Folding knife question ..What size drill do you use

FOG2

FOG2

Joined
Nov 1, 2007
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For the pivot pin,Ive read the hole should be larger than the pin is there a formula for it. If i used a 1/8 pin what drill size? etc.

Also why is this done ?

Thanks,Bryce
 
You want to drill undersize,followed by a reamer to the desired final hole size.for 1/8" drill with a .120 (#31 i think) then run a .125" reamer through it.reamers cut very accuratly and leave you with a bang on slip fit.
 
Yeah, what he said.

Drilled holes are not even very round, much less smooth, straight walled, and accurate. I would definitely want to ream a folder pivot. The size reamer depends on your pivot pin size. I have .124, .125 and.126 reamers for 1/8" holes, for example. I'd suggest using the least amount of clearance that allows smooth motion. That will be about .001 over your pin size. Standard drill sizes are much larger jumps than that.
 
Also just because your pin material says it is 1/8" don't expect it to be exactly .125. It may very well vary. Ask how I found out. LOL
 
Thanks all.
No one has agreed that the hole should be larger than the pin ? I read it should be by 2 different folks that i would think would know.

Opinions ??
 
Well, technically, it must be larger than the pin, or it will not rotate.
It's just that you are going for larger by tenths of a thousandth of an inch.
Or I should say I do.
4 decimal places.
So if my pins were dead nuts .125, I'd lap to .1252 - .1254

The bigger you go, the sloppier it is.
 
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