Folders--where to start?

J

JBC69

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Feb 22, 2015
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I've made a bunch of full tang knives and a few hidden tangs... but I've been really wanting to try my hand at making a folder and have no clue where to start as far as type, design, theory, materials, etc. Any good books, youtube links or websites you could direct me to that might share some insight on where to begin?
 
Try a friction folder first. There is a tutorial in the stickies iirc.
 
Mike from Ekim Knives on YouTube has a good series going about making a folder. He's a likable guy and his videos have a lot of good information. There are probably many other great resources out there as well.
 
Have a look at USA knife maker they just came out with hardened template in two different sizes.

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JBC69 said:
I've made a bunch of full tang knives and a few hidden tangs... but I've been really wanting to try my hand at making a folder and have no clue where to start as far as type, design, theory, materials, etc. Any good books, youtube links or websites you could direct me to that might share some insight on where to begin?
Click to expand...

come on over, we can make a friction folder together.
my teaching rate is cheap!
I just did my first :-) http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1449230-Friction-Folder-101
 
Honestly I have only made a handful of folders. IMHO a cad program is your friend, yes you can do a template and use paint sticks, and do all these different methods suggested all over the forum, all which can be done with cad and save you a ton of work. Draftsight is a free cad, is easy to learn with youtube videos and can print a 1:1 template you can glue to your materials.
 
First you need to narrow down what KIND of folder you want to make. Although much of the techniques, tips and tricks will translate from one to the next, we can get a lot more specific with resources based on the kind of folder you want to start on.

Lockback?
Linerlock?
Framelock?
Slipjoint?
Friction folder?
Balisong?
etc.....

A lot of guys will start with kit knife, or taking one apart and recreating a similar pattern. A CAD program can certainly help refine a design and get a very accurate idea of how parts will fit and move together. Places like USAKnifemaker sell plans for various styles of folders, and will often provide a parts list so that you can order everything you need.

Whatever you choose to make, start simple and work slow.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
First you need to narrow down what KIND of folder you want to make. Although much of the techniques, tips and tricks will translate from one to the next, we can get a lot more specific with resources based on the kind of folder you want to start on.

Lockback?
Linerlock?
Framelock?
Slipjoint?
Friction folder?
Balisong?
etc.....

A lot of guys will start with kit knife, or taking one apart and recreating a similar pattern. A CAD program can certainly help refine a design and get a very accurate idea of how parts will fit and move together. Places like USAKnifemaker sell plans for various styles of folders, and will often provide a parts list so that you can order everything you need.

Whatever you choose to make, start simple and work slow.
Click to expand...

There is also working patterns out there that you can start with. I started with a known working pattern but it didn't teach me how the geometry works. For learning about geometry, read and re-read Bob Terzoulas book.
 
There's several good pdfs out there for free about designing and building folders.

"How to Build a Slipjoint Pocket Knife" by Chris Crawford
"Slipjoint Folder Designing" by Steve Culver
"Building a Slipjoint Folder" (2 parts) by Steve Culver

To name a few. Those are just the ones that I actually saved to my phone. I'm into traditional pocket knives so that's what I have but I've seen thsee e-books for every style of knife. They're out there, you just need to sit down with Google for a while.


I've yet to make a folder completely from scratch, but I've put kits together, salvaged blades and springs and built a new knife around it, and rebuilt beat up old knives.

I've learned so much doing that, I can't imagine trying to start building folders cold turkey.
 
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Slipjoints my way by Don Robinson is great if you want to make a slipjoint.
 
I'd start with a friction folder first just to get going.

The Bob Terzoula book Tactical Folding Knife is a great resource for building liner or frame locks.

I'd get a surface plate and some inexpensive digital calipers to start, that way you can measure accurately and check for flatness/make parts flat.
 
Though I do not have much experience, I can say that making a frictions folder is quite easy (compared to making a fixed blade) and can be done with simple materials and tools (no fancy hardware necessary). My efforts so far to make a slip joint have suggested that it is much harder (higher tolerances necessary more moving part etc).
 
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I recommend Terzuola's book as well. There are several informative WIP threads around too, a good one on liner locks by Gareth Bull, even one by me on frame locks in the stickys here.
You can make a liner lock without a mill or surface grinder quite well, armed with the knowledge. Ray Rogers has a good liner lock tutorial at his site, too...
 
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