first liner lock folder help

Knifemaker87

Knifemaker87

Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
1,073
hey everybody...
after attending the blade show... i am going to try and make a folder.. for my own personal carry.. cause i couldnt afford any of the ones there.. *tear*

anyway... i have a couple questions.. i am going to use aluminum liners with a spring steel liner lock bolted to the liner. the liner will have a machined recess so as to allow the lock to lay flush with the liner.

i bought a 3/16" pivot at the show, and a thumb stud too, and i have my pattern cut out for both the blade and the handle..i think this knife is going to be really rough.. but.. with your help it will be better than otherwise

i am not sure what it would be best to do first. What is the best order to do things? what tips/ things to look out for would you recomend? thanks so much!
~Chris
p.s. i have access to a milling machine...
 
You can save alot of grief if you buy Bob Terzuola's book on making a tactical liner lock. Check Barnes and Nobles, sorry I cant remember the correct title and I'm too lazy to go out in the shop for it, but they have it, several places carry it. Good book!
 
I have it. Excellent book. I'll share if you promise to ship it back when you're done!
 
I start with a plastic model, this way you get your blade and all the parts to fit before you start to cut metal. I have tried the bolted in lock and I could not get it to work. I suggest you just make the liners of spring steel and cut the lock bar loose from the liner, bend it in and then ht for the spring.
 
You had better make it of the materials you really like, because with you making it, it will turn out much better than you are thinking right now!:D

Seriously though, make yourself a pattern of the blade and one of the handle out of wood, kydex or even paper. Put a pivot in them and see how they work together, then make adjustments before using the real materials.

I bought the Terzuola book on Amazon for really cheap. It will give you a lot of insite on how things work in a folder. And will save you money in materials.

But most important, post some pictures when it have it finished, because we really like your knives.

Kelly
 
I would suggest that you use plexiglass for your pattern that way you can see through the blade pattern or handle pattern. print out you pattern and lay the plexiglass over the top. You will also be much better off if you will use either 15n20 or titanium for the liners and cut the spring looseand bend it in. use .007-.010 nylon or teflon washers along side the blade and over the pivot so that you don't have to mess with cutting a reccess for the lock. the reccess is easier to screww up than it is to get right and having that gap is unsightly imo. If you screww up and cut the lock too short you can peen it slightly at the rear and stretch it out a little just bee carefull to keep it even. put the detent ball in after everything else is fitted and working properly. One last thing see IF you can get ahold of Ed Schemp and get a copy of his method for the "shake and bake folder" from him
 
thanks guys!
firs off.. i did make a pattern out of thin gauge aluminum and the blade out of thin G10.. it is semi transparent and excellent for my purposes.. (plus it was all in teh scrap bin)
2w3rlo0.jpg


i will look into that book... def.
and while i am going to try the bolted lock... i have the pattern so that if it doesnt work..i can make it from 15n20 instead. i also have some bronze washers..

i dont have a detent ball... but can i use a very small ball bearing?

How does one go about heat treating titanium? i have access to some.. but i will have to machine it as it is really kinda big.. (not flat stock) sugesstions?

i will post pics as soon as i can (and i have two knives almost done)
thanks so much for your help!
~Chris
 
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TekSec said:
I have it. Excellent book. I'll share if you promise to ship it back when you're done!
Click to expand...

thanks for the offer man.. but if i think i would have a hard time giving it back.. should prolly just get my own copy.
thanks though!
 
How does one go about heat treating titanium?

Chris,

That is the good thing about titanium, you don't have to heat treat it. It has a natural springyness and memory. If you use Ti get at least .050" thickness, I think .063" or .070" is even better. It's not too hard to work with if you don't get it too hot. It will work harden if it gets red hot.

Your pattern looks good. I think it will make a nice folder.

Here's a good tutorial for liner locks. This is one I used early on. http://www.howellbladesmith.com/index.php?BODY=liner1

Good luck.

Kelly
 
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You should use titanium for the liners. It is already a spring and wont need to be heat treated. Chuck Bybee at Alpha Supply sells some really nice Ti.
 
I'm a fan of that design, for sure! Great looking piece, and I know it will turn out great with your attention to detail.

I've got to get the stones to try a folder sometime, but I feel I'm limited by my cruddy little cheap drill press. Maybe I need to look into a mini-mill.

--nathan
 
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