How To CS Folder - Washer Swap

I

insta9ves

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
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I gotta say, I really really hate the double layer teflon+phosphor bronze combo that comes with most CS knives. I used to just remove the paper think teflon layer(usually 0.004") however doing that often messes up the tolerance of the knives, causing the blade to scrape the scale or lockbar getting stuck and not seated all the way when the knife is closed.

I found a good supplier to get replacement washers earlier this year and i've been replacing all the washers with aftermarket bronze washers. I even managed to replace some models that has bigger tang with a much wider set of 0.625"OD washers. For example, the 0.625" OD work with the Lawman, Code 4, AD10, AD15, Golden Eye models. Here's my AD10 getting the treatment. You can see the new 0.625" washer and compare that with the stock washer above, it's much wider.

If you haven't tried it, you should. Once these washers broken in, they are Sebenza smooth.

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For those of you who has the 6th gen Tri-way XM-18, you can do the same too. It probably works with other gens as well, but i've only done it on the 6th gen.

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Goose 7279 said:
I'm not a fan of Teflon either. I actually have torn them before. Thanks for sharing.
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I tighten my pivot all the time, and that almost always result in the teflon getting squished and torn after a short while. So I removed them as part of my new CS ritual(cleaning, lubing, locktite the pivot screw, etc.).
 
It is a great modification. I’ve done it to all of my recon 1s and voyagers. If I knew the size it requires, I’d do the broken skulls as well. Very easy and inexpensive to do. Nice write up!
 
jux t said:
It is a great modification. I’ve done it to all of my recon 1s and voyagers. If I knew the size it requires, I’d do the broken skulls as well. Very easy and inexpensive to do. Nice write up!
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For broken skull you probably need a modified 0.19" ID x 0.5" OD and 0.01" thickness washer. Cold Steel uses 0.25" or 0.19" pivot depending on the size of the model. For example, i found that prolite, airlite, medium voyagers use ~0.196" pivot.

HOWEVER, CS's 0.19" is technically 0.196" which means that most standard 0.19" washer won't fit the pivot without being modified. For me, i just use 0.25" ID washer instead for my Airlite, which has been working well so far.

Cold Steel Knives Cold Steel Knives - Do your TW manufacturers use metric unit for the pivot hardware? Since i measured your 0.19+" pivot to be around 5mm. This means most of the US made after market washers won't fit. This is not a problem for 0.25" ID washer because it's technically 6.3mm which fits 6mm pivot.
 
Yes much much better when replaced and broken in...will have a look tomorrow if someone doesnt beat me to it...
 
strideruser said:
There were some old threads on here but you have to look as I cant remember and going to bed! you can get a size that works from https://usaknifemaker.com/washer-pb-1-4-250-inside-hole-diameter.html
I am sure this is where a brought a job lot and have done all of my ones.....
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That's where i got all my washers. They don't have the proper one for the 5mm pivot. The 0.189"ID doesn't really fit. I got all sizes so i tried them all. It's prob just due to the manufacturer using a different unit.
 
It would be good to hear from CS about the smaller pivot and to find somewhere to get a stash of them as it makes all the ones i have changed light years better but your right i have not done the broken skull size...
Also the Swift is totally different and uses very small overall diameter washers, this is due to the mechanism. I think this is the only odd one out so to speak...
0.010 is the total thickness so the teflon is 0.005 and the PB is 0.005 = 0.010

I did try to use 0.015 on each side but it knocks it all out and you get gaps on the liners ect... it works kind of but not as good as the correct size
Shame CS dont sell them in packs of 20 say. They must be as cheap as chips but sometimes its just finding somewhere to get things!
 
strideruser said:
It would be good to hear from CS about the smaller pivot and to find somewhere to get a stash of them as it makes all the ones i have changed light years better but your right i have not done the broken skull size...
Also the Swift is totally different and uses very small overall diameter washers, this is due to the mechanism. I think this is the only odd one out so to speak...
0.010 is the total thickness so the teflon is 0.005 and the PB is 0.005 = 0.010

I did try to use 0.015 on each side but it knocks it all out and you get gaps on the liners ect... it works kind of but not as good as the correct size
Shame CS dont sell them in packs of 20 say. They must be as cheap as chips but sometimes its just finding somewhere to get things!
Click to expand...
For the 0.01" thickness, it's actually 0.006" bronze and 0.004" teflon most of the time. Also even for the 0.01" bronze from USA knifemaker, you have to polish it, because these washers are stamped and sometime there's some unevenness at the center hole(almost folded) that could contribute to the extra thickness and throw off the tolerance.
 
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