Making a liner lock folder - Need tips

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When I was young, back before the days of kit knives and luxury like that I simply bought old slip joints at flea markets. If I saw one I liked I'd pop it apart. Copy each piece best I could using nothing but hand files and saws and vices because we had nothing else. Brass, or carbon steel were my choices back then. So what I did was use brass since it was cheap.

The old boy suggesting liners of blades is probably thinking just liners only not picturing the lock mechanism. For just a set of liners any old thing could be made to work from old metal outlet covers of real brass or copper to store bought sheet steel in 410 stainless. The problem is you want a lock. The spring is needed so your choices are limited. Use anything like old spark plug gappers that are broken. The two exterior plates on those are usually right around 40-44 Rockwell if they are the gold old USA made ones. Find them at yard sales. Pennies really. If you take the pins out smooth you can even reuse those and they are long so no worries for length. Old sheets of aluminum would be fine liners but again the liner lock is an issue here also. .

For that matter you could use thicker brass and nest a hardened lock plate into the lock at the contact. You would need a mill to do that tho and that leaves you with brass. It work hardens. Can hold a weak spring set. Has been used for locks of a liner type in electricians knives and early liner locks. Wear would be okay but strength? Nothing tactical here for sure! Well, for a pocket gents folder I'm sure it would be fine.
 
Well, I think you are a bit naïve. On the other hand I believe in your energy, enthusiasm, and yes even the bull headedness you are showing. On the other hand you aren't learning anything about that liner lock , this way, are you. Okay, so you can't afford the titanium for the liners. I can understand that. Yes if you take some carbon steel and can heat treat it properly to spring quality you can use this material for the liners. If you can find a rod that's got a screw thread going through the center it will work for then pivot if you have a screw for each end once it is cut to size. As of now I understand you have your own pattern to go to. If that's true make up a pattern out of say Formica, or other thin easily work cardboard or such and make sure your pattern will in fact work before destroying any metal. I say I like to help people and I do. Am I also a grouchy old man? You would have to ask some of my past students. Hey that doesn't bother me if I am able to help them. Ask more questions if you wish and a outline of your pattern might help with the further questions. By the way I am also known as the 'ol Booger but my name is Frank
 
Willie71 said:
When pursuing a hobby such as knifemaking, every single thing you learn leads to 10 more things you need to know. I have a little piece of advice, and I will give you a full refund of what it costs you if it isn't helpful:

The best way to get helpful, respectful suggestions is to show us you have put some effort in already. Reference the WIPS you have looked through, call "thingys" by their correct name. For example: "I was looking through this WIP .......... and they used titanium for the liner lock. I am young and on a budget. Can I substitute something cheaper for my prototype before I spend on the titanium for the final version?"

If you would have posted that, I would have sent you some 15N20 for free to mess with, as you could heat treat it well enough at home to make a prototype liner lock. Ti is the way to go on the working version.
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Well to bad I didn't, but I would've appreciated your generosity. That is exactly what I was looking for though. It's my first folder and I wanted some cheap material to make a rough functioning mock up to help me hone my skill for when I make a quality one. Is 15N20 cheap? If so, where can I find some?
 
Pm me your address. I'll send you a couple scrap pieces. :) I'll need your parent's permission though.

Warren/Willie71
 
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When I was 7 years old and made my first KSO (knife) I (for whatever reason) blued
the blade, hammered on some pine scales, and dyed them with mechurochrome. I had
made a knife! My dad gets home from work and said boy what the hell were you doing?
I told him I made a knife and was proud enough to show it to him. He said its no good
and I said why- he told me it won't hold an edge because mild steel can't be heat treated.
Big letdown! It was a beginning for me. With today's knowledge and info its a much shorter
trip around the learning curve------ but its still there.
Ken.
 
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matt6150 said:
Again, I am very sorry Mr. Niro. Although I should not have mouthed off to you in the first place, I was not aware of your reputation and experience. I will take your knowledge into great consideration.

Sincerely,
Matt
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You just don't get it do you? Frank Niro's reputation and experience is not relevant to anything you said. He just happened to be the one you disrespected. But by doing that you dissed us all and then you argued about it.

Using the word ALTHOUGH preceding your lame apology negates its having any sincere value you twit............

It doesn't matter who you were talking to really, you are no one to us, just one of many people who come in here and want the answers handed to them on a plate, who hasn't, as far as I can tell, done any study whatsoever about what it takes to make a knife, any knife or you wouldn't have acceded to the suggestion that you buy a kitchen knife and hack it apart to make the liners for your "linerlock" I've read some astoundingly stupid suggestions in here but that one (if he wasn't pulling your leg with it) is about the STUPIDEST of all time.

You need to learn how to act in civilized society. I have this idea that that's gonna take you awhile............

Come back with pics

We don't know you.

We don't owe you anything.

If you'd acted right you'd be treated differently. VERY differently

Show us something. Entertain us. Tell us a story. Tell us how you're gonna talk a shopclass teacher into letting you build a knife in a school. That'll be a good one.

Corey
 
Frank Niro said:
Well that fellow who recommends buying a kitchen knife and cutting it up for the liner and spring is looking pretty ignorant to me right now. How would that ever work even in a junky made liner lock. Not at all !!! Go to Alpha Knife Supply and buy some titanium about .050 thick. They sell small pieces that are not expensive. This is then springy stuff you need. Have you even checked out the information here on making a liner lock? One member has posted a complete how to make it. You have no idea what you are THINKING of attempting. With your present amount of learned knowledge it would be hopeless to take you through step by step. Sorry but those are the facts. Frank
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Hey! :( I told him to buy supplies and do it right. I already knew he just wants to experiment and get a feel for things. My suggestion with the cheap kitchen knife was only so that he won't use whatever he found laying around. At least with the knife he won't be frustrated when the mild steel he finds breaks after 30 folding actions or while bending it.

After he tries making it with whatever, he will save up and do it right. But for a young guy to blow 60 bucks on materials for an experiment that will most certainly be a learning experience and most probably will not turn out as expected in his mind right now I thought it was gonna put him off after his first "thing that looks like a folding knife sort of and will cut something"

No harm or such was intended.
 
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ev13wt said:
After he tries making it with whatever, he will save up and do it right. But for a young guy to blow 60 bucks on materials for an experiment that will most certainly be a learning experience and most probably will not turn out as expected in his mind right now I thought it was gonna put him off after his first "thing that looks like a knife sort of and will cut something"\
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Instead he should get something that isnt flat, cant be drilled or filed, isnt tempered for a spring etc etc
 
http://www.rayrogers.com/ftutorial.htm Check this out.

I also highly recomend Bob Terzuola's "the tactical folding knife" book. See if you can find a downloadable version.

When I first became interested in folders I bought several cheap ones and changed the blades out. The first liner locks I used didn't even have a detent for the blade, but I got an understanding of the mechanism and how everything worked together. Another possibility is to put several kit folders together.

If your looking for cheap metal to make the liner, 15&20, or even used wood mizer band saw blades work. Titanium works better because it won't rust, doesn't need heat treat, and most importantly is "sticky" to the lock.

Really only two tools you "must" have, a drill press that will drill 90deg. holes, and something to make the lock bevel on the blade, like a disk sander or belt sander.
 
FTO_dude said:
Instead he should get something that isnt flat, cant be drilled or filed, isnt tempered for a spring etc etc
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Hmmm. Maybe I didn't think it through all the way. I just posted the first thing that came to mind that was flat (sort of) and "springy", easily accessible and cheap.
 
synthesist said:
You just don't get it do you? Frank Niro's reputation and experience is not relevant to anything you said. He just happened to be the one you disrespected. But by doing that you dissed us all and then you argued about it.

Using the word ALTHOUGH preceding your lame apology negates its having any sincere value you twit............

It doesn't matter who you were talking to really, you are no one to us, just one of many people who come in here and want the answers handed to them on a plate, who hasn't, as far as I can tell, done any study whatsoever about what it takes to make a knife, any knife or you wouldn't have acceded to the suggestion that you buy a kitchen knife and hack it apart to make the liners for your "linerlock" I've read some astoundingly stupid suggestions in here but that one (if he wasn't pulling your leg with it) is about the STUPIDEST of all time.

You need to learn how to act in civilized society. I have this idea that that's gonna take you awhile............

Come back with pics

We don't know you.

We don't owe you anything.

If you'd acted right you'd be treated differently. VERY differently

Show us something. Entertain us. Tell us a story. Tell us how you're gonna talk a shopclass teacher into letting you build a knife in a school. That'll be a good one.

Corey
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I will take this into consideration as much as you should yourself. Thank you very much synthesist.
 
Willie71 said:
Pm me your address. I'll send you a couple scrap pieces. :) I'll need your parent's permission though.

Warren/Willie71
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I thank you again Willie, but my parents probably would allow me to give away my address. As you know it's nothing against you, but I have no idea who you are.
 
matt6150 said:
I will take this into consideration as much as you should yourself. Thank you very much synthesist.
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You're quite welcome............. but (that word is kinda like although in a way, huh?)

The difference here is that I'm not asking YOU for anything............

The subtlety of your response indicates that you're still not paying attention to the message being conveyed. I'll lay it out for you in simple terms.

YOU NEED TO LISTEN MORE AND SNARK BACK AT US LESS.

I know that's hard for a testosterone flushed 14 year old residing safely behind a keyboard but you should try it.

Corey
 
synthesist said:
You're quite welcome............. but (that word is kinda like although in a way, huh?)

The difference here is that I'm not asking YOU for anything............

The subtlety of your response indicates that you're still not paying attention to the message being conveyed. I'll lay it out for you in simple terms.

YOU NEED TO LISTEN MORE AND SNARK BACK AT US LESS.

I know that's hard for a testosterone flushed 14 year old residing safely behind a keyboard but you should try it.

Corey
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I wouldn't bother me too much, but as you request I won't say a word more my good buddy :)
 
to matt6150
Don't let some of them discourage you to make knives, just try it and have fun. Most knifemakers are friendly.
After a few knives, you will become better and better XP
Imo titanium is best for linerlocks, but I have seen some linerlocks made with copper sheet as the liner, you could try that.
Or just try whatever you think will work, you learn stuff very quickly by trying.

To synthesist:"You need to learn how to act in civilized society." you said...
 
matt6150 said:
Hello, I'm planning to make a liner lock folding knife in the near future. I need a springy steel to make the liner(s) out of. Can I make my own? My budget is very low because I am a beginner. Some recommendations on handle scales material would be helpful as well. If you have any other tips, please post them in your response. Thanks!
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Know I'm late to the party, but I hope you didn't let any ah these fellas discourage you from finishing your knife. Blog sites on knifemaking are all the same, buncha goofs trying to act like knifemaking is remotely difficult. When in reality, with the right tools, any jackass can be making high-quality knives in under a year. Keep it up!
 
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