What is the best material for washers on folders?

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Folderguy

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Jun 26, 2010
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What is the best material for washers on the pivot on folders?

A cheapie folder that I really like came with plastic, maybe they're nylon, washers.

They're ok, but I might get smoother action with metal ones. What's the metal of choice? Brass, bronze, or?

And lastly, do you know where I can obtain them?

Thanks,

Folderguy
 
Mr. Tichbourne,

Could you explain why you prefer the non-metallic (teflon, nylon) washers? Thanks!
 
Teflon can be a BIG problem. When it is compressed it stays partly compressed so your thickness changes. Phosphor bronz or nylatron work best for me. Frank
 
Nylon and teflon have low coefficients of friction without using lubricants but have some issues with water uptake or compression.

MDS nylon or nylatron as it is also known also has a low coefficient of friction thanks to the molybdenum disulfide (moly slip) loading with less water uptake problems. Again it does not require lubricants.

Hard spacer material will not be affected by compression or water uptake but does require teflon lubrication.

In all cases liquid lubrication can pick up dust and dirt so the less required the better.

Bronze, brass, and stainless MUST have lubrication.......therefor dust must be considered.

George
 
I think PB washers are great but I love Teflon washers like in the xm18 because they don't need any lube and require way less cleaning and maintenance .
 
The thought occurs to me that if your replacing washers on an existing folder, you need to think about the precise thickness of the existing washers, and replace them (whatever the material you choose) with washers of identical thickness. Generally Teflon/Nylatron, and other "synthetic" washers tend to be thicker than what you can acquire in PB. The blade thickness + the the washer(s) thickness must equal the thickness of the back spacer if the folder is to work correctly. If you replace existing washers with one that are thinner, somewhere in the arc of travel, the liners with "pinch" the blade. Just a thought you might not have considered.
 
Ed Caffrey said:
The thought occurs to me that if your replacing washers on an existing folder, you need to think about the precise thickness of the existing washers, and replace them (whatever the material you choose) with washers of identical thickness. Generally Teflon/Nylatron, and other "synthetic" washers tend to be thicker than what you can acquire in PB. The blade thickness + the the washer(s) thickness must equal the thickness of the back spacer if the folder is to work correctly. If you replace existing washers with one that are thinner, somewhere in the arc of travel, the liners with "pinch" the blade. Just a thought you might not have considered.
Click to expand...

Yes, I did consider it, and when the washers arrive, I'll take the knife apart and mic everything and see what I come up with. Truth be told, one of the plastic washers currently on the knife is in less than stellar condition.

Also, depending on the thickness, I could either stack them, or thin them down a bit. Not a prob for me to do either.

Thanks for your ideas. :)
 
If you are replacing worn out washers, keep in mind that you may not want to replace them with washers that mic the same. The old washers may be worn much thinner than they were out of the factory. I think you'll be better off to start a little thicker than the originals mic and sand them down as needed.
 
I tried nylon, nylatron, and phospur bronze all on the same folder. In my opinion I like nyaltron the best. It seems to be vey smooth and yet has little give for tolerances. The only problem with the phosphur bronze is the tolerances need to be darn near exact because the have no give.
 
dillon_b12 said:
If you are replacing worn out washers, keep in mind that you may not want to replace them with washers that mic the same. The old washers may be worn much thinner than they were out of the factory. I think you'll be better off to start a little thicker than the originals mic and sand them down as needed.
Click to expand...

The washers aren't worn out, but one of them is slightly out of whack, if that makes any sense. Probably a drilling problem when it was made, or perhaps the pivot screw/bushing was forced through it slightly off center (it's plastic or something like that) so it's not quite right. Want to improve the function of the opening and closing of the knife, even though it's alright at the moment.

If the washers are too thick, I'll sand them down as you suggest.
 
sykes3170 said:
I tried nylon, nylatron, and phospur bronze all on the same folder. In my opinion I like nyaltron the best. It seems to be vey smooth and yet has little give for tolerances. The only problem with the phosphur bronze is the tolerances need to be darn near exact because the have no give.
Click to expand...

Well, I'll find out won't I? ;)

If the phosphur bronze isn't any better, I'll just put the originals back in.
 
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