Couple questions for folder makers.

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Sep 23, 1999
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When you are working on several folders at a time and have a bunch of screws or stand offs and pivots to cut to length, what jigs, tools, or methods do you use to do it as efficiently as possible and keep the ends of the pivots and stand offs square?
When you're bending the lock tab on a liner lock, how far should it sit out from the rest of the liner if you're using .125 thick blade and .020 washers?
Do you automatically put belt clips on your larger folders or do you wait till it's sold and ask the customer if they'd like one on the knife?
Is there any purpose in filing a choil in the blade other than cosmetics?
Thanks up front for any help you can give me!!!
 
That's a lot of questions, Michael. :eek:

I'll take on one of them. :D

I put a choil in my blades so the edges of your sharpening stones don't get rounded off. (The sharpened edges on my knives go the whole way back to the choil. ;) )
 
For shortening screws I made a little jig out of a peice of scrap steel. I drilled it out and tapped it for a few different sizes. That way I can just thread the screw into it, grind it flush, an not have any problems with the threads getting messed up. And its real easy to hold onto compared to just the screw.
I used a peice that was .125 thick, since thats what I use for bolsters, and blades. It takes care of screws for things like pocket clips where you don't want the screws to go clear though the liner (tip down carry). If you want the screws longer, you just don't turn them in as far. Its still pretty consistent, or you could use thicker stock.
 
The locking leaf should not be bent any farther then the opposite liner (Your blade thickness plus your two washer thicknesses.) Bending it farther than that gives no extra benefit and increases the tendancy to jam on the tang.
 
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