Hat's Off to Folder Makers

[tito]

I've been working on getting a folder done for a while now, off and on. This is the second try, and it turned out better than the first one, though that's not saying much. Hats off to all the guys who make this look easy. There are plenty of mistakes on this one, but I feel like I learned a lot this weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to start making more of these soon.

This is kind of a frankenstein knife because I ran out of scrap micarta that matched...Also, instead of a thumb wheel, I have a broken tap in the spine. I also need to design a recess on the green side to give my thumb more room to access the lock. But, I was so happy with finally getting something that resembled the idea that I felt the need to post a picture...more to follow!

 

[raylaconico]

That's a really good looking design.. Congrats!

 

[jbrackett]

Looks good, look forward to more.

 

[butcher_block]

thats a nice looking ;folder
\where are more pics

 

[gixxer]

Very nice, nothing wrong with two colors of G10. Kinda reminds me of a framelock with Ti on the lock side and something different on the other.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

I'm confused. What broken tap are you talking about? No problem with the two colors. I'd also like to see more pictures.

 

[tito]

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words. I'm headed back out to the shop to try again.

I'm confused. What broken tap are you talking about? No problem with the two colors. I'd also like to see more pictures.

It's in the spine of the blade - I drilled a hole vertically into the steel to screw in a thumb disc that would perch on the spine. After heat treating, the threads inside were pretty rough - I was attempting to turn a tap by hand in my drill press to clean the threads up, and it snapped off clean inside the hole. I think this was a poor design for a knife that I heat treat and quench in oil. I don't know of a way to preserve the threads. I think a thumb bob is probably a much better way to go for carbon steel.

Hmmm...what if left a screw in the hole during heat treatment?

 

[whiskersallen]

Tito,
The screw would freeze up in the threads and break easier than the tap. The key is a very good quality {high cost}. tap and a fresh one on the clean up. They still break occasionally!
Knife looks good though. Keep it up.
Whiskers

 

[Mahoney]

Broken tap removal tools are available from machinist's supply houses like Travers, MSC, etc. You order by tap size and number of flutes. The tool has small metal "fingers" that slip into the flutes of the broken tap bit and, with luck and a little penetrating oil, allow you to thread it back out of the hole.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

OK, that makes sense. When I did mine, and I've got one less folder finished than you, I tapped mine prior to HT. After wards, the threads were fine and didn't need cleaning. Why would they be rough from the HT, would it be from the oil?

 

[mostho]

I love this folder, the two contrasting colours are very attractive and the balde is so nice!
Congrats