How To Removing press fit thumb studs on TRM Newtron / Atom

[mrhat]

Ok, how do i go about removing the TRM Newtron thumb studs without damaging or scratching? Yes, I know, they are press fit but i need to take them out. Has anyone tried this? How exactly are the thumbstuds on these knives ? Male and Female thumbs or just 2 male sticked into the blade? Thanks! Pfa

 

[killgar]

That's tricky. I did this with an AL Mar SERE. Except I wasn't trying to save the stock studs.

My guess would be that the two halves are threaded together with thread locker, but I can't say for sure.

Here's what I would do. Remove the blade from the handle, secure the blade in a vice, heat one side of the stud with a cigarette lighter to loosen the thread locker, then use 2 pairs of pliers with strips of leather secured in their jaws with tape to grab each half of the stud and twist.

But of course, there are no guarantees. Like I said, it's very tricky if you're trying to save the studs. Also, if you haven't already, consider how performing such a mod might affect any warranty.

 

[Rich S]

If it's a single sided thumbstud, drill a hole in a wood block (old 2x4 piece) and use a punch of proper size to knock out the thumbstud from
the backside into the hole in the wood block. Works well for me. For double sided studs, basically as Killgar said, but I don't remove the blade,
just clamp one stud into my bench vise and use pliers on the other side.
rich

 

[Metal Man 007]

buck double sided thumb stud, protect it as best you can clamp it with vice grips both sides twist and pull. they obviously would not go back together so I hammered the small stud to widen it and press it back together in the vice.

 

[rummels]

I have two knives on which I have replaced the standard Neutron studs.

The studs on the Neutron are press (interference) fit, and I found them too tightly connected to each other to pull them apart. So you have to very carefully cut one of the studs off with a Dremel and a diamond wheel (put a thick layer of blue masking tape on the scales and the blade, so only the studs are uncovered).

Then, if you look at where you just cut off the stud, in the center of what is left of the cut off stud you will see the shaft of the stud that is still attached to the other side of the blade. Set the stud that is still attached to the blade inside a white plastic (nylon) washer that is deep enough to completely accommodate the length of the remaining stud. Lay the washer on a hard surface (concrete floors work well), and use a punch that is the diameter of the shaft of the remaining stud, and drive the shaft out of the knife. The washer will support the blade and protect it from damage, while at the same time allowing you to drive the remaining half of the stud out of the knife's blade.

Note that, I found the biggest obstacle to installing new studs to be finding something to completely fill the hole in the blade that was left by the removal of the original studs. The hole in the blade on the Neutron is .140” in diameter, so you have to find studs that are threaded for a connecting shaft that is .140 in diameter, or make something that is .140" in diameter to completely fill the hole. See the third image below.

 

[butterman]

Where were you able to find something that is .14 in diameter, I’ve been looking everywhere? Or did you make it?