Help Making a Pocket Clip

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knifezoid

Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
1,981
Hello guys. Hoping you could give me a bit of direction with
a small project I'd like to take on.

I'm looking to make a custom pocket clip for a couple of my
knives.

I wanted to use some real basic material I can find around
the house or at a dollar store for the material (i.e. picture
frame hangers, old silverware, etc.)

Do you guys advise any other material for such a task? Do
you recommend buying a metal sheet instead?

Also, what is the best way to bend the material to shape? I
was thinking a blow torch and pliers?

And what is the best way to cut metal? Metal grinder?

That's a lot of questions, but thanks for your patience and help
in advance.
 
You are wasting your time even just thinking about trying to make them yourself without several needed tools ans say either some titanium or steel you can get to a spring steel. It takes a bit for even a knife maker to make these. As well there are holes that must be drilled into the knives as well as the clips, and they must be done accurately. Frank
 
I plan to use the existing holes in the knife where some screws are that hold
the G10 or other parts of the knife.

Can you recommend me some places to get material?

Can you recommend me some tools to start out with?

I do have access to a dremel, a hand drill, metal files,
hammers, pliers, and some other basic tools like that.

Thanks.
 
The "spring" part is what makes this tricky-in order to have good spring the metal needs to be harder than plain old mild steel. So you are talking about heat treated steel, which you can't buy at most hardware stores and is not easy to bend, drill, file, etc. Heating it to make it bend easier will ruin the heat treat, so you pretty much have to start with the proper alloy, cut, bend, and drill the metal first, and then heat treat it.
It would be easier if you could modify an existing clip to suit your needs. You can drill new holes with a carbide drill if necessary.
Midwest Knifemaker's Supply carries quite a few styles of clips. Cell phone holders and similar items can be good places to scavenge clips from as well.
 
Thanks Justin, I didn't even think about working off an existing clip.
Thanks for clarifying the order of operations too and a material reference.
 
Call Knife World and get one of the back issues of the Feb 2010 issue. I just wrote a how to make pocket clips for dummies article for them that month that is quite extensive and covers about everything you asked about.

STR
 
Ah, STR, I was hoping you'd chime in. Thanks man. I will definitely do that.
Can I PM you if I get stuck along the way?

Steinmann, great article! Thanks for all the resources guys?
 
I'm easy to reach anytime looking in my forums here or on knife dogs.

The article I wrote covers about all the various ways you could do one with basic tools. It was written at the editors request geared for just the guys like yourself that may want to do something like that using some sheet steel or titanium but don't have a fully equipped shop.

STR
 
STR said:
Call Knife World and get one of the back issues of the Feb 2010 issue. I just wrote a how to make pocket clips for dummies article for them that month that is quite extensive and covers about everything you asked about.

STR
Click to expand...

Got the issue today. Great Article! Will have to read it again in detail
but looks like it's got all the info to get started.

I just got some material here from a fellow member. The support from
Bladeforums has been awesome.

Thanks guys, will post pics of my newbie work when I finish.
 
Some picks of the work in progress. Yes, right now it looks like
scrap metal, lol. But I think once I trim it down to shape and
polish it up it will look more like a clip... I hope.

It is a wrap around clip for deep pocket carry for my Kershaw
Skyline.

Thanks goes out very much to P Moore who sent me the materials
to get me started and gave me lots of great advice.

Also thanks to STR and McAhron who pointed me in the right direction
with great advice and articles.

Here's some irony. I took the clip off my Skyline to measure stuff,
and now I kind of like to carry it without the clip. LOL.

IMG_9462.JPG


IMG_9465.JPG
 
Yeah its far and above what my article covered. I'm impressed. Clean it up and mount it. Take some more pics and show it off.

Congrats on your first clip. You may have to watch because you might find out you enjoy it. :eek:

STR
 
Another design. Kind of explained on video. I'm going back to the Skyline
now. Thanks to McAhron I got some longer screws so I should be able to
mount it. And yes, STR, I'm really starting to like it!

[youtube]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PyeER8MeI88&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PyeER8MeI88&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]

Do you guys think I could counter sink the screw so it is flush with the
clip or do you think the material is too thin? Also any ideas on how to
get some of my bends tighter? I was thinking of holding it under a torch
for a while then trying to get more bend with pliers/hammer. I don't have
a vice yet, but I perhaps I can get access to one.
 
knifezoid said:
Another design. Kind of explained on video. I'm going back to the Skyline
now. Thanks to McAhron I got some longer screws so I should be able to
mount it. And yes, STR, I'm really starting to like it!

[youtube]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PyeER8MeI88&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PyeER8MeI88&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]

Do you guys think I could counter sink the screw so it is flush with the
clip or do you think the material is too thin? Also any ideas on how to
get some of my bends tighter? I was thinking of holding it under a torch
for a while then trying to get more bend with pliers/hammer. I don't have
a vice yet, but I perhaps I can get access to one.
Click to expand...

I countersunk some trying that and in my experience it opened the hole up more that the stem (threads) went through causing enough room for the clip to move side to side at times. I didn't like it so I stopped doing it. There is a fine line you can get to where you can sink the heads down some without opening the hole more but the head will still stick up some to find this sweet spot depth. Now granted that depends on the thickness you used too. Most of my clips are between .045 and .050 thickness.

STR
 
OK, here's that one for the Skyline almost finished. Still want to trim off
some excess here and there and not sure how I want to leave the finish.
Was thinking bout bluing it with the torch but have no idea how to do that
really. Kind of like the finish as is, it is with a dremel sanding drum only.

The idea was a deep pocket carry clip that utilized the stock mounting
positions for the G10 scales. That way you can switch between the deep
clip and the stock clip should you ever change your mind.

The new clip required longer screws which McAhron provided (thanks!). They stick out
a little too far and was wondering the best way to grind them off without
jeopardizing them getting stuck when screwing on or off.

IMG_9576.JPG


IMG_9578.JPG


IMG_9587.JPG


IMG_9589.JPG


IMG_9595.JPG
 
knifezoid said:
The new clip required longer screws which McAhron provided (thanks!). They stick out a little too far and was wondering the best way to grind them off without jeopardizing them getting stuck when screwing on or off.
Click to expand...
Take measurement from the bolt of how much should be cut off, then take it of the knife, put a nut on it with the correct thread of course;) then wrap the area where you want to cut it with some tape, any tape will do, mark on the tape the cut with a marker/pen and cut it, nut behind the cut area. The tape is there to help you not slide a side and hold the saw blade in place until you reach the metal. After cut, fine file the cut and Slowly take off the nut. The last one will straight and correct the cut thread and you’re done.
That’s a very nice job! I hope some day I will make my own clips.
:)
 
Thanks for the tip Steinmann. I managed to shorten it with the dremel, and
I will do what you said with a hand file to make it look proper and get the
length exact.

clemsonreeder said:
Be careful with the torch, too hot and it won't be spring tempered any more after your done....
Click to expand...

I didn't know over heating could do this! I actually heated one of the bends
pretty hot to get it to bend tighter. But I would not have an idea of what
would be considered to much heat. The metal turned bluish/yellow/brown in
a small area. Still seems to be springy though and holds to the pocket well.
 
When I make the back spring for a folder it's heated, quenched and drawn to a blue color -- that's what I use for "spring temper" If I get it any hotter than blue, then I have to start all over.
 
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