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 did 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 idea 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 did 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