Ball bearings the only way to do a liner lock detent?

Matt Shade

Matt Shade

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
Messages
4,981
I've been slowly working at folders and have 2 done, for the most part I've made my own parts for everything out of stuff I could get locally. I found stuff to make a simple ambi thumbstud, standoffs,stop pins, etc. I did buy a pivot pin for one and pocket clips. I can't find any bearings to use for a detent though, so the first two folders I've done just stay closed by friction. I've been lucky so far, somehow the liner seems to catch them just right and they stay closed good enough that I don't worry about them.
I was just thinking that it might work out to use a #2-56 screw. Do you think it would work to drill and tap the liner tab in the same spot you would drill for a ball detent, then recess the scale/bolster for the screw head, and grind the screw down so just a little button sticks out ? The tang would get done just like you would for a bearing. What do you think? Some red loctite should keep things in place.
It might catch a little harder than a bearing.
Anyone think its worth a try? I have to order some stuff and should probably buy some ball detents, but I can get alot more practice in if everything comes from the local hardware store.
 
The problem with using a screw is the hardness. The little steel balls we use for detents are alot harder than the screws so the screw would wear out in no time. If you go to MSC's web site you can buy the 1/16" or 3/32" hardened balls for a very reasonable price.
 
Matt, What are you using for your standoffs and thumbstuds? I am always looking to recycle parts from other sources. Paul
 
Thanks guys I guess I'll just buy about 20 since they're cheap, just thought it would be easier if I had a never ending supply locally.


P Moore
I've been making a lot of stuff out of peices of brass and copper tubing, and brass rod. I just buy them in steps so that I have a tube that fits tightly over an 1/8" rod, and then a few more sizes of tubing that fit over that.
For standoffs, I just hone down a peice of tubing to the size I need, and for a heavy use knife you can use a small peice with a bigger peice around it.
For thumbstuds, I use a peice of 1/8" brass rod and I think its 5/23" copper tubing. You can use different sizes to match your preferences. I drill an 1/8" hole in the blade before grinding so it nice and square. Then after grinding and heat treat and everything I cut a peice of the brass rod long enough to go through the blade and stick out on each side like an ambi thumb stud. Cut a peice of tubing to slip over each side so that just a little bit of the pin protrudes when the tubing is snug up against the blade. If you cut the tubing square on one side an at an angle that matches the grind on the other everything fits up nice. Peen the ends of the pin down until everything pulls together for a tight fit. Clean up the ends with a file and shine it up some. I think it looks pretty neat having the brass center with a copper sleeve.
I think I saw most of that on a knife somebody posted right here in shoptalk, can't remember who.
 
MSC has 440C ball bearings that are hard to 60 Rockwell. I buy them 100 gross and they work out cheap enough that if I drop one I don't bother looking for it I just grab another one. It takes a while to go through 100 bearing even with the casualties.
 
Matt,

thanks for sharing your findings with us. Sometimes that "thinking out of the box" comes up with some really good ideas. Many times it has been brought up that there are more than one way of achieving a goal. Keep 'em coming--Dan
 
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