Folder-making questions

Burchtree

Burchtree

KnifeMaker & Moderator
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Sooner or later I gotta work on a folder. Got some Ti from a buddy and am going to make a pretty simple frame-lock with stand-offs and such. My main question is about rights and uses. The framelock is Chris Reeve's deal so I will ask about using it before trying. How about the flipper? Who do I need to talk to about seeing if I can utilize a version of that?

Now for the technical aspects -- the stand-offs, screws, and pivots. where do you guys get yours and how do you make sure they are the right size (to match thickness of blade w/spacers etc.) ? Also, I have absolutely no clue about the sizes of screws. Anyone have any pics of some of their work with the size of screws they used? How do you ensure your pivot hole is perfect? What is too tight, or not tight enough? Radiusing the edges? Getting the Ti lock to "curve?"

I have a mini-mill if that is helpful for answering my questions.

Thanks you all-mighty folder-makers -- I am full of all sorts of questions today. :) I've tried to look up as many answers as I can, but still dumbfounded (as usual). :D
 
I don't have the link offhand, but it would behoove you to look at Tom Anderson's "Making a Framelock" tutorial. I think Dan Gray has a link from his resources page. Sorry to make you do the hunting, but that tutorial goes step by step in the process Tom uses to make his framelocks, so I think you'll get a lot out of it. As far as the rest of the questions, I asked a bunch of them myself a few months ago, so if you do a search you may find some info. I ordered most of what I needed from MSC Direct (taps, drill bits, reams) and Halpern (pivot stuff), but I don't have anything more precise than a chep drill press, so my folder aspirations have been shelved big time! Good luck!
 
Thanks -- I completely forgot to check on cordage for you. You still needing a few yards? :footinmou
 
Nope. I stripped the core out of some black paracord and made due, although it's a little narrow, the knives sold, so the customer must've liked it! :D I'm still waiting to hear back from our source. It doesn't look good! :(
 
Mark Williams said:
Shouldn't you learn to make fixed blades first? :)
Click to expand...

I got tired of trying to figure them things out. I already break blades so I might as well put a pivot on 'em. :D
 
Check out Ray Rogers tutorial here:

http://www.rayrogers.com/ftutor1.htm

That is for a liner lock, but a fram lock is basically the same thing. I use 0-80 screws to hold the liners together and to hold the scales on. 2-56 for the 1/8 pivot. I use a #19 drill bit to counter bore for the 2-56 head diameter. I use a #31 drill for the pivot and then ream it to 1/8.

Check out www.knifekits.com for supplies.


Hope that helps.
 
I get all my pivots, screws and folder stuff from RB Johnson, great guy to deal with. I'll dig up his phone # later. He helped me out over the phone when I started making folders. His brocure is basicly a folder making class by itself. I don't think you need to ask anybody if you can make a framelock or a flipper. I made a couple of flippers 10 or 12 years ago before I ever saw one. Michael if you want to give me a call sometimes, I'd be glad to answer any questions. Also Joddy Muller over in your neck of the woods is getting pretty good at these folders.

Take care, Don Hanson lll
 
Here's an email that I sent to a new folder maker asking for advice on tools and materials, you may find some of it useful.

,
My crazy last couple of weeks have finally come to an end, sorry about the delay.
When I decided that I wanted to make knives I started with folders and made the mistake of buying cheap tools, basically wasting money. One very important thing that I found out early about making folders, everything needs to be as flat as possible! The bare bones minimum tools to achieve that is a disk sander, a precision cut surface plate with extremely tight and flat sandpaper, and patience. Those three ingredients will get you close to .001 - .003 which is good enough for a good folder action.

After finding out that I wasted money on cheap tools, here's a list of tools that I started with:
2x72 belt sander
9" vertical disk sander
drill press, you have to make adjustments to make sure it runs true and the table is set correctly
granite surface plate
metal cutting bandsaw
dremil rotary tool
bench vise, panavise, drill press vise, cross sliding drill press vise
home built anodizer
buffer
lighting, magnification, ventilation, safety glasses, respirators, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, slag bucket, dip bucket
various hand tools, torx drivers, taps / wrench, center punch, scribe, micrometer, calipers, ball pien hammer, rubber or plastic mallet, metal rulers, machinist straight edge, drill guide, drill bit / tap chart, parallel set, clamps, hold downs, screw drivers, needle nose pliers, precision squares, angle finders, arbor press, cobalt drill bits, reamers, spotting bits, carbide spade bits, slitting saws or cut off wheels for dremil, I know I'm forgetting stuff but this will give you an idea.

Tools that I added later:
variable speed horizontal disk sander
variable speed edge sander
bigger, better drill press

Tools that I would like to have:
surface grinder
milling machine
lathe
another belt grinder
heat treat oven with all the accessories for ht stainless steel

I started out making folders using Bob Terzuola' method, then I changed to Don Robinson' method, now I use a combination of both with some of mine mixed in.

Resources:
The Tactical Folding Knife book by Bob Terzoula
Don Robinson machinist method http://home.earthlink.net/~donwrobinson/knifemakerssupplies/id2.html
Ray Rogers tutorial http://www.rayrogers.com/folder.htm
Johnny Stout liner lock video http://www.stoutknives.com/video.htm
Jason Howell tutorial http://howellknives.com/index.php?BODY=liner1
R.B. Johnson method, tools and materials http://www.customknives.com/r.b.johnson/pg5.htm
Great resource site http://www.internetbusinesslinks.net/SupplierList.html#smalltools
Another EXCELLANT resource site http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html
And another http://www.engnath.com/public/manframe.htm
Instructional videos http://ccinstructionalvideos.com/videos.htm
I don't know about this company but it looks interesting for video rentals http://technicalvideorental.com/rental_9.html

Well this is a start, I don't have patterns because I really haven't made 2 knives that are alike.
Hope it helps some and if you have any questions please let me know. I practiced for probably 3 months before I attempted my first folder. A lot of practice and patience, do something very basic first then let your creativity go.

Good luck,
Dave
 
You guys always come through. :) I looked through the Anderson Framelock tutorial before and it was quite helpful.

Don -- don't worry, I'll be giving you a call to bother you. Jody's work is getting fantastic. He used to work down the road from where I work, but now that he's full-time it's getting harder to bother him. :D
 
I've got one of Burch's fixed blades that bends in the middle. (just kiddin, Mikey!) :D :p :D
 
I was going through a search, sorry about digging up an old-ish thread, but Michael, if you're still thinking about/doing folders, spend the $30 on Peter Atwood's framelock video. Best investment you could make. He actually makes it look easy, which is always scary for me, but it's well worth a look.
 
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