Questions about folders & materials

D

Dixieblade57

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
1,361
I am going to try my hand at a few folders, and a question has arose in my mind about clearance on the pivot point. It runs in my foggy memory that I remember someone in a tutorial talking of using a shim/washer on the balde, so here is the questions that pop into mind.

When building a folder do you use a washer at the pivot point on each side of the blade or not?

If you do what are you buying and where?

If not what is the proper procedure to allow for clearance/ ease of blade swing?

In the past I have used Pewter for some of my bolsters. It tends to be a soft material to work with and easy to cast.

Is there some way to harden the mix.

How about adding Silver, would that give a better shine as well as hardening the final product?

Does Silver melt anywhere close to the same temp as Pewter?

What is the common material and thickness of the material used as the shell/spacer between blade and actual handle material?

Are you just buying sheet goods, and where are you ordering it from?

I guess that's enough questions for one thread. Now if I just get answers to all of them I will feel fortunate!:D
 
Well I am one for seven questions unfortunately I already have that supplier in my list but the name don't help much if you don't tell me what you are buying there!
I know someone out there does folders and would be willing to share a little knowledge with someone about to build his first real folder!
 
From your questions I can only guess that you are building a liner lock type folder.

I am going to try my hand at a few folders, and a question has arose in my mind about clearance on the pivot point. It runs in my foggy memory that I remember someone in a tutorial talking of using a shim/washer on the balde, so here is the questions that pop into mind.

When building a folder do you use a washer at the pivot point on each side of the blade or not?

Liner locks, Yes. Slip joints and lock backs no.

If you do what are you buying and where?

I buy nylatron in sheets and punch out my washers. Most knife supply stores have ready made washers of this type. They also have thinner bronze washers if you like those. I will post a link further down for most of the supply stores.

If not what is the proper procedure to allow for clearance/ ease of blade swing?

Again it depends on what folder you are building and what equipment and tooling you have. Pivot bushings help a lot on any folder. I use washer on liner locks and mill relieve the liners around the tang on slip joints and lock backs.

In the past I have used Pewter for some of my bolsters. It tends to be a soft material to work with and easy to cast.

I can’t help you with the pewter for bolsters, never used it myself.

Is there some way to harden the mix.

I don’t know.

How about adding Silver, would that give a better shine as well as hardening the final product?

I don't know

Does Silver melt anywhere close to the same temp as Pewter?

I would have to look up the melting temps but I thing silver melts at a higher temp than pewter.

What is the common material and thickness of the material used as the shell/spacer between blade and actual handle material?

For liner locks I use .050 titanium for the liners. The back spacer can be most any material you can make flat if you use a stop pin. I use 416 stainless a lot. If you don’t plan on a stop pin the back spacer needs to be something you can harden to keep the blade from wearing the contact point of the spacer away. Spacer thickness is the finished blade thickness plus the thickness of both washers. If using a bushing add a thousandth.

Are you just buying sheet goods, and where are you ordering it from?

See link at bottom.

I guess that's enough questions for one thread. Now if I just get answers to all of them I will feel fortunate!

Good luck with your folder. There are many people here who have a tremendous amount of knowledge on folder building.

Try using http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=011197018607028182644%3Aqfobr3dlcra to search the forum and ask any question you have. Someone her will have an answer or idea to help.


Here is a link to many suppliers

http://www.internetbusinesslinks.net/SupplierList.html
 
Thank you, to Heatride the tutorial is invalueable, a wealth of information. Thanks you, CraigB for answering as many questions of mine as possible. I think I have just enough info to be a fairly dangerous man now!!!!!!!:D
There is some great people on this forum!:thumbup::thumbup:
Time to go back to the laboritory and see if I can raise the monster. I see a storm brewing on the horizion, plenty of lighting in this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEE !HEE!
 
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