Hi Guys forgive me if this has been asked before I am just getting into knife making and I would love to know some more info on folding knifes and would really love to here others experiences making a folding knife sutch as what grinding titanium is like does it require a different grinding system? Is it required to use titanium for frame lock folders? if not what other materials can be used and info or opinions on this subject I would really love to here Thanks for your time guys
Titanium grinds just fine with standard belts or files, though it can be slow going with the latter. You don't have to use Ti for folders at all, though I do like it for liners. That said, titanium is very popular for frame or liner lock knives because it is naturally springy. Don't let that restrict your thinking, though. If you want to make a frame lock from O1 or 416, you can. It's just some extra work to give the steel the spring it needs.
I don't think there is a "best" material. It's more about what you're comfortable with. Tool or stainless steel can look really nice on a frame lock. However, if you don't have the setup or experience to do the proper heat treat to make the steel springy enough for the lock, you might be better off with Ti. Just be aware that titanium has it's own quirks. You'll have to drill holes slightly oversized, for example, because the titanium's natural flexibility will make the holes shrink a little. Tapping it for screws can be a real adventure too, but if you take your time, the result is very nice.
