Seeking a skilled individual to work on a detent

John GERDING

John GERDING

Joined
Dec 24, 2017
Messages
119
Hello I have a Spyderco Domino I would like to have a small bit of work done on... I am looking for somebody competent with the proper tools and knowledge that can perform 2 operations on the detent. First I would like to press out the stainless ball and press in a ceramic ball and then I would like to open up the detent hole in the blade a hair to allow the detent ball to sink a little deeper. I believe the main reason the action on the domino has always been kind of a fail is because the ball is designed to just barely sink into the hole. I did an experiment by increasing the lockbar pressure a tad and indeed the action was much more snappy, but the con was that with the added pressure, the friction on closing the knife increased and lost some smoothness. The ultimate goal being to have both a snappy action and as close to drop shut closing as possible... I think it can be achieved and I dont think it would be too difficult to do for somebody in the know that works on detents a lot... As you can see in the pic below the ball is mostly left exposed when seated in the detent hole. I am used to detent balls that completely seat in the hole and I like a snappier action, Let me know what you guys think and if there is somebody around confident in taking on the project, lets talk.
2qmjjvs.jpg
 
John GERDING said:
Hello I have a Spyderco Domino I would like to have a small bit of work done on... I am looking for somebody competent with the proper tools and knowledge that can perform 2 operations on the detent. First I would like to press out the stainless ball and press in a ceramic ball and then I would like to open up the detent hole in the blade a hair to allow the detent ball to sink a little deeper. I believe the main reason the action on the domino has always been kind of a fail is because the ball is designed to just barely sink into the hole. I did an experiment by increasing the lockbar pressure a tad and indeed the action was much more snappy, but the con was that with the added pressure, the friction on closing the knife increased and lost some smoothness. The ultimate goal being to have both a snappy action and as close to drop shut closing as possible... I think it can be achieved and I dont think it would be too difficult to do for somebody in the know that works on detents a lot... As you can see in the pic below the ball is mostly left exposed when seated in the detent hole. I am used to detent balls that completely seat in the hole and I like a snappier action, Let me know what you guys think and if there is somebody around confident in taking on the project, lets talk.
2qmjjvs.jpg
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Are your washers cupped? They should be flat.
 
Mo2 said:
Are your washers cupped? They should be flat.
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Oh yeah the stock ones did, I have replaced them with some PB washers, but these are also too thin, I am still working on locating and procuring a set of hardened stainless washers that will work in this knife, so far the only ones I have found would require me to order at least $25 worth of stuff from the company. I have located and ordered a thicker set of PB washers, 3X as thick as stock washers, so I will see how those work out... But for now I have replaced the bearings and the action has been vastly improved to the point where the knife is smooth and nearly drop shut, I have several sizes of the PB washers coming and a set of Ceramic Bearings, I am quite looking forward to see how this knife can be with the work from Josh at Razor Edge...
 
John GERDING said:
Oh yeah the stock ones did, I have replaced them with some PB washers, but these are also too thin, I am still working on locating and procuring a set of hardened stainless washers that will work in this knife, so far the only ones I have found would require me to order at least $25 worth of stuff from the company. I have located and ordered a thicker set of PB washers, 3X as thick as stock washers, so I will see how those work out... But for now I have replaced the bearings and the action has been vastly improved to the point where the knife is smooth and nearly drop shut, I have several sizes of the PB washers coming and a set of Ceramic Bearings, I am quite looking forward to see how this knife can be with the work from Josh at Razor Edge...
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Iirc there is someone on this forum selling them as a vendor. I forget where but check the search function out.
 
Mo2 said:
Iirc there is someone on this forum selling them as a vendor. I forget where but check the search function out.
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Yes I am aware of his set, he sells it as a kit with stainless bearings, since I wanted Ceramic Bearings it wouldnt make much sense to pay $20 just to get the washers but maybe I could ask him if he would sell the washers separate. Thanks.
 
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John GERDING said:
Yes I am aware of his set, he sells it as a kit with stainless bearings, since I wanted Ceramic Bearings it wouldnt make much sense to pay $20 just to get the washers but maybe I could ask him if he would sell the washers separate. Thanks.
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Going ceramic for the bearings isn't going to make action any better. Action is dictated by the detent. Ceramic will wear in faster and not be affected by rust. The ceramic detent may be only slightly better for the detent. But you may not notice any improvements.

You can buy separately ceramic balls and swap them out of the bearings on most knives. Easiest on the zt's as that's already been figured out. But again it makes no difference for the pivot bearings.
 
Mo2 said:
Going ceramic for the bearings isn't going to make action any better. Action is dictated by the detent. Ceramic will wear in faster and not be affected by rust. The ceramic detent may be only slightly better for the detent. But you may not notice any improvements.

You can buy separately ceramic balls and swap them out of the bearings on most knives. Easiest on the zt's as that's already been figured out. But again it makes no difference for the pivot bearings.
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Well Yes and No, Ceramic Bearings are tried and true, they are found to be Rounder, Smoother and Harder then the typical 440c stainless bearings, The goal being the reduction of friction, The Ceramic Bearings I ordered are the same ones used in Medford Knives, they are supposedly highly polished Ceramic Balls, Once I have a good set of stainless washers they will be polished as well, Swapping just the balls into the Spyderco factory nylon cages would most certainly offer no improvement, as the plastic cages are possibly the worst cages I have ever seen in a knife... The New bearings have brass cages. it is all those things together that will offer a better action, with the polished ceramic balls, brass cages running on 2 hardened surfaces there should definitely be a vast improvement over the factory junk bearings.
 
Although I get what you are saying about the detent being the primary factor in action, which is why I am seeking to have the Detent rebuilt, having this done will give it the snappy action I like, but I also like a smooth well built bearing system, it all matters frankly... This knife is also getting xxadrenlinexx Titanium Hardware and a custom Carbon Fiber with inlaid Ctek Scale... I am building the ultimate Domino, because why not? ;)
 
Again tests from multiple sources say that ceramic pivot bearings don't do anything to the action.
 
While ceramic bearings can definitely be better in applications that involve higher RPM, in a knife pivot you probably won't notice any difference. One of the huge benefits to ceramic bearings that helps to provide their lower friction and long life is that they don't need to be oiled - which considerably reduces rolling resistance at speed. At negligible speed though you'll likely never be able to feel or notice this. However, it's your prerogative to add whatever you feel is the ultimate - it's your build.
 
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