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

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  #1  
Old 06-15-2007, 03:50 AM
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What steel for bolster

Guys,

what steel do you use for bolsters and where do you get it?

Thank,
Alex
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Old 06-15-2007, 04:33 AM
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i use 416 stainless from sheffield.
brett


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  #3  
Old 06-15-2007, 11:25 AM
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416 solders a lot easier than 410


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Old 06-15-2007, 01:09 PM
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Alex,

I've used 416, 303, and years ago 304T for bolsters and guards. The 303 works well and is readily available in different sizes from most of the knife supply houses. You'll find 416 a little easier to work (but not a whole lot), and most of the better engravers will happily engrave it, whereas most hate 303. You really do need to heat treat 416 to render it stainless, but it doesn't get hard like blade steel. Stay away from 304T. It's gummy, hard, and just plain nasty to work!

One thing that is very important is your pin stock. You must use the same alloy of pin stock as the bolster stock or you'll never get them hidden. There are subtle tone differences between all those stainless alloys and they will show.

I haven't soldered bolsters or guards to blades since 1984, so I don't know how well they solder with contemporary solders. I do know that 304T did not solder easily with the typical 4% silver solder used years ago. I hate soldering!

I've also made bolsters (and whole handle side plates) from carbon steel, both mild 1018 and O-1 tool steel, but only when I needed blued fittings.

David


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Old 06-15-2007, 01:12 PM
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Forgot to mention sources, Alex. I tend to buy my stainless fitting stock from Texas Knifemaker Supply. They treat me well. However, you can probably find it from most of the other suppliers like K&G, Sheffield, etc. You could also look on ebay. I found 5 bars of 3/8 x 3/4 x 12 that was already heat treated. Got them cheaply from a maker who was not making many knives these days.

David


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Old 06-15-2007, 01:29 PM
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I should have made myself more clear that I was going to use these bolsters on folders and they going to be attached with screws.
I didn't realize that you need to HT 416.

Thanks,
Alex
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Old 06-15-2007, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexkuzn
I should have made myself more clear that I was going to use these bolsters on folders and they going to be attached with screws.
I didn't realize that you need to HT 416.

Thanks,
Alex
Technically, 416 needs to be heat treated to become stainless. However, that doesn't mean it's always done!

Any of the steels mentioned will work for a screw together application. You'll just need to drill and probably counterbore your holes. I've attached an image of one of my folders with bolsters that are screwed inplace. (These bolsters are Timascus, but the principle is the same no matter what your material.) I only used one screw from the bolsters to the liners with the pivot acting as a second screw, but you can put as many as you feel you need.

Hope this helps.

David


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Last edited by David Broadwell; 12-26-2007 at 08:59 AM.
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Old 06-17-2007, 03:00 PM
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Thanks David.
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Old 06-17-2007, 05:09 PM
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Any time, Alex.


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