Smooth washers

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
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Took my new Inkosi apart for the first time and noticed the washers weren't smooth, they "grabbed" my fingers as I moved them across the washers. It was as though they were stamped out and there was a tiny bur on all of the cut areas.
Has anyone noticed this?
Should I lightly rub the washers on super fine sandpaper or similar?

Note: I can hear the blade dragging as it moves over the washers.
I don't consider this a big issue, but it is a little annoying.
 
The washers are chemically machined.. not stamped or punched..just as an FYI

If it were me, I would lap them on regular paper..abrasive, but not so much as to remove metal fast at all..would polish more than anything.
Take care lapping, polishing or otherwise,..the person lapping assumes the risk of having to send the knife back in for a washer replacement..and subsequent charges involved.
 
Not on an Inkosi, but I have lightly lapped washers on 2k grit paper to smooth them out. Just a couple passes really helps and doesn't remove much metal.
 
Ernie1980 said:
Not on an Inkosi, but I have lightly lapped washers on 2k grit paper to smooth them out. Just a couple passes really helps and doesn't remove much metal.
Click to expand...

I can attest to this. I have polished washers on 3 of my CRKs to get a smoother action. Obviously as others have said, it's not to be done without patience and care.
 
Take it apart and put it back together dry. Then work it open and closed for a while. No need to open or close all the way, just most of the way to wear the washer's rough edges down.
 
gull wing said:
Took my new Inkosi apart for the first time and noticed the washers weren't smooth, they "grabbed" my fingers as I moved them across the washers. It was as though they were stamped out and there was a tiny bur on all of the cut areas.
Has anyone noticed this?
Should I lightly rub the washers on super fine sandpaper or similar?

Note: I can hear the blade dragging as it moves over the washers.
I don't consider this a big issue, but it is a little annoying.
Click to expand...

You can rub them gently on a strop with a very fine compound, maybe a polishing compound. And of course only the blade side of the washers.
 
I've even just put flitz paste into the action of my 2011 small Seb to smooth it out a bit. As Lone Wolf recommended, and certainly in this case, don't engage the lock. It'll just cause unnecessary wear. ...of course it's not very smooth while the paste is in the pivot. If you want to speed things up a bit, spread Flitz on cardboard then lightly rub the washers in a figure eight pattern.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Done! It's smooth sailing now.
Had to do this twice, I was careful not to take too much off.

Thanks all.
 
A leather strop would work wonders.. Personally, I wouldn't use a super fine sandpaper.
 
gull wing said:
Done! It's smooth sailing now.
Had to do this twice, I was careful not to take too much off.

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

What was the result? For example, I like all of mine to fall open when I engage the lock. Did you just want it a bit smoother or something more like my expectations?
 
Fall open - my bushing knives yes.
This Inkosi adjustable pivot - no free fall! I want a slight resistance when I open and close, but I want smooth. What I was getting before was too much drag and noise from the not so flat washers.
I now have smooth, silent, open/close knife.
 
gull wing said:
Fall open - my bushing knives yes.
This Inkosi adjustable pivot - no free fall! I want a slight resistance when I open and close, but I want smooth. What I was getting before was too much drag and noise from the not so flat washers.
I now have smooth, silent, open/close knife.
Click to expand...

Nice! I don't own an inkosi, so I can't testify to it's washers. Glad it worked out for you.
 
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