NEED A GOOD SOURCE FOR CLICKER DIES

[RockyAussie]

5 minutes ago, Doc Reaper said:

Once they made one for me and refused to fix it as they said 1/8" out of spec was within their standards.

Really!!!!!!!!! They must be awful cheap if that's the case. Even my first cut knives that don't matter much could not out by that much. If I get a knife out by 1mm (less than 1/16") I would be moving on to another knife maker. I would happily pay twice the price because at the end of the day every piece you cut is going to be a reflection of your work.

[Cumberland Highpower]

On 12/8/2021 at 8:57 PM, RockyAussie said:

Really!!!!!!!!! They must be awful cheap if that's the case. Even my first cut knives that don't matter much could not out by that much. If I get a knife out by 1mm (less than 1/16") I would be moving on to another knife maker. I would happily pay twice the price because at the end of the day every piece you cut is going to be a reflection of your work.

yeah that was about my only real bad experience with them....To elaborate they ran on about how 1/8" was within the acceptable limits of a steel rule die and so on, etc.  

I think I paid around $100 for that particular die.  About 4x5" with 2 large 2" slot tubes welded in.   Weaver's repair (A cut, clamped in a vise pinch back shut and welded back closed)  I think was around $75. Most dies I buy from them are less than $100 and I've bought maybe 140 or so dies from them over a few years, so a couple problem dies weren't so big a deal.  Sounds like I may be luckier than most with dies, or perhaps I just know what shops to send what patterns to.   

I am also EXTREMELY careful with my patterns.  Using hard card stock and extreme care in laying out and trimming curves, etc. Anything that has to match or mate up especially I take great care with and make notes pointing that fact out on the patterns..   I certainly don't want tolerances to stack up....I think that may be the crux of many that deal with International?

There was a die maker there named Denny that was capable of making some excellent dies if you communicated to him exactly what you wanted.  I don't know if he still works there or not?

I am talking full height steel rule die stock here.  Are you using full height dies or 3/4"?

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Cumberland Highpower

[RockyAussie]

3 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

am talking full height steel rule die stock here.  Are you using full height dies or 3/4"?

There are a vast variety of heights and thicknesses available depending on what your needs are. The majority I get done are 19mm (3/4") by 2.5mm thick. They cost less than the 32mm 1+1/4"  knives and I find that they don't get bent out of shape so easily as the taller ones. Sometimes I have to use the taller ones where there is a lot of thickness to get over but thankfully that is rare. Another reason I like the 19mm ones is they fit in the draws I made that you can see next to the clicker presses. One good thing of late is that a lot of the parts can be cut out on my laser and only if the product get to repetitious do I get the knives made. One good thing about the laser there is NO error in the cutting size at all.

This the little diode laser I built which has cut my knife making costs by at least 1/2

This is an example of how the laser can do cutting accurately and better than what most knife /die makers could dream of making.

[Doc Reaper]

Sandy finally came thru, after 10 weeks, the first order was made was 3/4 (as was the 2nd, 3rd, and possibly the 4th). She finally told me that she had run out of 3/4, after 9 weeks and then she decided to use 1-1/4 inch after seeing how screwed up my orders were. 
After seeing the difference between the two sizes I told Sandy that for the extra few dollars she should of steered me towards the 1-1/4 size, this was on Tuesday Dec 14, now I can return the incorrect items that were sent in the beginning.

I have never used wallet dies, it’s always been by hand because I was understanding that dies were out of my reach financially. Now I see a wallet set can be had within my means, it will help me speed up the process a bit. Knowing that hand cutting will never be fully retired, the dies will help the over used hand tendons get a break from gripping a blade.

[JWheeler331]

I have used Texas Dies and they have always been great. Have only heard good things from Weaver also. 

[Doc Reaper]

International Die in Clarksville Georgia is closed, got that straight from Sandy herself 

[JOSE]

What brand did you buy and why? Im looking to buy and looking for recommendations.

As for the Dies Texas Dies in Mansfield Texas makes them top quality and reasonable prices.

Thnx, Joe 

americasaddle@hotmail.com

Edited March 19, 2022 by JOSE

[toxo]

On 12/15/2021 at 4:19 AM, RockyAussie said:

There are a vast variety of heights and thicknesses available depending on what your needs are. The majority I get done are 19mm (3/4") by 2.5mm thick. They cost less than the 32mm 1+1/4"  knives and I find that they don't get bent out of shape so easily as the taller ones. Sometimes I have to use the taller ones where there is a lot of thickness to get over but thankfully that is rare. Another reason I like the 19mm ones is they fit in the draws I made that you can see next to the clicker presses. One good thing of late is that a lot of the parts can be cut out on my laser and only if the product get to repetitious do I get the knives made. One good thing about the laser there is NO error in the cutting size at all.

This the little diode laser I built which has cut my knife making costs by at least 1/2

This is an example of how the laser can do cutting accurately and better than what most knife /die makers could dream of making.

I love ya Brian but you make me sick!

[RockyAussie]

5 hours ago, toxo said:

I love ya Brian but you make me sick!

Sorry bout that mate but as long as its me and not my work that's OK I think.

[toxo]

2 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

Sorry bout that mate but as long as its me and not my work that's OK I think.

I just wish I had a fraction of you work ethic - and your equipment of course.