I have a sharp 3/16th punch I use for the center cut of the nylatrol( or whatever its called :) )I use a 1/2 " round punch to cut the dia. of the washer. I can get pretty close to center. My problem seems the washers arent flat when I am done. They are dented in from the 3/16th punch side.:cursin I was looking at the junction of my latest folder up towards the light and i could see the daylight near the pivot. I use a hard nylon board under them to cut them.

thank you

Dave

I had the same problem when I switched from teflon to nylatron. I got one of those punch sets from MSC (the one that's always on sale in their flyers for about $80) that's designed to cut brass and stainless sheet, and it cuts the nylatron nice and flat. Let me know if you want the part number, and I'll look it up.

Yes please do. I was hoping to not spend that kind of money but had looked at some of those types. Is it the same design as the ones on ebay for 20-40 ? I thought about one of those. I just looked at your site, OOPS we must have been influenced by the same maker on the top part of your knife :) I m working on changing mine as soon as I get past a couple.

Dave

Like this ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/HOLLOW-PUNCH-PUNCHING-TOOL-SET-LEATHER-GASKET-HOLE_W0QQitemZ4451285361QQcategoryZ43575QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

I had the same situation when I was cutting my own washers. I purchased the a punch set from MSC that cuts both the ID and the OD at that same time, but no matter what I used as a backing, the washers still were messed up. I've since gone to .010 bronze washers. I purchase them 100 at a time from Small Parts. com. They have many different size ID/OD, and the cost is only $8-10 per hundred. The time I spent TRYING to make washers is worth more than that!

I see the same problem on my nylotron washers but a minute spent rubbing the washer carefully against some 220 sandpaper laying on my granite surface plate seems to fix that situation.

BTW, I use the punch set shown on the link Txcwboy listed a couple of posts back. As it comes out of the box, it's hit and miss trying to get the pivot hole well centered in the washer. It cost me another $15 to modify the punch so that the accuracy is acceptable ........

Ed,
I tried to bring up that Small Parts.com but was unable. Would you please help me further on the url? Frank

http://www.smallparts.com/

Looks like a number 8 would fit my needs :) Thanks Ed. But now I have another issue, the precision made standoffs I use for my backspacers wont work if I switch to these. I would need something .145 now instead of .187. I could grind them down I guess. I was thinking they were too short but they are too tall :)

Dave

The set I have is MSC number 48424501. MSC's site is down right now, so I can't link to it, but it's on page 1742 of the 2004/2005 big book. These punches are solid, not hollow. The material to be punched slides in between the steel base and clear acrylic top. The punch slides down through the guide hole in the acrylic so it mates perfectly with the "cutting" hole in the base. This keeps the punched material much flatter than when punching with a hollow punch.

This set lists at $108.25, but as I said I usually see it on sale in the flyers. There's a self-centering version too, but it's more money; the "eyeball mark 1" centering method works well for me.

If you decide to try one of these, I have found it works best to punch the inside diameter first, then the outside diameter.

I was also having the same problem with the washers "cuping". I just chucked up the punch in my cordless drill and resharpened the punch on my grinder. I made the outside angle very steep. It just takes a few taps to cut the Nylatron now. I use a thin rubber mat as a backer.

Jeremy

Thanks for the web site address. Frank

I am also having the same problems as you fellas with the washer thing. I've been looking at the MSC punch set for some time but I can't bring myself to spend that kind of money right now for a few washers now and then.
What I have been doing lately is this....
I have a hand punch that is big enough to cut a clean hole for my pivot size.
I take small squares of .010 bronze with the pivot size hole punched in and stack them on a 2" long machine screw along with a flat metal washer sized for my desired final OD on each end of the stack. Sock this up tight with a nut and using my metal washers as a guide, I grind the squares(after a little trimming with some tin snips) right down to the size of the flat washers. Then I chuck it up in the drill press and smooth down the edges. The washers come out flat and round. After I take the stack apart, a little sanding on the surface plate like Ray mentioned will knock off the little burr left from the grinding. It's a wee bit more time consuming then the fancy punch set, but I still have the $90.00 bucks in my pocket.
If someone tries this method, lets us know how it came out. Maybe you can improve on it and pass it on.
If I made a lot more folders I think I would do like Mr Caffrey does and just buy them.
Pat McGroder

MSC has the punch mention on sale now for $84.oo FYI Some needs to homebrew something just like it and make a tutorial on it :) Preferabley without a lathe or mill. I have a new tandy 3/16th punch that is pretty sharp . May steepen( is that a word?)
the angle and try it.

Dave

Making washers for folders isn't worth the trouble or the expense. Try www.bokers.com in the USA. They will make you perfect washers and have tooling on hand in many many sizes. Their quailty is outstanding.

Sent Bokers a request for a quote a week ago and they still havent replied. Hope their product is better than their response is :)

Dave

I got back a quote that was reasonable if I had lots of money.It was for phros.bronze .5 by .1875 hole that were .031 thick at 1.81 each based on 100 quanity. 181.00 dollars I would pay 2 bucks ea but cant get the 100 quan. I order some "PRECISION" washers cut but one of our knife supply companies. They are .005 x 7/16 x3/16 Took them all out of the bag and "PRECISION" is the last word I would use to describe them. Whatever tool was used to cut them was not sharp enough. Most arent flat and most have flask on them. I was going to put them on my surface plate with some w/d 600 paper to true them but I would have to do the entire bag. Not real happy with them. I havent notified the Supplier yet so I wont flame them here. YET ~ LOL

Dave

Boker's washers are always perfect. I have ordered 1000s of washers from them and never had a single bad one. Usually around 250 pieces is the least number that makes much sense to order.

One thing about making folders: everything you need costs a lot of money! :-)

Cowboy,
I made a punch for my washers cause I was having the same problem you cats were having. If you want I can make you a single washer punch, (it will have Id and Od all on one punch) for 35 bucks. It will punch out a precision washer from bronze or nylotron. Otherwise I can punch you out some washers myself from .015 bronze or .015 nylotron for 20 pennies a pair. Did I hear someone mention homebrew????

Rock on kids, Jeremy

has anybody tried Cris Crawfords methoud? Haven't gotten into folders deep enough to try it yet. So far I've been buying premade nylatron washers, there cheap enough I haven't been that interested in making my own.
http://www.knifenetwork.com/workshop/tut_washers_crawford.shtml

Check out http://www.espemfg.com/index.htm About 3 years ago, I purchased 6,000 nyltron washers .375 X .188 X .016 for $100.00 plus shipping.

Stay Safe,

A.T.