No more stripped screw heads

[gull wing]

I know it voids the warranty, but many open up their knives, I do.
I've noticed lots of posts with this occurring. It seems as the Chinese or Taiwan knives are the offenders (Golden, Japan not so much)
1. Don't put too much force on the screw.
2. Lay knife down and push straight down with the driver.
3. If that doesn't work, you must apply heat. Hot water is the easy.
4. Heat water to just boiling, THEN drop knife in, soak for 2 to 5 min.(do not continue to apply heat)
5. Withdraw, lay on a towel, apply driver till you break it free. If it doesn't work the first time, return to water, try again.
6. Modern folders will not be hurt by hot water.(no bone, wood, natural products)

Good luck, now no more stripped screws.

[UpDok]

Another thought. I think some folks who don't have Torx drivers may attempt to use Hex keys instead to turn Torx fasteners. It's akin to pounding a square peg into a round hole. It's also time to buy a good Torx set.

[jackknifeh]

I have had problems with small screws I've tightened. In fact I have the BRG handle and all the parts for a Manbug except for two screws and pivots because when tightening them I twisted the heads off the screws. So what I do now is if I want to ensure snugness I tighten until the screw feels tight and then just hold the same amount of force applied. If I want to ensure it is tight on larger screws it's usually ok to give it an extra "umph" of force. Not on the little ones though. What seems to work is apply the max force you feel is safe and then just continue to apply that force for up to 4-5 seconds. I haven't had any problems removing a screw I've installed or twisted any heads off when installing them like this. I don't know if the holding the pressure makes any difference but it feels good and it has worked so far. So, when you have a screw that doesn't want to break free instead of twisting too hard try twisting with the amount of force you feel is safe and then just hold it there for a couple of hours. :) Actually if it doesn't break free in 5 seconds it probably won't and you should continue with the knife soup the OP suggests. I had never thought about putting a knife in boiling water. Sounds like a good tip and I'll try it if I need to. Thanks for the tip.

Jack

[Evil D]

Don't go cheap on your torx drivers. The cheaper they are, the less true to size they are. Invest in some quality brand name drivers.

[wrdwrght]

Don't go cheap on your torx drivers. The cheaper they are, the less true to size they are. Invest in some quality brand name drivers.

Name a good brand. I'd like to upgrade.

[mattman]

Don't go cheap on your torx drivers. The cheaper they are, the less true to size they are. Invest in some quality brand name drivers.

David_

I agree with this about most tools, but I can't say enough about how nice the Husky multi-bit set has been... I have WiHas, and Snap-On, and I use the Husky all the time... it is a great deal, for how nice a tool it is.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-IN-1 ... xZ1z0w30w#

Store SKU # 165355

Model # 74502

NEVER a problem with it, and I am impressed with the bit quality every time I use it.

[jackknifeh]

David_

I agree with this about most tools, but I can't say enough about how nice the Husky multi-bit set has been... I have WiHas, and Snap-On, and I use the Husky all the time... it is a great deal, for how nice a tool it is.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-IN-1 ... xZ1z0w30w#

Store SKU # 165355

Model # 74502

NEVER a problem with it, and I am impressed with the bit quality every time I use it.

I think I have this tool except I got mine at Lowe's so it has Kobalt on the side instead of Husky. It works great and has all the sizes you'll ever need for Spyderco's. Well, I think some of the value folders have another type but I'm not sure. The only thing I don't like about this little tool is changing tips when working on a knife. I like to have seperate drivers for just laying one down and picking another up. I have a set of Eklind torx that seem to work well. I've wanted a set of Wiha's but until what I have now fails I'll stick with these. I also have gone through sets from China on ebay or wherever. I might as well have set the money on fire. But whan using these tools the Kobalt (or Husky) is normally one of the sizes I use. But for under $10 you can't beat the tool and it hs done the job for me too.

Jack

[Blerv]

All great tips. When in doubt go slow and don't torque (except downwards) more than needed. Sometimes a tool without as much grip is a good thing as you are less likely to manhandle it.

[Evil D]

Name a good brand. I'd like to upgrade.

David_

I agree with this about most tools, but I can't say enough about how nice the Husky multi-bit set has been... I have WiHas, and Snap-On, and I use the Husky all the time... it is a great deal, for how nice a tool it is.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-IN-1 ... xZ1z0w30w#

Store SKU # 165355

Model # 74502

NEVER a problem with it, and I am impressed with the bit quality every time I use it.

I actually have that same set and it's pretty nice, basic but there's nothing wrong with that. I've had my eyes on this set for a while now, just haven't got around to ordering it. Sometimes I get tired of fumbling around looking for the bits that I need. I've even tried painting them to color code them, which does work for a while. I do like dedicated drivers though.

http://www.amazon.com/Eklind-Torx-Preci ... B0029T6X2O

[Evil D]

All great tips. When in doubt go slow and don't torque (except downwards) more than needed. Sometimes a tool without as much grip is a good thing as you are less likely to manhandle it.

Screwdrivers in general, you wanna be careful how fat the handle is (particularly for small bits like torx) because the fatter the handle, the more torque you're able to apply, and the more chance there is of stripping the head.

[Bill1170]

I have both the Husky and the Wiha. The Husky is decent but the Wiha fits more perfectly in the recess.

[Blerv]

Thanks for clarifying David. Yes, slick cruddy tools should be avoided. I have a Benchmade blue box which doesn't allow as much gusto as something else.

[MadRookie]

I use this:


http://www.wiha.com/international/Onlin ... h-R-TORX-R


Can highly recommend them.

:)

[yowzer]

The only stripped screw I've had on a Spyderco came that way out of the box. But it's on the clip for a Paramilitary, so it's not like there's any need to unscrew it anyways.

[jackknifeh]

I've had my eyes on this set for a while now, just haven't got around to ordering it. Sometimes I get tired of fumbling around looking for the bits that I need. I've even tried painting them to color code them, which does work for a while. I do like dedicated drivers though.

http://www.amazon.com/Eklind-Torx-Preci ... B0029T6X2O

This is the set I have. It works very well I think. The bits fit snuggly. I have thought also about marking the driver handle somehow. The Elkind has the torx # on top of the handle. It's molded and the same color as the handle top so it's difficult to determine size by that without looking close. It's easier to look at the tip sometimes. A Sage4 uses torx 6 and 9. The size difference in the tip is pretty easy to recognize. Also the Elkind set goes down to t-3. I've never needed a t-3 but did need a t-4 once. I think that was for disassembly of a laptop. Manbugs have t-5s. I've never seen smaller on a Spyderco. The price I'm sure is why I bought the Elkind. The Wiha's are more expensive. While I love to buy the best tools regardless of price I can't always afford them. I swear, combining knives and sharpening toys it's amazing I can afford to eat. :)

Jack

[gull wing]

Another problem I've seen lately is smaller than normal Torx sizes cut into the screw heads. Like:
T6 on a PIVOT screw.
T5 on a BODY screw.
These add to the problem!

[Morgoroth]

Wish I had seen this years ago. Don't know how many torx screws I stripped in my younger and more impressionable years.

[Holland]

Thanks for the hints :)

[VeloWeave]

I just ordered the Wiha's a few days ago. I have that Husky someone mentioned but twisted the thread trying to adjust the pivot on one of my Kershaw knives. I then went to my Ace Hardware brand and did the same thing. I was advised by Todd Rexford to get a set from Wiha or Snap-On. I'll see if I have better luck when they arrive on Tuesday.

[shadowram]

I know it's an old thread but,Thank you, The boiling water worked like a charm. :)