5/64" Pin/Rod

S

skstevens

Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
54
Anyone know where I can find 5/64" rods for handle pins?

I have looked at Texas Knifemaker's Supply and Sheffield Supply. Each carries 1/16 and 3/32, but the holes in the old knife I am repairing are apparently 5/64" and no one seems to carry this size. This would be .078" in decimal.

Scott Stevens
 
two good options,one harder option.
1) Use a 1/16 pin in the hole (it does not need to be a flush fit).
2) Use a reamer to make the hole 3/32 or larger.(it should be about 1/64-1/32 oversize anyway)
3) Search around and find 5/64 rod (and find out one hole doesn't fit anyway?)
Stacy
 
Thanks for the reply. I don't know McMaster-Carr. I saw it mentioned in another post yesterday for the first time. I will check them out.
 
Stacy,

Thanks for you answer. All the holes in the knife (pivot holes, other bolster, back spring and those that only secure the scales to the liner) are the same size. The knife is a trapper model folder and originally had a brass pin in the back springs. I am afraid a 1/16 pin would not give a tight fit in the back spring hole and the knife would not work well. Buying a reamer may be what I have to do, but I was hoping to find some brass rod to go back in that same hole. I have some nickel silver rod that is the right size. It came from an el cheapo kit and is the right size, but there is not much of it.

I am not sure I understand number three about one hole not fitting.
 
Sorry, I didn't know it was a folder.
The other easy place to get rods in steel,brass,aluminum,and nickel- in most any small size -is a good hobby shop. Find one that deals with modelers and RC people. They have a whole rack of sheet ,rod,and tubing.The steel rod is called piano wire.You may have to anneal it.
Stacy
 
if you have accessto a lathe, you could turn down a 3/32 rod to fit. or, a quick and dirty trick... take a piece of 3/32 and chuck it in a drill, throw a 220 grit belt on your sander(or disk) and turn it on. start the drill, and press the rod to the belt. You should be able to keep the pin round as you work it down, but it may take a couple of tries to keep from tapering it as well.

good luck
Ken
 
5/64" is 1.984 mm . You might try and find some metric pin stock, 2mm would probably fit after buffing it with a little sandpaper.
 
skstevens said:
Anyone know where I can find 5/64" rods for handle pins?

I have looked at Texas Knifemaker's Supply and Sheffield Supply. Each carries 1/16 and 3/32, but the holes in the old knife I am repairing are apparently 5/64" and no one seems to carry this size. This would be .078" in decimal.
Click to expand...
Let me guess, the knife is European-made? 5/64 is 2mm, which is probably a popular pin size over there. Maybe try a Canadian supplier who sells metric.

Whoops, Matt beat me to it!
 
Chucking up 3/32 stock in the drill press, and using a mill or lathe file to bring it down, will get it to where you want it. You can use a drill chart plate to check your progress. Mike
 
Unfortunately my shop consists of a B&D workmate, a Craftsman C-clamp Vise, a Craftsman benchtop drill press and a Delta SA-180 Belt/Disc (1x42/8) a few hammers and even fewer files. A lathe, a milling machine and a better belt grinder are all on my Christmas wish list, but for now, just learning with what I have.
 
I have the drill press, but no mill or lathe file. Is there something else that can be used to bring down the size? Would a strip of sanding belt or sand paper held against the spinning rod work?

Were you at Spirit of Steel in Grapevine? I saw several of your knives, but did not see a table for you there. Was hoping to meet you there.
 
Sandpaper will work fine.

Wrap it around a good square block of wood that you can lay flat on the table of your drill press. That will help keep it square/true so you don't taper the pin.
Pin stock is cheap though, I'd probably just buy some metric stock (especially since Jantz carries it, so its not hard to find) if I planned on making a hobby of rebuilding production knives. You're going to run into a lot of metric fasteners.
 
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