Manix 2 LW handle, are there decent options for them without the liners? (Also I don't specifically like metal handles if that's the only option...)

[Chumango]

The FRCP I dyed took a long time to take the color. I was really wondering what was up since I'd heard about how quickly it goes, but apparently that was with FRN.

[Evil D]

I've dyed a lot of FRN but I think I've only owned one FRCP and it never got dyed. I simmer but never outright boil, and I made a little tray thing out of a metal coat hanger that keeps the scales from laying directly on the bottom of the pan where they'll definitely get scorched.

How does it feel in use? Does it flex and creek and feel like it's breaking?

[Scandi Grind]

It seems like in other threads describing cracked Manix scales many reports were on scales that had been dyed. I am starting to think FRCP is a bit more sensitive to the process than FRN.

[Wdr65]

That doesn’t look good. I have had and have used hard at work 7 different versions of the Manix LW starting with the original BD1 version. I’ve never had the scales crack or chip.

[Wartstein]

It seems like in other threads describing cracked Manix scales many reports were on scales that had been dyed. I am starting to think FRCP is a bit more sensitive to the process than FRN.

This is what I have to assume too...

I think I may say that I sometimes really beat on my Manix 2 LWs, and none (of the three I use/used a lot) did ever show any signs of cracking or other damage of the FRCP scales...

[RazorSharp86]

I don't think over tightening those small screws could damage the scales, but I have seen reports of Rit Dye--boiling doing damage similar to your pictures.

I’ve seen quite a few reports over the years from people claiming to have cracked the scales by over tightening the pivot screws on the Manix 2, in the past.

[StuntZombie]

I wonder if it would help if the scales were solid, rather than pocketed.

[Mage7]

I've dyed a lot of FRN but I think I've only owned one FRCP and it never got dyed. I simmer but never outright boil, and I made a little tray thing out of a metal coat hanger that keeps the scales from laying directly on the bottom of the pan where they'll definitely get scorched.

How does it feel in use? Does it flex and creek and feel like it's breaking?

Nope, it feels totally solid. I wouldn't have even noticed had I not been taking pictures of it recently. When I was taking it apart I noticed that the plastic--especiall around the fasteners--was more substantial under the surface than it would appear, so I think it's just by merit of that, but was wondering if it's just a matter of time before those cracks permeate.

I totally screwed up and just let it sit on the bottom of the pan. I had originally suspended them, but yeah the dye was not taking very quickly and so I left them for half an hour and when I came back, the way I had suspended them had failed and they were at the bottom.

Well that was totally a risk I knew I was taking with the Rit Dye, but it's sort of one of those things I didn't realize I had messed up until down the line. Luckily I had planned to buy aftermarket scales if it didn't go well. Trickier part seems to be realizing it didn't go well lol

[Evil D]

I've dyed a lot of FRN but I think I've only owned one FRCP and it never got dyed. I simmer but never outright boil, and I made a little tray thing out of a metal coat hanger that keeps the scales from laying directly on the bottom of the pan where they'll definitely get scorched.

How does it feel in use? Does it flex and creek and feel like it's breaking?

Nope, it feels totally solid. I wouldn't have even noticed had I not been taking pictures of it recently. When I was taking it apart I noticed that the plastic--especiall around the fasteners--was more substantial under the surface than it would appear, so I think it's just by merit of that, but was wondering if it's just a matter of time before those cracks permeate.

I totally screwed up and just let it sit on the bottom of the pan. I had originally suspended them, but yeah the dye was not taking very quickly and so I left them for half an hour and when I came back, the way I had suspended them had failed and they were at the bottom.

Well that was totally a risk I knew I was taking with the Rit Dye, but it's sort of one of those things I didn't realize I had messed up until down the line. Luckily I had planned to buy aftermarket scales if it didn't go well. Trickier part seems to be realizing it didn't go well lol

Well the fortune part of stuff like this is you being public with it and owning up to it. Now it's a mistake that everyone can benefit from and a lesson we all learn so it actually has some value to it.

[Mage7]

I've dyed a lot of FRN but I think I've only owned one FRCP and it never got dyed. I simmer but never outright boil, and I made a little tray thing out of a metal coat hanger that keeps the scales from laying directly on the bottom of the pan where they'll definitely get scorched.

How does it feel in use? Does it flex and creek and feel like it's breaking?

Nope, it feels totally solid. I wouldn't have even noticed had I not been taking pictures of it recently. When I was taking it apart I noticed that the plastic--especiall around the fasteners--was more substantial under the surface than it would appear, so I think it's just by merit of that, but was wondering if it's just a matter of time before those cracks permeate.

I totally screwed up and just let it sit on the bottom of the pan. I had originally suspended them, but yeah the dye was not taking very quickly and so I left them for half an hour and when I came back, the way I had suspended them had failed and they were at the bottom.

Well that was totally a risk I knew I was taking with the Rit Dye, but it's sort of one of those things I didn't realize I had messed up until down the line. Luckily I had planned to buy aftermarket scales if it didn't go well. Trickier part seems to be realizing it didn't go well lol

Well the fortune part of stuff like this is you being public with it and owning up to it. Now it's a mistake that everyone can benefit from and a lesson we all learn so it actually has some value to it.

Heh yeah, fortunately I don't embarrass easy. Though maybe if I did my lessons would be less expensive

I found some nice looking scales on Etsy for a decent price. Not sure the AWT ones are really something I wanna pay for this particular knife. I sort of got it from GP Knives as a white handled exclusive because it was a super good deal and I figured if I screwed the scales up, I would only end up into it as much as a full price Manix 2 LW. But wow I don't know what I was looking at then, but there's not many <=$50 options.

[Brock O Lee]

Treat it to some AWT scales (or similar) and be done with them.

Not sure the AWT ones are really something I wanna pay for this particular knife. I sort of got it from GP Knives as a white handled exclusive...

If it's a REX-45 version I'd say it's worth it. Send it my way if you disagree...