Recommendation? Washers or bearings for a maker new to folders?

S

SLC_Blades

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Aug 20, 2018
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Hello everyone, hope you're all having a great Fourth! I'll preface this by saying that this question is mainly for those who make folders of the liner/frame lock variety.

I'm grabbing every tid bit of information that I can find about the design and production of liner lock folders from online (forums, youtube, etc.) and it's proven to be pretty difficult. I've managed to create a prototype in a CAD software that allows me to rotate the blade about the pivot to ensure that everything is placed properly, but, naturally, there are a few topics that I'm still a little confused about. The one that sticks out the most is whether, as a first time folder maker, I should attempt to use bearings or washers.

I've heard that a folder running on washers needs to be extremely flat in order for it to open/close smoothly, making bearings appear to be a logical choice for someone like me who lacks a surface grinder (unless you count my granite surface plate in combination with lots of elbow grease). However, I just watched a John Grimsmo video about what can happen when the pocket milled for a bearing isn't perfectly flat (his was 3-4 thou off). Long story short, it basically doesn't function. All I currently have access to is a Harbor Freight 12" Drill Press (awful, I know), and I feel like cutting a bearing pocket, even with a properly sized counterbore, would be impossible if they're that sensitive to flatness.

After considering all of this, I feel like a washer system would be slightly easier for me to pull off with my crude setup. If anyone has any words of advice or information about where I can go to learn more (books, videos, blog posts, whatever), it would be very helpful. Thank you!
 
Head over to USA Knifemaker and get this DVD

It's packed with tons of info much of which can be transferred to making other kinds folders

This DVD answered questions I didn't even know I should ask

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John Doyle helped me make my first folder, then I went home and made my first one solo. Both were lined locks. Both have phosphor bronze washers on 3/16” pivots. I have some caged bearings that I plan on trying out on some future knives, but there’s definitely nothing wrong with the washers. I am in process of making a surface grinder attachment for my belt grinder, so I’m hoping that’ll make flat and parallel a little faster. For the one I made on my own, it was my granite surface plate and sand paper.

As an aside, a well made liner lock with washers can flip quite easily, if that’s the design a maker wants. I know bearings are great and as I said, I plan to try them in the future. But there’s no reason to feel the bearings are inferior (not that I’m saying you feel that way).

Anyway, good luck to you-they’re a lot of fun and there’s nothing like carrying your own pocket knife around :).

Jeremy
 
gudspelr said:
John Doyle helped me make my first folder, then I went home and made my first one solo. Both were lined locks. Both have phosphor bronze washers on 3/16” pivots. I have some caged bearings that I plan on trying out on some future knives, but there’s definitely nothing wrong with the washers. I am in process of making a surface grinder attachment for my belt grinder, so I’m hoping that’ll make flat and parallel a little faster. For the one I made on my own, it was my granite surface plate and sand paper.

As an aside, a well made liner lock with washers can flip quite easily, if that’s the design a maker wants. I know bearings are great and as I said, I plan to try them in the future. But there’s no reason to feel the bearings are inferior (not that I’m saying you feel that way).

Anyway, good luck to you-they’re a lot of fun and there’s nothing like carrying your own pocket knife around :).

Jeremy
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, I appreciate the help!
 
I would invest in a good micrometer. I got a starrett from Ebay for like 30 bucks.
And check every piece of titanium on the granite surface plate to check flatness. A lot of the TI I got was constantly warped. Also get a set of pin gauges to test the exact diameter of the hole your drilling. A lot of times a drill press will have run out that screws up a lot of stuff
 
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