Stiff TL-29

Buzzbait

Buzzbait

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Feb 25, 2001
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I just got in a black delrin handled Camillus electrician's knife. Probably from the late '60's. The screwdriver/wire stripper blade works great, but the spear point blade is absurdly stiff. A real thumb nail buster. I tried loosening things up with Brasso, green stropping compound, and even powdered graphite, and did make quite a bit of progress. I spent hours trying to loosen it up, opening and closing the knife a few hundred times. Everything looks very clean and polished now, but it's still extremely hard to open. I don't think that the pivot pin is too tight, as there is a hair of horizontal blade play.

Any advice on how to ease up this blade a tad? I like strong action and all, but this is crazy. The knife is wicked hard to open, and closes so hard that the blade bounces off of the inside of the back spring, denting the edge a hair. I know it's not an expensive knife, but the spear blade is to die for. Great carbon steel, and I swear it must be close to 60RC. It's like the steel of the gods.
 
Interesting- I usually find the screwdriver blade nail-rippingly stiff, and the knife blade easy. Have you tried a penetrating oil like liquid wrench or pblaster?
If the spring is really too stiff you can try sticking something between the tang and spring from the outside, or squeezing something between tang and spring. Probably some risk of breakage either way.
 
I have the same problem with a like-new 1980 Case A62009 1/2. I have another one that is perfect, snappy but smooth, just about ideal...but this second specimen I just picked up because I love the pattern in the appaloosa scales is murder.

Tried what you tried with diff. grits of diamond paste + various forms of lubrication.

On this one the pull from the half stop position to full open is a major task. Nowhere to grab the blades when opening it and the factory edges are way too sharp to grab the wrong way. It also snaps vlosed like a mousetrap.

I opened and closed it 100 times last night with a leather glove on so I wouldn't chop my finger off.

I think the springs are too strong on this one.

Any suggestions for further experimentation are most welcome!
 
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This has been discussed in a few other threads and there were a few suggestions offered. One being an exercise to wedge a small screwdriver or similar object between the blade and the backspring where it pivots, in an effort to stretch the spring a bit to soften the pull. That option can be difficult to do, and could result in other damage to your knife from over-stressing things.

The other method, which I use on my TL-29 mods, is to use a small jewelers file to remove a bit of the corner from the inside (or outside) corner of the blade tang, depending on which is giving you trouble, in an effort to soften the pull. Most TL-29 come with half stops, so it is fairly easy to see the corners of the blade tang which I am referring to. Keep in mind, though, that with this method, you are removing metal, and you cannot put metal back on. If you file too much away, the pull may become too soft and affect the snap of the knife, particularly the ability of the blade to close on its' own.
 
Thank you everybody for the advice. I tried wedging a screwdriver, but with no real luck. So I started filing away. I'm about half way there, but it's definitely working. I'll finish up tomorrow night and report back.

PS - I got in a rather odd TL-29 style knife tonight. It's a Craftsman model 9561. It has an extra wood saw layer, and the screw driver blade is massively overhauled. Built-in ruler, 3 wire stripping notches, and a sharpened area closer to the screwdriver tip. Really nice fit and finish. I'll try to photograph tomorrow.
 
I weakened the spring on the screwdriver blade of mine a few years ago, and made it much easier to open, but of course that affects both the closing and the opening snap, which is not desirable. I was probably lucky not to break the spring.

I agree with glennbad. The way to go is to file the corner of the tang that rides on the spring as you start to open the blade. That's what I did on the main blade. I used the edge of a small flat file, and didn't worry about the few scratches on the inside of the liners (they're barely noticeable). The difference is amazing. Don't worry about going too far - that isn't likely to happen. As you say, the steel is hard. Mine still closes with more snap than it really needs.
 
Indeed, filing the corners on the tangs with Swiss jeweler files greatly improved the folding action on my Case Barlow. Definitely preferable to messing with the spring.

Thanks for the tip!
 
Welcome back Buzzbait! You may not know me, but I remember always enjoying your posts in the past. I seem to recall a certain stag-handled Dozier that had a great personality!

I have a Klein TL-29 that is relatively easy to open, but the "walk" part of walk-n-talk is extremely gritty. I may try the file trick to see if I can smooth it out some, as well.
 
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Hi Daniel

I definitely remember you. Good to see you!!! And Doris is still safe and sound, getting regular outdoor workouts. :thumbup:

I finished filing the spear blade on the Camillus TL-29 tonight. The action is absolutely perfect. Now I just need to wait for my thumb nail to grow back, so I can use it. :mad::mad::mad:

Here's a pic of the knife. It's in very good condition for an old carbon steel model. The only real issue with the knife now is that they never really finished it during production. The scales and back spring don't mate up with the brass liners on the outside of the knife. Does anybody know if I can just throw this on my belt sander with a wet/dry belt, and slowly grind things down flush, or will that end up melting the Delrin scales too easily? Pics of the Craftsman 9561 coming up tomorrow hopefully.

gHgBaNcl.jpg
 
The screwdriver on mine rubs the liner so much that it's impossible to open with with my thumb nail.

I'm thinking of doing a EZ notch to minimize the rub and make it easer to use thumb to open.

Jim.
 
Buzzbait said:
Hi Daniel

I definitely remember you. Good to see you!!! And Doris is still safe and sound, getting regular outdoor workouts. :thumbup:

I finished filing the spear blade on the Camillus TL-29 tonight. The action is absolutely perfect. Now I just need to wait for my thumb nail to grow back, so I can use it. :mad::mad::mad:

Here's a pic of the knife. It's in very good condition for an old carbon steel model. The only real issue with the knife now is that they never really finished it during production. The scales and back spring don't mate up with the brass liners on the outside of the knife. Does anybody know if I can just throw this on my belt sander with a wet/dry belt, and slowly grind things down flush, or will that end up melting the Delrin scales too easily? Pics of the Craftsman 9561 coming up tomorrow hopefully.

gHgBaNcl.jpg
Click to expand...


If you take your time, and don't let things heat up too much, you should be able to do this. Once you get down fairly close, switch over to hand sanding, it will take awhile to work the sanding belt scratches.

good luck.
 
glennbad said:
If you take your time, and don't let things heat up too much, you should be able to do this. Once you get down fairly close, switch over to hand sanding, it will take awhile to work the sanding belt scratches.
Click to expand...

That's awesome. Thank you. If I have time on Sunday, I'll make a project out of it.

I'm liking the TL-29 enough, that I broke out the leather working kit last night, and made a matching belt hanger out of some old latigo leather I had.

ekBdZytl.jpg


And here are a couple of pics of that crazy Crafstman knife. The screwdriver is VERY nicely done. The wire strippers are actually sharp and well thought out, and the ruler is a welcome addition. And who doesn't love a wood saw?

yypbyx8l.jpg

lcNmnAvl.jpg
 
Buzzbait said:
Hi Daniel

I definitely remember you. Good to see you!!! And Doris is still safe and sound, getting regular outdoor workouts. :thumbup:

I finished filing the spear blade on the Camillus TL-29 tonight. The action is absolutely perfect. Now I just need to wait for my thumb nail to grow back, so I can use it. :mad::mad::mad:

Here's a pic of the knife. It's in very good condition for an old carbon steel model. The only real issue with the knife now is that they never really finished it during production. The scales and back spring don't mate up with the brass liners on the outside of the knife. Does anybody know if I can just throw this on my belt sander with a wet/dry belt, and slowly grind things down flush, or will that end up melting the Delrin scales too easily? Pics of the Craftsman 9561 coming up tomorrow hopefully.

gHgBaNcl.jpg
Click to expand...

Funny the back of mine is the same way. Also the bolsters are crooked. I've wanted to take the sander to it for a while.

It was a antique store score for a few bucks. Figured it would be a fun to play with. I like it even with the flaws.

Jim
 
That's a nice Craftsman, Buzz...I don't think they are very common either. You don't see many come up for sale anywhere.

That saw looks quite useable!
 
Do you know how to keep your TL-29 from getting "stiff in the joints"?

Keep it out of them!
 
Thread needs a picture. :)
I did this old barlow a couple years ago and it made all the difference in the world. The idea of forcing the springs was a bit scary. It was a nail breaker and gritty, even after being flushed and oiled.
Just go slow, it doesn't take much to get the results needed. You can always go back and take off more metal but you can't put it back. The tang corners will polish themselves & will smooth out a bit more after you've used it a bit.
I used gesswein finishing stones that were thinned to fit on a bench grinder. They will shape themselves once you start working & that just makes it easier to get a radius.
In the picture only the right side is finished.
D9jbPHX.jpg

Q3Lhezt.jpg
 
Buzzbait-that Craftsman is phenomenal! Do you still have it, and if you do, do you use/carry it? That saw also looks like a great jab saw for drywall, mebbe not plaster, but who knows? Could have had something like that in mind when they designed it in. Wouldn't mind seeing a picture of"Doris" either, as I'm a confirmed, under-knifed Dozier addict. ;)
Thanks, Neal
 
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