Spring bronze

prn

prn

Joined
Apr 26, 1999
Messages
481
No, I'm not about to make a bronze knife. I know it's possible, but that isn't the question (this time
smile.gif
). Actually, what I'm doing is rescaling a folder. I'm planning to put on new wood scales to replace the original Zytel. What I have in mind is a wood that should finish up to a sort of golden hue. So I want to replace the screws with brass ones and the clip with something in that "golden" color range rather than bright steel or black.

I am thinking about bronze because of things like springy bronze weatherstripping around doors. (As in the house I grew up in.) That weatherstripping must have flexed 100,000 times without losing its spring, so I figure it ought to be adequate for pocket clips as well.

So tell me, folks: How badly wrong am I? Can I actually do that? Anybody have any experience? Where would I get the material? Can I then just bend it or do I need heat treating? Who would do that? What else have I forgotten?

I've got a lot more questions than answers. Thanks for your indulgence.

Paul


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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu

 
It would probably work pretty good. I have a couple old cammilus knives with a Bronze/brass locking liner for the screwdriver. The lockup is very strong and hasnt worn out in about 15 years... so a bronze pocket clip would work... The corrosion may be a factor... If left in a damp pocket, it may leave some green stuff on a pocket...im not sure about that though, anyone else know about this?
 
That green stuff is "patina" or something, and it's not really so much corrosion as it is a chemical reaction of some kind. It actualy protects the underlying metal.

Yeah, it's pretty gross.
 
The patina may be a problem, but I think it could work out. If the knife were stored in a dry location between uses I'd expect it to be OK. Pennies are made of (some kind of) bronze and mostly they don't turn too green unless they sit around in a damp, acidic environment. This isn't a statue, after all.
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Hmm, George, can you point me to a source for phosphor bronze?

Anybody have any information on how I'd go about working it? Can I just put it into a vise or bending jig and bend it or do I have to anneal it and what would I do then to restore springiness? (You can tell I'm an amateur here.)

Thanks, guys! This is looking like I may actually manage to do it someday.
smile.gif


Paul


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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu

 
How about using a titanium clip and anodizing it to a gold color? It's not quite the same color as brass, but it would certainly be a sturdy, springy clip.

-Drew
 
I made a clip for a pocket sheath out of brass once; used it for years with no problem. Brass isn't as springy as spring steel, of course, but a pocket clip isn't a demanding application. Even plastic works reasonably well. Phosphor bronze would make a better spring and it's much more corrosion resistant than brass, but I don't know where you could get it in sheet form.

-Cougar Allen :{)


[This message has been edited by Cougar Allen (edited 17 August 1999).]
 
In the Toronto area try Peckovers in Concord. They are a specialty metal supplier and carry the phosphor bronze in strip form.

In other cities I would look in the yellow pages under brass or specialty metals.

Just bend it cold in a vise, do not anneal.
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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com



[This message has been edited by george tichbourne (edited 17 August 1999).]
 
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