Crooked Pivot PIn #*@&%$^

[Peter Atwood]

There I was, sailing along with a new framelock folder, things were going great. I got the blade shape finalized, had the handle slabs finished. The pivot pin is press fitted into the lock side. I noticed that the blade was listing ever so slightly to one side but I didn't think too much of it.

Well, I got around to counterboring the pivot holes kind of late and when I did there suddenly was a lot less material supporting the sides of the pin. And that's when I realized that I had drilled the damned pivot ever so slightly crooked. Now the blade sits even more crooked, the pivot has slightly tighter and slightly looser spots in its swing and I am disgusted. Naturally I already have the lock cut and it's tight. The material is .125 titanium so I'm not so anxious to whip out another handle slab.

I figure I must have moved the drill press table down to accomodate a longer bit and then forgot to tighten it up and return it to a true 90 degrees.

Anyhow, I'm committed to finishing this design and I'll make another one using this knife as a template. Anyone ever have this happen to them? (he asked knowingly, nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!)

 

[george tichbourne]

Never .....every hole that I drill is dead true and located exactly where it was supposed to be.

Quit laughing!!!!!

In the workshop Murphy's law is paramount.."ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL"

 

[BARRY JONES]

Peter,

Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes not so wonderful) world of folder making.

I have done the same thing. Best thing to do is learn from the mistake and try not to repeat it.

 

[RARanney]

"he asked knowingly, nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!"

Say no more, say no more.

 

[Kit Carson]

Peter,

I would hazard a guess that we all have done that. I know I have.

My drill presses have the depth stop device that you can roll around and lock the depth by turning a thumb screw (rather than the rod and double nut affair). I always set the depth for countersinking and to go deeper, I raise the table. I never try to free hand the depth.

As far as the problem you have right now, sounds like a new side plate is the only way to go.

 

[Ray Murski]

Peter, try aligning the liners. The linners my not be perpendicular to each other. When the blade is in the closed position look at the tip of the blade and which linner it is close to. Open up the knife and hold the blade in one hand and the handle in the other hand. Put both of your thumbs on the pivot and bend the blade towards the linner it was close to when closed.

 

[Ferret]

The table on my press is locked at a "one size fits all" position and there it'll stay. Of course, there's still the other 150 ways to screw up a folder

 

[Peter Atwood]

Thanks for all the commisseratin' and the suggestions. I think Kit's got the right idea though. What I'm going to do is finish this knife and carry it around and use it. It's not perfect, doesn't have a silky smooth action, but it's not too far off either. So I'll make another one just like it and the next time I'll keep my eyes peeled at those critical stages!

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

Peter,
the easiest fix for this is to just drill the hole larger and use a larger pivot, this will take the un-evenness out of the liner holes. Only drawback is you will need a carbide drill to put a larger hole in the blade.
Chuck