- Joined
- Apr 21, 1999
- Messages
- 739
I usually go with a 1/16 bearing and leave it protruding .024-.026 and drill the hole in my blade with a #54 drill bit.
Make sure your blade is perfectly flat and parallel and buff the tang of your blade (where your bearing rides) with a cotton buff and some white compound to smooth out the surface a bit. Flattening the bearing a little will help make your action a little crisper because you won't have to over ride the force of your lockbar over the .020 or so of your bearing height. (hope that makes sense). If you do flatten your bearing a bit be sure to buff it smooth afterwards. I use a little leather disc on a dremel tool with a little green chrome rouge. This with the polished and lightly greased bearing track will ensure a smooth and silky action with a crisp release. Be sure to use a soft light grease on the bearing track and in the detent hole for added slip.
If you are using the IKBS system or similar, be sure to break it in and burnish your action. I do this simply by assembling the knife and making sure the blade is centered and then tighten the pivot. Once snug, tighten a bit more and cycle your action 50-100 times tighten some more and repeat 2-4 times until when you back the tension off of your pivot the action is smooth and lump free. If you apply to much tension to soon you can dimple the race, go a little at a time. Once your action is perfect dis assemble and clean up everything. You'll see that your grease is black, clean it all up with q tips and acetone and replace with new grease and new bearings. I throw away the old bearings. Your folder should be awesome at this point.
Aloha!
Make sure your blade is perfectly flat and parallel and buff the tang of your blade (where your bearing rides) with a cotton buff and some white compound to smooth out the surface a bit. Flattening the bearing a little will help make your action a little crisper because you won't have to over ride the force of your lockbar over the .020 or so of your bearing height. (hope that makes sense). If you do flatten your bearing a bit be sure to buff it smooth afterwards. I use a little leather disc on a dremel tool with a little green chrome rouge. This with the polished and lightly greased bearing track will ensure a smooth and silky action with a crisp release. Be sure to use a soft light grease on the bearing track and in the detent hole for added slip.
If you are using the IKBS system or similar, be sure to break it in and burnish your action. I do this simply by assembling the knife and making sure the blade is centered and then tighten the pivot. Once snug, tighten a bit more and cycle your action 50-100 times tighten some more and repeat 2-4 times until when you back the tension off of your pivot the action is smooth and lump free. If you apply to much tension to soon you can dimple the race, go a little at a time. Once your action is perfect dis assemble and clean up everything. You'll see that your grease is black, clean it all up with q tips and acetone and replace with new grease and new bearings. I throw away the old bearings. Your folder should be awesome at this point.
Aloha!
