What size pivot screws for a 3.5" blade folder

Matt Shade

Matt Shade

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
Messages
4,981
I was thinking of using either an 1/8" or a 3/16". What do you guys use? How strong are they?

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
Matt,
Go with the 3/16" pivot. You might even want to go bigger depending on what the folder will be used for (heavy use).
 
Barry, I agree with you on the 3/16" screw. Do you use bushings in your folders Barry??? Take care! Michael

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
L6,
No, I don't use bushings! Don't know exactly why. I just haven't. I haven;t made that many folders, but that is about to change.
 
i agree that .187 is optimum and .250 works good too....but you can use .125 or any other size pin you want....the real secret is in the hole size/pin size ratio...you only want about .002 at most clearance. so make sure whatever you are going to use is all the same size and carefully...read carefully measure it and get some drills and reamers to match...and think about how you are going to hold everything together. one good thing about modern technology is that you can buy reamers in .001" increments now.

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
post script- very important...make sure your drill press table is 90 degrees to your chuck. best/easiest way to do this is to take a 8 inch piece of rod, any kind, and bend it so it looks like a z with the middle line straight up and down...chuck it in your drill press chuck...set table to bottom rod, and turn chuck by hand visably discerning flatness. otherwise your holes wont be square and your folders wont work...and you wont know why.
 
Wow, great tip Tom!!!!!! Thanks!! Michael

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
Thanks everybody,
I'll go with the 3/16". This is going to be a pretty hefty folder, partly because I don't want to grind away any more than I have to.I'll definitely try and find some good reamers like you mentioned Tom.And thanks for the tip about the drill press. Mine has seen some hard use and I'm sure that could use some adjustment before I try and do something really precision.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
well....thru the years mine has gotten wasted, so i devised the idea of getting two stiff pieces of thread all, use 1/2" min. and two long connector bolts....pointed the ends of the two thread all rods, cut them in half at the middle....and drilled two hole in the perimeter of my drill press table and two corresponding ones in the drill press base (this will only work on a bench top size)...and i use the two expanding thread all rods (connector nuts in middle with two short pieces in each end right!) to shim up my table so it is square with my chuck..i also drilled a couple of holes in the drill rod about 6" down from the connector nuts so i could stick a piece of rod or punch or something to get some extra leverage...hope thats clear.....also have a high speed drill by delta that is a square as can be....

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
well....thru the years mine has gotten wasted, so i devised the idea of getting two stiff pieces of thread all, use 1/2" min. and two long connector nuts....pointed the ends of the two thread all rods, cut them in half at the middle....and drilled two hole in the perimeter of my drill press table and two corresponding ones in the drill press base (this will only work on a bench top size)...and i use the two expanding thread all rods (connector nuts in middle with two short pieces in each end right!) to shim up my table so it is square with my chuck..i also drilled a couple of holes in the drill rod about 6" down from the connector nuts so i could stick a piece of rod or punch or something to get some extra leverage...hope thats clear.....also have a high speed drill by delta that is a square as can be....

------------------
http://www.mayoknives.com


 
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