First folder pic and some questions

S

sattley

Joined
Aug 15, 2001
Messages
148
Sorry for the quality, this is just a scan, haven't got the Pics developed yet.
sendpics.html
If that didnt work, try this http://www.angelfire.com/home/customknives/sendpics.html
This is my first completed folder. When I pinned it together, I shimmed between the blade and the liners and pounded down the rivet. then I removed the shims and tapped until it was as tight as I dared yet would still open or close with gravity when the lock bar was pushed. I know next to nothing about folders, having only seen one custom one in my life. The problem is that as I buffed the blade, the side to side play increased when the blade is closed. the tip moves about 1/32" side to side when closed. When open, You can feel play, but it is minute. There is zero play in the lock-up. Any one know what I did wrong? Do I need to use a surface grinder? Relieve the liners like Ron Lake shows?:confused: :confused: Oh yeah and every !%&%&%* pin on it winked...no Glared at me.
Thanks
Leonard
 
Wowsers Leo, thats a darn good lookin knife!! A pinned together lock back is quite a challenge for your first folder. Did you use precision ground steel for the blade and lockbar? Did you use the leaf, forked, or coil spring? Instead of buffing the tang area of the blade and the inside of the liners, next time just hand sand them thru some of the finer grits, say 12-1500. Did you use a precision reamer on the pivot hole in the blade and liners? If not, that might be the cause of the slight blade play. Those mesquite handles are beautiful! I'm gonna have to find some of that. For the next one, try a liner lock held together with screws. Much easier to make and more forgiving than peened pins.
 
Mike,
You've got mail.

Just 1/8 stock from admiral, drill reamer combo... I'm not impressed, coil spring, bolsters pinned to liners,
Next one is getting precision ground. I have 3 more cut out Ill go grind them. I thought I could get away with careful hand work.:rolleyes: Call me hard headed, but I like the pinned together ones so I'm gonna make one somehow. Want to build some liner locks eventually.
Thanks for the advice
 
I think you can get away with careful hand work, though precision ground flat and parallel is best. Just because the first one wasn't perfect, doesn't mean the second one won't be slightly better, and so on.
 
if that is your first folder it is amazing.
The most important parts of the folder are the geometry. Perfect 90 degree holes. The wobble sounds like your pivot pin is too small/hole is a tad too big??? I dont know how you fitted it but on those kind of knives there isnt much room for error. About .0005" bigger hole than pin is a real good standard. Are you using stainless pins? If so what kinds. If I were you I would stick with hardened 416SS as a stantard. There are a lot of guys making some very nice folders with the minimum of equipment....Tim Herman is one.
 
Thanks to all.
After further inspection, I find that all of my bushings seem to be +/- .001 of each other. And my drill/reamer doesnt seem to make perfectly round holes. Between these 2, the blade is being allowed to wiggle on the bushing. I was using 416 stainless, and I think thats why all my pins showed up. It doesn't seem as clean on the outside or as easy to peen as 304. Need a little practice there. When using a pivot bushing, shouldnt the pin swell up to fit tight in the bushing, and the blade should pivot on the bushing? If this is the case, then bushing to blade fit would be critical, and pin to bushing fit less so? Oh yeah, it is serial no.2 but I finished it befor no. 1 which is still awaiting my attention.
Thanks again,
Leonard.
 
Lenoard,
That's a great looking knife. I have a folder that has the identical lockup and wobble you described. I never thought about much until your post.
I was typing this as you were making your last post about the pivot holes and have nothing left to add there. One thing, after looking more closely at my knife, I determined that the solid lockup is because the liners are not parallel.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p10e4bd0f490ac1e5bc3e3cba6e8f9cdc/fdf8fa38.jpg.orig.jpg
In the picture the space between the liners is measurably less between B than A. My knife locks up solid when the tip of the spine enters the liners at B. I think a lot of the wobble could be taken out if the liners were parallel and at the width of B.
Look forward to seeing your next one.
Regards,
Greg
 
I've made about a half dozen folders so far, and not a one as good as that. It is outstanding.:cool:
 
Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate them. I have a couple of paying cstomers to get out of the way then I can try again.
Thanks Again
Leonard
 
Very nice work! Some of your play may come from the compounding effect of the pivot pin rocking in the bushing and the bushing rocking in the blade pivot hole. I'd think it would take considerable peening force to swell the pivot pin in the bushing. If you press fit the bushing in the blade you can eliminate one variable, or eliminate the bushing altogether. One key to a good folder is practice. ;)
 
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