Question about backsprings.

caddyman1973 · Post by **caddyman1973** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:33 pm

Hey guys,
I'm wanting to try to make my first folding knife, one simular to Bose's backpocket knife, but with a few small differences (single blade). My question is what would be the best material to use for a backspring? I would like to have a nice snap. I'm a tool & die maker by trade, and have alot of experience with many tool steels. I'm afraid D-2 would break if rockwell is too high. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:43 pm

any carbon tool steel will do. 1095, O1, L6 ect. fit, spring design and temper are more of a factor to a good strong action rather than type of steel. I would go with O1 if it were me drawn back to a purple or dark blue.

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:18 am

http://www.chriscrawfordknives.com/CCK/ ... _Tutorial/

this is a great tutorial available on line, care of Chris Crawford.

also, http://www.engnath.com/ (go to Manual)

has some excellent commentary on knife making by, Bob Engath. His estate has kindly left his "manual" posted on the web for all to learn from.

Jaye

caddyman1973 · Post by **caddyman1973** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:45 am

Thanks guys, I appreciate your help. If it don't turn out too bad I'll post a pic. Thanks again!

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:13 pm

Post a picture regardless of how it turns out! It's always great to see other people's creations.

j

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:13 pm

O-1 is good because if you screw it up as I have done with 1 or 2 OK OK more than that.

But O-1 is forgiving, you can re-heat treat it. But 1095 is the cheapest of the bunch as is 1080/1084.

The best and cheapest way is to get old used Nicholson files (1095). I must have about 50 to 60 that I have annealed in the woodstove and let them cool slowly in the ashes. That's how we heat the house, SO it's kinda like doing it for free. I need to straighten one out, a large piece of firewood kinda bent it.

How I annealed the files is not my idea, some one did that in his woodstove last year, should be real soft by now.

dudleythetogi · Post by **dudleythetogi** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:27 pm

I have a few.If you think you can use one send a pm,as you can see they have quite an arch to them,are about 1/8'' thick,and 4 3/8'' long and,I believe heat treated.There are two smaller straiter ones,about 3/32''thick and 3-3/4''long,one maybe HT,the other maybe not.
Greg

Ringmaster · Post by **Ringmaster** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:49 am

Hi Caddyman,

If you can sketch the spring you're wanting, I may have something you can fit to shape - I bought a 5-gallon bucket of springs, years ago. Lots of different patterns. If you could grind it to shape, it would be a bunch easier than HT and tempering a blank...

Whatever the case - if you're gonna make a spring, match the steel to the blade, is my advice.

G'luck,
JR

caddyman1973 · Post by **caddyman1973** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:48 pm

Hey guys,
Not had the computer on since Fri. night. All ideas greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Diligence, I have a 4" blade fillet knife
nearing completion (for those tasty Cumberland River Rainbows and Browns). I'll post a pic when finished.
Hukk, great file idea. I have a few of 'em in my toolbox at work, (I would have never thought of that) Thanks!
Greg & Ringmaster, those are options that I will leave on the table. The blade will be D-2, that's why I mentioned D-2 (backspring) in the original post. Thanks.
This is my favorite forum, because of guys like ya'll.