Titanium Scale/bearing question

[sogtrident7]

I'm not sure if this is the proper location for this but I figured if anyone can help it's you fellas.

I have a small folder with non caged bearings and it appears to me that the channel grooves in the Ti scales need to be about 1/32" deeper. Is there anyway to do this myself without having a CNC machine? I have dremals, drill presses, lots of patience and a steady hand. I do know those tolerances need to be perfect and this is probably a losing battle but I thought I'd ask. Knife is in $300 range, not cheap but willing to experiment with it. I am considering making a steel cutting tool that will bore a smooth circle and putting it in my drill press, clamp er down and get er done.

The reason I believe this is the case is the gap on the standoff side between scales is about 3/16" and opposite side (closure side) it's a fat 1/4". There are two standoffs in line and then the pivot is set in on center. So I feel that is all that could be causing that. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Yes I could send the knife back I'm sure and have it fixed but I like doing these things myself.

 

[Calvin Robinson]

I think you should have the maker fix it.

 

[Del Raso Knives]

Plus one on sending it back. If you want to do it yourself maybe you could shim out the standoffs before you try the bearing track.

 

[Frank Niro]

That bearing track thing is a big deal to go ahead with and not very likely you will succeed. Send it back. Frank

 

[sogtrident7]

Thanks, I know it's probably best. I tore it all down for cleaning and it was pretty gummed up in there. As I got cleaning I noticed a small washer in the bottom of each track. So the bearings ride on steel instead of Ti. I popped those out and ground on them for a while (very hard steel) with an extra coarse diamond stone and Micd them to see how much I am taking and making sure they are the same thickness when I was done. Worked all the way down to a polish at the end. It got over half the problem out and the knife is smoother than it was I think because that angle changed a little. I'll use it for a week and send it in if it still bothers me.