The challenges and screw-up's.

[M&J]

By now I like to feel that I have a grasp of my own making process. I have batch of 3 folders underway that are about 85% complete. I've got the locks cut, detent installed and what remains is basically the final finish and fit-up. Prior to disassembly they all worked. Came back to them last week and the blades d## not match the body. I'm thinking, ok, I may have swapped blades so tested each blade among the 3 bodies. 2 fit but the third one is a "WTH" moment. It doesn't match any of the bodies and looks like I ground the stop about 1/8" off.

The other part is that even though the bodies are still supposed to be oversized by 1/32" I've already over shaped around the bolsters that I have more blade exposed for the blade arc. Read that as I now need to make new liners and bolsters. Luckily the handle scales are still within range but this batch is a head scratcher. Particularly bad because this is some old school damascus from Daryl Meir that I'm not about to be circular file.

moment. LOL...

[jimmontg]

Thanks for reminding me why l don't make folders.

[Ray Rogers]

I, on the other hand, have made a lot of folders. Everyone is different and we all have our own ways of getting to the finished product but I learned early that trying to make a 'batch' of folders was a bad ##ea for me. Maybe it would be OK after you have completely mastered your process but batching while learning just means you make the same mistake a bunch of times. After 20 years I still found that my end result was better if I made them one at a time start to finish. After all, I think of myself as a knife maker and not a knife manufacturer .....

[cnccutter]

I’m with Ray. I just don’t like batch’s. I usually work on two at a time and have separate trays for parts. I never have both folders out on the bench at the same time. I guess the main reason I even do two ata time is I hate to heat up my heat treat oven and buy dry ice for for just one. Use the KISS method as long as you can.


Erik

[Crex]

Hate when that happens. Shop gremlins are a buggar! I tried one of those piezo pest repellers to no avail.

[M&J]

LOL, I'm my worst gremlin. Today I set up some CF scales to drill and during the process the clamp shifted and so to d## the scale...there went two pieces for circular file. That same feeling of doing it to MOP has happened too. That's part of it...

[jimmontg]

What are CF scales? I know what MOP ones are, mother of pearl, but l feel like l should know what the CF stands for.

[M&J]

Carbon fiber-CF.

[jimmontg]

Ah! Of course. lol