DIY - Lanyard wire hole for Spyderco Pen Knife

M

Mr.Turnip

Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
68
Hi

As promised in this thread, I have now made a prototype of my idea: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398932

Picture from thread:
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As described, I wanted to add a lanyard hole to my Pen Knife. Below you can see what I ended up with. It works great, and I really like the fact that I can remove it easily to return to the original knife. One of these days, I'll be making one which has a better finish :)

A final question - how can make it to have the same finish/color as the wire clip itself?

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2a.jpg
 
Thanks you guys :)

Any ideas on how to match the bronze finish on the pocket clip? Has it something to do with how the metal is hardened?
 
Yes, I think they heated it to discolour it. I don't know the temps or the heat/cooling cycle they used.
 
You did good. I remember we had that discussion with Sal. Hopefully, the king himself can get into this.
 
Thanks a lot...
I hope so too. I can't be the only one, who thinks the Pen Knife is lacking a hole for a lanyard :)
 
It's hard to tell from the picture exactly what color the clip is. Spring steel is usually tempered to blue or vermillion, between 400 and 550 degrees f, depending on the alloy (if it is more of a bronze color, as you say, then it may be a lower temperature temper to more of a straw color). You can experiment with this using a toaster oven. Clean the clip using alcohol, acetone or your favorite solvent. Then bake it in your preheated toaster at 350 degrees. After it stops changing color you may increase the temperature in 15 degree incriments until it is the desired color. If you go too far, take it out and steel wool or scotchbrite it until it's silver again.

- Chris
 
Well done Mr Turnip (great name by the way!), it looks like a really good job.

I will have to get round to making one for my UKPK.
 
As for the coloring of the "hole" (Great idea by the way!) I would just torch it to give it color, a pecil torch or even a gas stove burner, heat it till it turns red then stop and water cool. It has no temper to ruin, so it will be fine, and be pretty much the color you desire.
 
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