Rise & Fall gauge

[John T Wylie Jr]

I talked to a few makers at the Vegas show this past weekend , mainly slip joint makers , all spoke of a setup they made , that allows them to accurately measure the blade in close , 1/2 stop and open positions. If my short term memory is correct , they each mentioned they got the idea from Bill Ruple ( though they didnt say if the idea was his or not ).

I remember seeing the setup once before in a picture thread here , but was wondering if anyone had a close picture of one , or knew where to buy one , I will have no problem making one , but wanted to see what others are using before I try to re-invent the wheel.

Appreciate any pictures or leads on where to buy one.

 

[ken erickson]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7589885&postcount=23

Hi John,

I will try and dig a picture of mine up, it is not as elegant as the one made by Steve .

Ken

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

Thanks Ken ! I knew I saw that thing somewhere recently . I would appreciate seeing a picture of the gauge you use as well.

Hope all is well in Wisconsin.

 

[Charles Vestal]

Here is a link to one that was being sold in the Makers section.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=625630&highlight=rise+fall

Take care

Charles

 

[Steinerj]

From Bill Vinings website http://bkgtools.medawebs.com/

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

Man , you guys rock ! Thanks a ton. If I can't make one , I will order one from Bill.

 

[Bill Burke]

uncle al also has them for sale. His are called the Rupple gauge.

 

[Cubane]

Before you go out and spend a bunch of cash on one. Try this method.

I have one of those rise fall indicators but have switched back to measuring them on the liners but now I use the dial indicator rather than scribing a line onto the liners. The main advantage I found was you can have different size pivot pins if you are doing it straight from the liners. On the larger knives I have a 1/8" pivot pin and on a really small slip joint like a peanut the holes in the spring are only 1/16" I didn't want to make multiple jigs so I went back to doing it directly on the liners.

Alistair

 

[Charles Vestal]

Alistair, I like you method, simple and very versatile.

Take care

Charles

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

uncle al also has them for sale. His are called the Rupple gauge.

Bill , did you see them on his site ? I just checked and couldn't find them on there.

Nice setup Cubane .

 

[bhyde]

The gauge is called a drop indicator ( actual tool with the dial not the fixture ) if this helps.

 

[John L]

I have made several hundred slipjoints now and remember.... these gizmos only get you close as when you preload the spring everything changes a bit. There is no perfect way to calculate this and also remember that there are thousands of ways to screw up a slipjoint!: Once you get it close you might have to assemble the knife 5-20 times to really get it all flush. Before peining.. open and close the knife with your pins in it and let it breakin a bit. It will kind of ...well... relax into the three positions...closed, halfstop, and open. I think this is important as once it is peined...there isn't any changing it unless you bore the pins out. Once again ...more ways to screw one up than you can imagine. Don Hanson, for example, screws a slipjoint together and can take it apart to change spring tension, take a thous off here or there to really hit everything on the money. I just don't like screws. There are a thousands ways to make one also...this being the big reason they are so cool and addictive.

 

[Bill Burke]

John,
I don't see them on his website but I did buy one from him so I am sure he has them.

John L.
You are absolutely correct.