Carbon Fiber Sebenza

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
2,536
How tight do you cinch your screws on your Carbon Fiber slab Sebenza?
Example - Do you get it as tight as the titanium slab one? Or perhaps not so tight, thinking of cracking.
Would not want to do that.
 
I have a large and small cf and treat them the same as my titanium sebenzas. I don't crank the pivot screws down super tight on any though, snug with a drop of blue loctite. I know many don't use loctite on their 21's but it worked well for me
 
I know that carbon fiber is tough, but I still just snug them down and don't tighten all the way like I do with the titanium.
 
I just use the Allen wrench long ways to torque and then use the short end to literally tighten a hair more. It's never loosened on me
 
I don't crank down on any of my screws. I have always just tightened them enough to know they wont fall loose on their own. I have dealt with stripped titanium screws before in a CRK, and it is not pleasant. I haven't ever had a problem with my screws not being tight enough in a sebenza.

SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I just use the Allen wrench long ways to torque and then use the short end to literally tighten a hair more. It's never loosened on me
Click to expand...

Pretty much this ^^ is exactly what I do, too.

I HAVE heard of people who flip their screws in a CF sebenza so that the male screw is tightened into the titanium, and that could be an option if you are worried about it, but I haven't done that and haven't ever had problems with tightening into the CF scale.
 
Thanks!
Yes, I will go not too tight as well.
You know Ccc, the "flipping", or switching of the pins from one side to the other is a great idea. That way, you don't torque the screw against the CF.
This is why I ask. I get great ideas here.:)
 
I just wish my sebenza had nice machined heads like the female side. The male side screw is fugly to be polite. That would be the only reason I'd flip mine around
 
gull wing said:
Thanks!
Yes, I will go not too tight as well.
You know Ccc, the "flipping", or switching of the pins from one side to the other is a great idea. That way, you don't torque the screw against the CF.
This is why I ask. I get great ideas here.:)
Click to expand...

I agree, that is a great idea, got to try that on mine. Do you guys find that tightening the screw can make the blade action stiffer? I noticed that on mine; maybe it needs new washers? I don't know... I thought I'd ask since this thread addresses the torque on the screw on a carbon fiber slab...has any of you guys experienced anything like that?
 
Yes, makariotes mine has the same trait.(stiff action) That is why I don't tighten it too tight. Could it be the just the nature of Carbon Fiber?
 
gull wing said:
Yes, makariotes mine has the same trait.(stiff action) That is why I don't tighten it too tight. Could it be the just the nature of Carbon Fiber?
Click to expand...

I think that is the case, but somehow it makes no sense since the blade is supposed to swing in/on the bushing and washers, at one point I though it might need new washers since I got it used; but I think you're right, the carbon fiber may somehow allow more friction with the parts when the pivot screw is tightened, even with the grease in there. I think it's odd though; I love the knife regardless. Maybe the experts can chime in and set me straight:) thanks for replying gull wing.
 
I fine if I tighten mine tight, it gets stiff. If I tighten it length wise like I described until the wrench springs abs won't turn anymore and go just a bit tighter, it will fall closed with the lock bar depressed. It flicks open smooth as well. By flick I mean without excess force.
 
Ccc said:
I don't crank down on any of my screws. I have always just tightened them enough to know they wont fall loose on their own. I have dealt with stripped titanium screws before in a CRK, and it is not pleasant. I haven't ever had a problem with my screws not being tight enough in a sebenza.



Pretty much this ^^ is exactly what I do, too.

I HAVE heard of people who flip their screws in a CF sebenza so that the male screw is tightened into the titanium, and that could be an option if you are worried about it, but I haven't done that and haven't ever had problems with tightening into the CF scale.
Click to expand...

This reflects my experience pretty much exactly. I will say that on my large 21 I can tighten it down about as much as I'm physically able to and the action is not affected, but if I really crank down on my smalls the blade becomes immovable. Not sure why, doesn't matter much to me.

The thing to be careful about when assembling a CF Sebenza is to install the stop pin collar in the right direction! Notice that on the CF versions one side is flared out and that must go against the CF.
 
Really? I never noticed that on mine. Is this a 21 you're talking about? (the stop pin)
 
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gull wing said:
Yes, makariotes mine has the same trait.(stiff action) That is why I don't tighten it too tight. Could it be the just the nature of Carbon Fiber?
Click to expand...

I thought this until I got my most recent micarta inlay small 21, which is the same way. My large 21 is about four years old, my small CF is one year old and the small micarta inlay is just a couple months. The Large is the only one that does not exhibit this stiffness when fully tightened. The effect has decreased over time on the CF, in fact I just disassembled it last week and when reassembling it this effect was almost gone (though still more present than on the large).

So the difference is either between the small and large, between old and new, or is simply a by-product of the relatively tiny but still present imperfections of the knife. I think it's a combination.
 
Ok, another point on my CF: (I still love this knife)
When blade is parked closed, I can easily move it side to side.
Something no other Sebenza I've ever had has done. All others are extremely hard to move.

This is a different knife to be sure, may be the carbon fiber????

Still love this knife.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I just wish my sebenza had nice machined heads like the female side. The male side screw is fugly to be polite. That would be the only reason I'd flip mine around
Click to expand...

When did buy your seb? The newer male screws are definitely an improvement over the off center older ones. Just picked some brand new ones up for hte small and they are improved, not sure about the large.
 
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