Bronze wear question.

[maclean]

I've just ordered Peter Atwood's Framelock video (Christmas in July!) and I'm organizing thoughts in my head about materials I'd like to use.

Would using bronze washers and a bronze bushing cause a galling problem? Do these surfaces need to be different materials or is what I'm thinking safe to use? I know it's early in the process to ask questions like this but I'm just piecing together bits of information as I think this though.

Up until I went to Blade last month my experience with folding knives was strictly factory stuff. I had the chance to meet Charles Marlowe and the action in his liner locks just blew me away. I had no idea the pivot could be that smooth and it gave me a great level of quality to aim for.
Thanks for any advice guys,
Jack

[george tichbour]

Bronze is used as a bearing material because it is non galling.

Materials like titanium and aluminum are notorious for galling, steel is less so and bronze is very low on that scale if oil is used.

[maclean]

Thank you! I was just thinking about the problems Springfield Armory had with their early ss slides galling on the ss frames and wanted to make sure I could avoid that problem. IIRC, the problem was caused by identical materials with the same RC hardness wearing on each other and was overcome by applying dissimilar HT to the problem areas.

I've been carrying a Benchmade Pinnacle that I really enjoy because of it's simplicity (though it's smoothness is acceptable at best). I'm looking forward to the day I can carry one that I built myself. That's got to be right up there with catching a trophy trout on my own hand tied flies.
Jack

[Darrel Ralph]

Hi,
Bronze will work great for you. Other materials like nylatron gs, and teflon with work also. The key is to make sure all of the handle parts are flat first.

[whv]

welcome to ckdf, jack. you will enjoy peter's video. you might also want to read bob teraoula's book on making a tactical liner lock.
as for this:

That's got to be right up there with catching a trophy trout on my own hand tied flies

i think it's better than catching steelhead on my own pattern!

[maclean]

Thanks for all the great replies. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get deeper into this. Right now I'm still assembling the equipment I need to get started - that's good because it gives me plenty of time to design blades and work on refinements. Hopefully I'll order my first bar stock in about two more weeks and then I'll get started.

Jack

[Darrel Ralph]

MA,
Keep going.
It gets harder from here!

[Otha]

What Darrel said is true it gets harder but oh what joy it brings.

Otha