Dies and Jigs...with regards to folders

S

Scooter

Joined
Jul 13, 1999
Messages
103
I have a question for you tool & die makers and anyone else that can help.

How does one get all the holes for screws/pin/etc in the right spot every time?

For instance, when a maker has a "standard" model that he/she produces in quantity, what type of die/jig (please forgive me on terminology) do you use?

I was thinking of making a die(?) out of tool steel with the holes in the proper postions and then hardening it so that I just have to clamp/pin/screw the scales/liner material in place and drill the holes. (This would be done through the hardened jig/die).

I was also thinking of making a die out of tool steel that would be the shape of the handle and then sandwiching the liner/scales in between the hardened die and cutting/grinding/filing the outside to the shape required.

Is this on the right track?

How do the pro's do it?

Thanks for any and all help.

Best regards,

Darren
 
Darren, that's just about what I do. I make a (I call it a master) out of 1/8" O-1. I use this to drill the holes in the correct position. I use this same master to scribe the outline of the liners. I then just grind to the liners (and spacer).



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A.T.
http://www.customknives.com
AKTI #476


 
Scooter,
Well hit on something right up my alley. I make jigs and dies. Your hole drilling idea is alright, but you may run into some problems. I have tried that very same idea and the problem I had was it wasn't too accurate. The next problem you will see is that your jig holes will ream out and then your alignment will be way off.
I know this may sound very simplistic and low tech, but this how I do it. I use brass brazing rods as pins most of the time. First I lay the scale against the tang and trace it with a pencil then cut the scale(s) out. I then use Vise Grips to hold one scale on at a time and drill through the holes already in the tang. After I have drilled both scales, I tap pins through one scale, so there's about .1875 or so sticking out. The I take the other scale and make sure the holes line up. If everything is good, then I slap them on the tang. This works well if you are making a bolsterless knife. By pinning the two scales together you can cut or sand the front of the scales to match perfectly.
Hope I helped


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"Boy, if ya don't screw up once in a while, ya ain't learnin' nuthin'" - An old cowboy
 
Scooter,
I use about the same system as AT.

I use the template to scribe the pattern on the material (liner, blade, or spacer) and cut it out. For liners, I clamp the template onto each piece and drill thru the holes. I drill every hole, no matter what size, to the smallest diameter, usually a #52. That way there is no chance of drilling too large of a hole in the wrong place.

On liners, I tap the holes and screw two pieces together. I use the pivot hole and at least 2 spacer screw holes.
After they are screwed together, I grind the profile on both at the same time.
Next step is to vise grip near the pivot area and remove the screw thru the pivot hole. Drill and ream the pivot hole and backstop pin hole. Since they are still clamped together, they stay paralell.

After this, I do the countersinks for the spacer screws and enlarge any other holes to the right diameter.

For fixed blades, I use a template (hardened 01) and do about the same thing.

What it takes is getting a system and sticking with it. Do them the same way every time. It goes pretty fast.
 
Scooter,
I use the same system as AT and KIT (pretty much). I made my template out of 1/4" D2. The template is fully hardenend (no drawback). I clamp 2 liners to the template and drill thru both at once. Then I scribe the out line and cut and shape.

Hey AT & KIT, isn't it wonderful how great minds think alike.
biggrin.gif



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Barry
Jones Knives

Do you hear that?
That is the sound of inevitability.
 
Mr's Barr, Park, Carson, Jones, Ralph;

Thank you so much for your responses.

It still amazes me that you all share this information so readily.

Thank you for being such gentleman.

Best regards always,

Darren.
 
Scooter, you have hit the nail square on the noggin with this question!!!! I don't know why I never thought to ask this one, but you guys have shared info here that will surely help us folder makin wannabes finally get it right. Thanks big time!!!!!!!! Take care and God Bless!! MIchael

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"

 
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