DDR folder kits

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,254
Guy's I have been stuck living in a condo in NY state for 5 months now while we erect a microchip factory, and I still have 5-6 months to go before the building is done. I can't stand being away from my shop any longer! I am thinking about ordering some folder kits from knifekits.com. Does anyone have any experence with the DDR3 folders? Also after shipping I will be paying about $75 for the kit and handle materials, will the finished product with the AUS8 blade be worth the money? I would feel better if it was something like ATS34 or 154cm. Any advice would be great. I need to do something to keep my sanity....
 
Don't worry about the money, do it for your sanity and give them away. For most people Aus8 will be fine
 
I modify a few DDR3-BLs each year. After the mods ,including auto conversion, I get $250-$350 each. I have had no complaints about the steel.
 
Rocketman, sounds like you might need to make yourself an knife shop in a suitcase, it can be done, then stock up on some goodies to keep ya busy, just a thought.
 
I have also done several of the DDR 3 autos. I replace the blades with ones I make from damascus. Funny thing is all 5 of the blades in the batch I got don't have the little hole for the spring drilled all the way thru. But, if someone wants a spare blade let me know, you would just need a very small carbide drill. I also put in a stainless back spacer and file work it, as well as replace the plastic slide lock with one of steel. I machined a length of SS to very close to the size and ct it into small pieces. Little bit of filing to finish. If you decide to do this let me know and I will send you a piece.
I understand, I travel for work too, and motel life can get old fast.
I will try to post some pictures of the 2 I have just finished.
 
OK here ya are. Need to find my camera stand. The base kit is not too bad you just need 2 small tork drivers.

DDR3.jpg

DDR3a.jpg

DDR3b.jpg


When you get adventuresome take a blade from 1 and JB weld it to a damascus billet the right thickness and carefully cut, grind, drill and file until they are a perfect match or a tiny big in the pivot area. Harden, temper, gring and fine tune with small diamond files
 
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Here is a quick photo. I'm packing for the show, so it isn't real detailed.
One in Desert Ironwood, and the other in CF. Blades are reshape ,and the kits are converted to auto. I usually have some in mammoth, but they sold. The one in DI isn't finished. I plug the scale holes with ebony doweling to make black dots where the screws are.
One real neat auto conversion is to make a new blade that is just a bottle opener ( no edge). Bartenders love those. They pull out this big knife..push the button...and open a bottle of beer. I should send the pattern to Dave at GLWJ, and let him carry the bottle-blade cutouts.
 

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Stacy, I like how you dress up the button and the pivot heads. Nice. Kinda fun to mess with.
 
This looks like a good "quicker" project for me. I have a 1 year old and haven't had a lot of time to go out to the shop and get myself covered in grinder dust. My wife wouldn't appreciate that :)

Can anyone point me in the right direction for info on the auto conversion?

Thanks!
 
Buy the DDR3 kit and get the coil springs from under knife making parts. Think the DDR3 takes the .375 spring. I get the Maxx torque.
 
ib2v4u said:
Buy the DDR3 kit and get the coil springs from under knife making parts. Think the DDR3 takes the .375 spring. I get the Maxx torque.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Is that all it takes? I know I'll need to drill the hole for the spring, but do I need to recess the liner to accept the spring?

Thanks again!
 
Usually the blades come with the hole. Just the last batch did not have complete holes. The kit does come setup to accept the spring. On the ones I drilled the hole on I used some small cheap carbide drills from ebay and a finger pressure chuck in my mill. That small carbide drills will break just looking at them.
 
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