Pocket Clip from Band Saw Blade?

[Jim T]

I wanted to make a pocket clip for my folder. I thought I read somewhere that it?s possible to use an old piece of band saw blade for this purpose. I have a chunk of blade from a metal cutting band saw which I believe is made from carbon steel. Would this be good pocket clip material if it?s finished properly?

Jim

[gsimmo]

Jim, while I have not worked with many clips, when properly finished I can not see a reason why an old saw blade would not work for your purpose. I had actually been thinking the same type of thing but for belt clips on sheaths. So please keep us informed if you decide to go that route as to how it works out for you.

-Geoff

[Don Robinson]

Sounds like an excellent way to make a clip to me.

[Jim T]

Thanks for then encouragement, gents. I'll have to experiment a little bit, but I'll let you know how it turns out. Doesn't seem to be any shortage of used band saw blades.

Jim

[Don Robinson]

How will you drill holes for mounting in it?

[Jim T]

To be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead yet. Do you have any suggestions, Don?

Jim

[Don Robinson]

Carbide drill.

[DAN VAN]

Find a shop that has a hole popper. Dan

[Jim T]

Well, I've discovered that band saw blades a quite brittle. They'll flex and bend only up to a certain point and then they'll snap. I've tried heating the blade before bending. It helped a bit, but I still couldn't get a sharp enough bend to turn it into a good pocket clip. Heating also weakened the tensile properties. I'm going to fool around with the idea a little more, but I'm thinking I'd rather spend my time making knives that pocket clips.

Jim