How do I tighten mushroomed-out screws on my balisong (butterfly knife) ?

Welcome to Fluther.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t know what a balisong is, in the first place, but even more important (to me) is that I have no idea what “mushroomed-out” screws means, and I’ve been in construction and general mechanics for many years.

Photos would help (you can post to photobucket or other public area and give a link here), and a description or example of what you mean by “mushroomed-out” would be most helpful.

We try to be helpful, but contrary to some expectations we cannot read minds as a general rule.

Thanks for the quick response. I don’t know whether there is another name for “mushroomed-out” screws (I just say that because I saw other people in knife forums use it).

I don’t have a decent camera, but I have a link to the product’s image from a website called bladeplay. If you zoom in on the screws in the middle of the photo (where the blade meets the handles), you can see the “mushroomed-out” screws.

link

Okay. Understanding the principle of the knife, I know that the screws at the blade have to permit quick swiveling of the handle halves to either sheath or expose the blade. I’m still just guessing at “mushroomed-out”, but I suppose the screws no longer tighten “enough but not too much”, right?

I think if it were up to me then I wouldn’t even use screws in this application. I think I’d use a bushing and rivets. This would make for a permanent connection that would allow the swiveling action required. Tight bushings (in the handle holes) would stay stationary, and would allow a very slightly undersized (in diameter) rivet to enable the swivel action with metal-on-metal bearing so that the plastic of the handles won’t wear and “wallow out” (the technical term you were looking for) more than they have already. I think it’s not the screws that are wearing in your knife, but the plastic of the handles.

I think “rivets” is the correct word instead of “mushroomed-out screws”; the rivets cannot be tightened like screws. Sorry for the confusion. I doubt the handles are wearing out, as they are made of metal. So, I guess the question should be, how do I tighten rivets on my knife?

There is a way, but it is complicated to explain and I only have a few minutes. Stay tuned, and when I get home, I will try to explain though ;)

@jerv so, do I just lay it down and hammer the rivets tight, then use Loctite or something? What’s Loctite used for, anyways?

Sorry, busy week.

That is pretty much it, but you use a tapered or steel ball to swedge the rivet and make it bigger. The trick is to so it without punching the rivet out; make sure you have a solid backing or the rivet will just come out the other side.

LocTite is mainly used to keep screws from vibrating loose. There are other ways to use it, but I don’t think it would help here.

Next time, use some loctite. It’ll prevcent the screws from falling out. Here is a guide http://bestmachete.net/how-to-protect-your-knife-with-loctite-242/