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The Folding Knife (& Switchblade) Forum The materials, techniques and the designing of folding knives.

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  #1  
Old 12-22-2008, 10:18 AM
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SVanderkolff SVanderkolff is offline
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backspring issue

I have been using a music wire backspring on my lockback folders. I just dropped the one that I have been carrying and it looks like the backspring swivelled in the hole. Now there is no pressure on the back bar and the knife will not lock or stay closed. There is no way that I can think of to fix it but what concerns me most is why did this happen. The music wire way crazy glued into the hole so I don't understand how it came loose. What are those of you using the music wire method using to ensure the spring doesn't come unsprung.
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Steve


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  #2  
Old 12-22-2008, 11:29 AM
Craig B. Craig B. is offline
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If you used brass pins to hold it all together take a heavy duty razor knife blade, slide it between the liner and blade/spring and tap with hammer to cut the brass pins. Take knife apart, fix problem, and reassemble with new brass pins.
Customizers do this all the time with factory made pocket knives. Use your vise to steady the knife on when tapping with hammer and BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL!

Good luck!


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  #3  
Old 12-22-2008, 03:45 PM
Kirby Bletcher Kirby Bletcher is offline
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Steve I'm going to once again recommend using the spring material at this link.

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...ath=52_890_551

I assume the music wire that you are using is round? This stuff is a rectangle shape. I make a snug fit into my grove and that's it. No need for any glue to hold the spring in place. With tension from the lock bar it cant go anywhere.


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Old 12-22-2008, 04:00 PM
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I'm with Kirby. That's exactly the way I used to do it. Never a problem.
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  #5  
Old 12-23-2008, 08:28 AM
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I would definetely order some from Texas supply but the last time I checked the shipping was 10 times the price of the springs. If you have some handy I will gladly pay for it and the shipping but there is no way I am going to pay upwards of $50 for a couple of little pieces of spring material.
Steve


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Old 12-23-2008, 10:00 AM
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You can use 6al/4v titanium sheet if you have it, Steve. Just saw out a narrow strip, bend it to whatever shape you want, and put it in a saw slot in the back spacer.

Or use a coil spring inserted into a slot sawed vertically in the back spacer. That was my favorite way. Works slicker'n cat ....!
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Old 12-23-2008, 10:01 AM
Kirby Bletcher Kirby Bletcher is offline
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Sorry Steve I forgot you were in Canada. I have a small handful here that I can send you. If you like them next time I order from Texas Knife Supplies Ill get you more.


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  #8  
Old 12-23-2008, 10:40 AM
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Don
I have lots of the ti on hand but on another thread someone recommended against the ti as a spring.
Kirby
That would be great, just let me know what I owe you and I can Paypal it to you.
Thanks
Steve


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  #9  
Old 12-23-2008, 11:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SVanderkolff
Don
I have lots of the ti on hand but on another thread someone recommended against the ti as a spring.
Kirby
That would be great, just let me know what I owe you and I can Paypal it to you.
Thanks
Steve
Not so. 6al/4v is a natural spring. That's what I use on my button locks.
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  #10  
Old 12-23-2008, 11:47 AM
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Don
What thickness of Ti do you use?
Steve


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Last edited by Don Robinson; 12-23-2008 at 03:11 PM.
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  #11  
Old 12-23-2008, 01:42 PM
Kirby Bletcher Kirby Bletcher is offline
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Steve I was the one that recommended not using titanium for lock back springs. I tried it a few times and didn't feel that it had enough tension. May be it was the thickness or length that gave me a problem but that doesn't mean it wont work for you. If Don had good luck with it may be I need to try it again as well.

I sent you some spring stock today via snail mail. Let me know how it works for you.

Also if you are going to disassemble the knife with the bad spring try center punching the pins and drilling through them before you drive them out. That will give them a little room to collapse when removing


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  #12  
Old 12-23-2008, 03:11 PM
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Don Robinson Don Robinson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SVanderkolff
Don
What thickness of Ti do you use?
Steve
.050" thick. Don't make it too long.

Last edited by Don Robinson; 01-04-2009 at 09:11 PM.
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  #13  
Old 12-23-2008, 09:53 PM
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David Broadwell David Broadwell is offline
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Steve,

Instead of making a separate spring and installing it in your tail spacer, have you thought of making the spring integral with your lock bar? Most of the lock backs I made had a "wishbone" lock bar. I made it a bit thick, then adjusted it after heat treating it.

Another method is to make your tail spacer from the same steel as your blade and lock bar, and make your spring integral with your spacer. Several makers do this.

I also made a few with coil springs.

The one thing that would concern me about making your spring from 6-4 titanium is that it could lose its set. We bend .050" and thicker titanium to make side (liner) locks. It works in these cases because you want the spring to flex easily compared to a lock back.

David


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  #14  
Old 01-04-2009, 08:04 PM
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Stephen,
Another way is to make the spring an intergral part of your back plate ,this is assuming it is made from heat treatable steel.hopefully ive uploaded a photo sorry slightly out of focus."]
Attached Images
File Type: jpg FOLDINGKNIFE3.jpg (109.2 KB, 37 views)


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Last edited by KNOTTER; 01-04-2009 at 08:35 PM.
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  #15  
Old 01-05-2009, 02:38 PM
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Trenton Entwistle Trenton Entwistle is offline
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Stephen, another thing you could do is instal a little set screw onto your music wire. File a small flat, drill, tap and intsatl a spring. I don't know what your back spacer looks like, so I'm not sure if this is a viable idea for you or not.

Trenton


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