- Joined
- Dec 7, 2008
- Messages
- 2,936
The $4 fix... or How I got my folder blade's straight 
Thanks to all who have offered there hard learned (And Expensive) advice on this Journey. One suggestion for getting the blade to sit straight in your folders involved using an inexpensive feeler gauge.
What I found after determining that my stock was "Actually Flat" is that the cross vice used to hold my blades for drilling pivot holes was not Parrallel.
The fix was so easy and is suprisingly simple to do.
First get a cheapo pair of reading Glasses from the rack I use 2.25 magnification.
Second insert your pivot hole bit in the drill press or mill along with the blade blank.
Third hand tighten the bit in the chuck, loosen and let it drop to the surface of the blade. Do this about where you intend to put the pivot hole.
Fourth Hand tighten the bit in the chuck and run the length of the blade to the opposite end of the blank.
Depending on weather the bit digs in or has a gap at the opposite end tells you which end to put the feeler gauge under.
Mine is fairly flat so the difference was .006" a feeler gauge was used under one end. This made the entire piece parallel for drilling and then reaming to size. Once you drill your pivot hole remove the bit and put in the reamer without moving the vice... this is important.
You will need: A Good quality drill press, a decent machinist vice, a support under the blade that is truly flat, good quality bits and reamers that are the right size.
The $4 comes from a set of feeler gauges from the local Auto parts store
Thanks to all who have offered there hard learned (And Expensive) advice on this Journey. One suggestion for getting the blade to sit straight in your folders involved using an inexpensive feeler gauge.
What I found after determining that my stock was "Actually Flat" is that the cross vice used to hold my blades for drilling pivot holes was not Parrallel.
The fix was so easy and is suprisingly simple to do.
First get a cheapo pair of reading Glasses from the rack I use 2.25 magnification.
Second insert your pivot hole bit in the drill press or mill along with the blade blank.
Third hand tighten the bit in the chuck, loosen and let it drop to the surface of the blade. Do this about where you intend to put the pivot hole.
Fourth Hand tighten the bit in the chuck and run the length of the blade to the opposite end of the blank.
Depending on weather the bit digs in or has a gap at the opposite end tells you which end to put the feeler gauge under.
Mine is fairly flat so the difference was .006" a feeler gauge was used under one end. This made the entire piece parallel for drilling and then reaming to size. Once you drill your pivot hole remove the bit and put in the reamer without moving the vice... this is important.
You will need: A Good quality drill press, a decent machinist vice, a support under the blade that is truly flat, good quality bits and reamers that are the right size.
The $4 comes from a set of feeler gauges from the local Auto parts store