Homemade clips

[ahorton]

I want to make a few belt/pocket-clips for myself but can't quite decide what metal to use. I'll be laser-cutting it out and then manually bending.

Corrosion resistance is important to me too.

The easy solution would just be stainless steel 0.9mm sheet. It's easy enough to bend and has a bit of rigidity to it, but I don't feel that it's ideal. I'd prefer something that's a bit stiffer and holds its shape better (possibly after some heat treatment).

Titanium would be great but it's a bit pricey to get hold of in the tiny quantity I want.

Any ideas? Most of the info I found on the forum just talks about buying the things from different manufacturers. Does anyone here make their own?

 

[BIGLOU]

Just my 2 cents but can you make one like this Solarforce two-way clip. I'm a big Surefire Fan Boy, but this clip is awesome and works well for me. I just wish it came in black. I also have not seen these anymore on eBay or from one of the popular Solarforce distributors. Put me on the list on what ever you make.

This clip also a "Hot Item" that I dont know if it's still available for the Surefire Z59 Clicky and Ra lights also fit my Surefire G2X.

 

[gallonoffuel]

Since the OP is looking for corrosion resistance, I can attest that the Solarforce two-way clip is absolutely not corrosion resistant. Thats the same reason I had my own made up, but like the OP my stainless clips are somewhat soft. They need to be heat treated I believe but I have no way of doing that.

 

[ahorton]

That two-way clip is nice. I doubt I'd use it but I like the design.

Gallonoffuel, how did your stainless clips go? Do they unbend annoyingly or are they useable? What thickness?

 

[gallonoffuel]

Mine are .040" thick and they are soft-ish but the material thickness helps keep their shape. I have bent some of mine in hard use but they bend back, and I have sold quite a few and no one has complained about them being TOO soft. Of course, I stated early that they are not treated (I don't think 304 is heat treatable anyway). If I was to do it again, I'd have them made in a spring steel and coated.

 

[ahorton]

Yeah 300 series can't be easily heat treated. I considered getting my clips cut from a stiff carbon-steel, but the coating is putting me off.

 

[gallonoffuel]

416 might be an option but its not going to stay as clean shiny as a 300 series. How corrosive of an environment are we talking?

 

[SoulLessGinger]

If I was to do it again, I'd have them made in a spring steel and coated.

Agree, spring steel clips are the only ones I've used that don't quickly take a set.

Bending clips back and forth just means they weren't hard enough to begin with.

Not gonna be corrosion resistant at all, tho. Spring steel is mostly just iron and will rust readily. But you can always have it phosphated or cerakoted or even hard chromed if you want to get nuts.

 

[seahunt]

Hello!
I have often bought Ti 6Al4V strips in the 0.35- 0.50 in. size
for folder frame use on the bay. Yes, more expensive
but still better than Solarforce 'bendies'.Don't go thinner
than 0.35. Regards, Chuck Hunt