folder question

[doublearrow]

I had this in the folding forum but thought it might get more views and tips here because it deals with peening in material that can crack.

I have my second slip joint nearly together. The blade needs to be peened in then final sanding, but my liners are not flat. I glue my stuff up using super glue which held better than the epoxy did for me. I put everything half together in a mock up and saw that there were gaps inbetween the spring and liner and I thought they would come out during peening............ I thought wrong. Now my question is how do you keep that thin metal flat? Drilling, cutting, looking at it wrong all seem to warp or twist the metal just enough to cause problems. I have a granite block but it doesn't help if the liner is twisted or bent and if you try to bend it back you make it worse. Or at least I do. Also do you guys have any tricks for peening stainless pins and not ruining the folder? I have to hit the stainless so hard that handle material starts cracking and the whole nine. I've used brass but I want to go with stainless. Any help would be appreciated, as is all the other help you guys have graciously given. I've bought two books on making knives, but some questions still pop up. Sorry for the long post.


edited to add: i finally came across a thread that talked about heat treating stainless liners does that stop them from bending as easily? Couldn't find anymore information on it than that.