Bad luck bending clips

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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I'm really anal about having my pocket clip just right. I like it to be a little on the loose side with the tip pointing out to give me something to wrap my middle finger around for a good draw.

I have bad luck bending clips though. I've had a few snap off lately when I was trying to bend them just right.

I've tried visegrips and my fingers or pliers which bends the clip too far up for my taste. I like to lock the tip in a vise and then use a hammer and a punch near where it's locked in place, ping, ping, ping... until I get it the way I like. Except sometimes it goes: ping, ping, ping... "Just a little more" ping, ping, ZINNNNGGGG as the broken clip goes flying across the room (I sit with elbows on knees; head cradled in hands, cussing). Any suggestions? Do you think heating the clip would help?
 
Dude I think that you simply a little sick in the head. Leave them clips alone! I woulda thunnk that you learned your lesson after the first one snapped!

On a kinder note, I have no ideas except don't heat them. It would probably damage your knife.

But hey, I'm clueless:footinmou so have fun.:)
 
Originally posted by MicMurry
Dude I think that you simply a little sick in the head. Leave them clips alone! I woulda thunnk that you learned your lesson after the first one snapped!

...It would probably damage your knife...
Click to expand...

Um, practise makes perfect?:p
I'M sick in the head? You have a Lord of the Rings Avatar, nerdy dude! ;)

I wasn't going to heat it while it was ON the knife.
 
Make a jig for bending the clips.

Take a piece of 3/4" hardwood and buy a piece of tubular steel or thong hole tubing and some 2" screws that will fill the inner part of the tube. Next find some vinyl tubing that fits tightly over the tubular steel.

Cut the steel to 1.5" long and screw them to the boards at various distances apart from each other and slide the vinyl tube over top of the steel.

Basically you're just making a bending jig fixture which will allow you to make controlled bends in the clip, what you're doing now is not controlled which is why you break them.

See the image I made to help elaborate because I'm confusing even myself...;)
 
I don't know if that'll work. I drew a diagram of what I think the perfect clip would be and wish I could have all the time. Let's see if I can get it posted.
 

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While I think you are indeed nuts for wanting your clip like that (:)), the very first set of pins in my picture would put that bend in for you.

Basically those 2 pins should be the same distance apart from each other as your clip is thick which would allow you to make sharp bends in the metal.

The studs that are farther apart are for larger bends.
 
Originally posted by cpirtle
While I think you are indeed nuts for wanting your clip like that (:))...
Click to expand...

Why am I nuts?:confused:
The lip gives you some purchase when you grab it to pull up on it and it comes off the pocket quick and easy.

Don't knock it until you've tried it. I've got my Benchmade Axis AFCK, Ares and Spyderco Lum Tanto that way and I can go from my hand on my belly to open and in a ready grip in about half a second!

(The knife. Not the belly.) :p
 
The key here is - BEND don't HAMMER.

Clips are made of spring steel, which is pretty resistant to bending force, so it snaps back. They are not made to handle violent trauma like putting in a vice and hammering. they are brittle to that kind of treatment.
 
Originally posted by RH
...violent trauma... treatment.
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Violent trauma?:D

OK. I can see it your way. I'll quit with the hammer. How about if I lock the tip in a vise and then slowly bend the rest back with visegrips?

The problem I'm having is that I only want to bend about the end .1875 or so, and not the end half-inch and it's hard to grab it close and do that.
 
LMAO
I am reminded of a little story.
This guy goes in to see his doctor.
guy: "Doc, it really hurts when I put my finger in my ear"
doc: "Don't put your finger in your ear"
guy: "But Doc, it really hurts when I put my finger in my ear"
etc, etc
 
Originally posted by RH
"impact force" you like that better?
Click to expand...

No, I liked, "violent trauma" better. I just found it funny.

No problem here. :cool: I didn't mean to sound snippy.

I liked your explanation. I'm going to go the
"BEND don't HAMMER" route. You got me going down that path, now. I'm just trying to figure out how I can get two GRIPS real close together so I can bend just the tip.

In response to Frank...
I'm a do-it-your-selfer!
 
Originally posted by fulloflead
In response to Frank...
I'm a do-it-your-selfer!
Click to expand...
I understand that. :) Did you try taking 2 pieces of metal and sandwiching the clip and then using 2 pairs vise-grip to clamp them together?
 
I'm sorry, Frank.
You'll have to pardon me. I'm pretty stupid. :(

I don't understand what you mean.

Do you mean just trying the bend with two pair of visegrips? No, I haven't. I don't have two.

I don't know what you mean by the sandwich, though.
 
Try a small stack of business cards. Try about the desired thickness overnight . . . not enough? Try again. With a little patience you'll get the right tension as the clip "takes a set" overnight.
 
LOL
Sorry couldn't help myself. Someone here will know. Welcome to the forums.
Ed
 
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