folder question

[22h2]

I am working on first folder and I peened the blade a little to much and I was wondering if lapping compound could be used to loosen the fit? or would it loosen the pin and bushing also?

 

[son_of_bluegrass]

I assume you mean you peened the pivot pin too tight. If you work laping compound it might not work or it might work too well in either case you may not get it all out leading to premature loosening of all working parts. Your best bet is to carefully take it apart and redo it. Or if the folder works, carry it for a while use it regularly and see what happens; I peened a pivot pin too much and am carrying it, over the last 6 to 8 months it has loosened some (still just a bit tighter than i think is ideal but not so tight that folks have trouble opening it).

ron

 

[22h2]

Sorry about the confusion, yep it's the pivot pin. I thought about carrying it but I would like to correct the issue if I can. I guess the only way to take it apart is to drill the pin out? Man I took alot of pains to make sure that the hole in the bolster was right on the money. anyway that's part of it.

 

[Donald Bell]

Here is a trick that I was shown when I first started and did the same thing with the pivot:-
-mask the area around the pivot on both sides to prevent marking
-hold the knife in the palm of your hand and carefully tap the pivot with your hammer, repeat on other side.-repeat a few times if needed.
-if this still doesn't work, place the knife on a solid surface that has a hole under the pivot pin, then tap the pin firmly -flip over and repeat.
Hopefully this will work - it did for me .
-The next tip I learned in peening pivots was to use a feeler guage with a notch in it -just slide the guage ( I used 0.004" ) between the liner and the blade ,around the pivot, and then slide it out after peening. -No more tight pivots!!
Hope this helps-let us know how you make out.
Don
www.Bellknives.com

 

[heatride]

Take a piece of micarta and taper it to a point . Make it about 3' long and the top about 3/8 then insert it in the front of the liners and hit it with a hammer 2 or 3 good licks . I assume you relieved the liners .

 

[22h2]

Thanks everyone, I decided to drill the pin out and start all over. I just finished everything turned out real well. Don, I took your advise and used shims this time I wished I had done that the first time.

Ted