centering the blade

EasEWryder

EasEWryder

Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
628
Hey guys! Does anybody remember the thread or post about how to center a blade that doesn't want to line up properly when closed? The search isn't workin' for me and I'm beating my head against the wall tryin' to remember how to center a blade... :mad: :D Thanks!

Mike
 
I don't remember the post exactly, but I remember having read of various techniques, the easiest being:

1. Make a note of which way the blade "leans" when closed
2. Open the knife and apply pressure in the direction of the "lean" (this part may initially strike you as counterintuitive)
3. Close the blade, and check the results - if your blade is now leaning too far in the other direction, repeat steps 1 and 2, reversing directions as needed. If the blade hasn't really moved at all, try again, but use a bit more pressure.

At no point should you be applying enough pressure to damage the blade, of course. Also, if this doesn't work, you've probably either got a blade that's slightly out of true or a slight misalignment of parts somewhere. This method doesn't work too well on knives with really thin washers (such as several of Spyderco's offerings) because the flats of the blade are almost in contact with the sides of the handle scales, meaning that any alignment problems are probably due to inherent defects in one or more of the parts.
 
This method has worked for some of the blades I had. In the folded closed position, take knife with both hands in position as if ready to break a pencil in half, with blade spine facing towards you. Give it a strong (subjective to individual) bend to see which way the blade travels towards. Do this with slight increments in increasing force if the blade does not move. Bend the opposite direction if blade needs to travel towards the other direction. For thick slabbed handles and framelocks, this may not work well, if at all. Remember, do this slowly as to avoid any potential damage to folder.

N2
 
Thanks for the replies guys! :) The knife in question is a Benchmade 630, and both technics so far have proven unsuccesful... even the "Open, itghten/loosen, adjust" technic, suggested on another forum. Huh. I'm kinda stumped. It all started 'cause I wanted plain scales :rolleyes: The mystery continues... ;)
 
EasEWryder said:
Hey guys! Does anybody remember the thread or post about how to center a blade that doesn't want to line up properly when closed? The search isn't workin' for me and I'm beating my head against the wall tryin' to remember how to center a blade... :mad: :D Thanks!

Mike
Click to expand...

I'm obviously missing something, but why aren't you simply returning the knife to Benchmade for adjustment/repair under their warranty?

maximus otter
 
Maximus,

1) Then I wouldn't have a 630 with me. :( :D

2)I disassembled the 630 to oxy-clean off the color of the handle scales (which works great by the way, and leaves it a really nice dark grey) I dunno how much they would charge 'cause I technically, voided the warranty. ;) :D

3) I wanna feel the joy of fixing it myself, like the handle scale color (with the help of knifeknuts here and another forum) 'cause I have always been rather inept at fixing things, but the 630 came out SWEET! :)

Mike
 
Was the blade uncentered before you took it apart to do the "oxy-clean" thing? You might try switching the washers around and make sure they are on correctly.
 
:D Maximus :D
Artsig1,
I checked and rechecked the washers during dis- and re- assembly. The blade was centered pre-oxycleaning, and on an interesting note; the 630's washers are of two different sizes, so due to wear, the washers left marks according to their sizes. The mystery continues... :confused: :)
 
Since none of that worked, try loosening and tightening all of the screws, not just the pivot. One at a time, all of them together, one end then the other, then the middle, whatever.
Tighten the pivot all the way, and slowly loosen it.
You know which side the washers go on because of the marks. Flip them over.
Take the knife apart, put it back together, switch out one screw with another.
Sometimes folders do weird things, and getting them centered is luck of the draw. I've taken a folder apart, put it together, had problems with centering, taken it apart, put it together the exact same way, and the problem was gone, and never happened again. Same thing with the lockup on some framelocks. I've screwed up and "fixed" several, and had no idea what I did to make either happen.

So...just keep screwing with it :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top