Is replacing caged bearings with PB washers reasonably doable?

[metaphoricalsimile]

I have a little Civivi McKenna that I really enjoy the size and shape of, but I don't enjoy how quickly the bearings gum up with pocket junk. Would replacing the bearings with PB washers be a reasonably doable thing to do?

 

[kreisler]

Would replacing the bearings with PB washers be a reasonably doable thing to do?

i once tried the same replacement on an italian knife. first of all, i will bet that you're NOT going to find a perfectly matching sized PB washer anywhere in the world (at an acceptable price). the washer must be smooth and have perfect thickness.
you might find the perfect size in brass, copper, stainless steel, other steels but not in pb.

if you're lucky you can stack commercially
available pb washers to produce the required thickness. but stacking washers means adding friction forces (it's simple physics) and the blade won't open with a flick anymore.

after "weeks" of efforts (of planning and sourcing and buying and testing, etc) and wasting time&money, i gave up. it simply didn't work out for me.
after that failed "project" i settled for
ceramic bearings. much better than standard steel balls because ceramics doesn't rust. i wash out my knife in warm soapy water and clean out humidity with compressed air.
ceramic bearings cost like 10usd for 1 pair on AliX shipped.

that's the most reasonable way to go.

imho.

i never looked back. (and i think i posted about it on B\F, use search to find)

 

[metaphoricalsimile]

Great, thanks for the feedback.

 

[115Italian]

You would have to get a filler washer to fill in the cut outs for the bearing. Then pb washers can be installed.

 

[Glenn Goodlett]

It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult if you had some PB rod and a lathe. Turn the OD, bore the ID, part to thickness, then polish.

 

[sickpuppy1]

Also, the gumming up from being in your pocket has more to do with the cleaning/oil your using than the bearings. Been keeping mine in pockets for years and aside from a piece of lint, they've all been great.

 

[kreisler]

It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult if you had some PB rod and a lathe. Turn the OD, bore the ID, part to thickness, then polish.

i doht know how they're produced or mass-produced on $BABA. maybe they start with rods, maybe with sheets. i agree that with a lathe one would achieve the specs to good precision before flat-polishing on a mean-flat stone.
if anyone knows a place who offers this service for 10$/pair shipped, please let us know here. thx.