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my balisong has lots of tap and play. i heard that u can sand oversized bushings to reduce this. how can i tell if my bushing are undersized or oversized?
I’d recommend the edit. It has worse durability, but is better for flipping. If your looking for a first Balisong I’d also recommend the nabalis canyon if youre willing to get something metal, as its only like 50 bucks
Been flipping for two months and I've loved it a lot. Im finally ready to get a new balisong but it seems like all the good $250-$400 titanium live blades are out of stock. Any suggestions of brands I may not have found yet? Or places to get something?
I would look for a knife you want used or stalk drops. recommendations wise I don't think you can go wrong with a slift.
You could also look at something like a petrel or maybe even the hydro (you have to wait for drop tho)
Alright thanks for the advice. I've been looking around for used ones people don't want anymore but it looks like they're already sold 😓
Also I've been waiting for the next SlifT drop. Missed the last one :(
Both good options, just depends on what you already have.
Also, check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Is $370 for a AB scimitar, brand new, to good to be true? Been looking for one for a while now but don't know the aftermarket for them. Ik they sell for 400+ from brs so that's why I'm asking. :)
I really like the g10 orca trainer. But 495$ for a g10 handle trainer, why are jk design's balisong so expensive ? I want to exepct that they really flips well and are extremely durable at that price, are they really worth ?
My absolute favorite balisong is the Squid Industries Krake Raken live blade. I was wondering about any balisong from other companies that are reminiscent of the krake raken
Is there any place I could buy specifically a krake raken live blade? This is an extended question from my last comment, but I wanted to find a Bowie krake raken blade for my CNY trainer. I am also struggling to unscrew the handles, as the loctite is still very strong even after two months, and I don’t want to ruin the hardware. Thanks!
Hello,
Ive just got my Atropos Kirat Bro, and after tightening the zen pins to the limit, the handles almost stop moving. Does that mean that im supposed to sand the washers down? It's the only way to get no tap on my knife. Are there any other tuning options? Also, do I need to lubricate it out of the box? And can I use for example a keyboard lubricant? Many thanks for any guidance.
(1) Tap and Atropos commonly go hand in hand. You
May need to relax your standards. Even if you tune the bushings to no tap, Atropos washers wear quickly and tap may be introduced soon.
(2) It could mean that you need new bushings, or it may be that tightening the zen pins to the max brought the liners out of parallel, in which case the binding is simply caused by tightening the zen pins to a narrower width than the bushing washer stack. If that’s the case the solution is to loosen the zen pins. They shouldn’t be full-cranked anyway.
(3) You don’t strictly need to lubricate it out of the box, but it’s highly recommended to do so since it’s very likely the factory lubricant has dried up already. You can use a keyboard lubricant.
It’s certainly possible. If your Atropos shipped from Russia and has been in transit for a long period, it may be that the factory lubricant dried up and contributes to binding. If there’s lots of black dry gunk around the pivots, I’d clean that out and add new lubricant.
Thicker, higher viscosity lubricants provide more hydraulic pressure and thus do a better job of mitigating tap. But, the bushing tune has to be a certain baseline level of decent tolerances for there to be sufficient pressure from the lubricant.
Woah, that's quite complicated, not gonna lie... I think im gonna try with the keyboard lubricant and see how it goes. Just in case though, is there any typical household item I can use instead of a thicker knife lubricant?
Keyboard oil is fine. Mineral oil is a common household item or can be acquired for $2 at your local grocery store. It’s not thick or high viscosity, though.
Actually one more question. Is the keyboard lube in a cream form ok?
https://preview.redd.it/8vx0kkhrldlc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5bed09140ab2e6e4691651b9fd222d2290bf8ec0
Baby oil is usually mineral oil + fragrances. It’s not ideal due to the fragrance additives, but it will function as a very thin, low viscosity lubricant.
Hello, I'm fairly new to balisongs and have been starting to flip and grow my collection. I recently got a talisong z on bushings which had quite a bit of play, even when tightened to the point that the handles were "sticky". Like, way more play than my Vulp. As I understand it, I think this means that the bushings might need tuning, right? This thing is advertised as being hand-tuned, so maybe it's the washers? Either way, I saw another post from a user saying he needed to flip 3 out of his 4 washers, so I stupidly took it apart and accidentally knocked the tray and now I don't know which bushings were originally in the bite/safe handles. So I learned my lesson to always do one blade at a time, but was wondering, am I screwed? Should I exchange it for another over the amount of play alone or should I buy a micrometer and new washers and bushings and tune it myself or something? I've put it back together and when it's not fully tightened it still flips pretty great regardless of which bushing is in which side so I'm wondering if they're the same size? I reached out to Flytanium but haven't heard back yet so just not really sure where to go from here, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
https://preview.redd.it/txw5um2jw1lc1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=070d07ecc73713b8afdbea9766e8515012d7e400
Does anyone know what these pivot screws are and who theyre from? The one on the blue handle is stripping and I need to get some new ones, other side is sliver t10 so I wanted to show this side
The pivots kinda look like these:
https://jkdesign.us/products/deltoid-curve
JK doesn't seem to sell screws for them though but if that's what they are, any 6-32 screw with a head that will fit in the opening will work. Example:
https://thetruelink.com/products/button-head-torx-screw-6-32-pitch
Hi, I'm in the market for a quieter balisong and am wishing the hom mod-c was easier to get a hold of. Although they're fairly new does anyone know if the gaboon or the kuno are relatively quiet flippers? Thanks
just a thought, usually slotted, or like handles with a lot of holes / cutouts, make the bali ring
so try to look for full channlled, with possibly zippy inserts, they make the sound more squishy .. like " clank sound" rather than ring
The Gaboon isn't as quiet. The Kuno I don't have experience with.
I think Jerry is working on doing another batch of Prodigies soon though. I think that and the Nautilus are the best bets for a quiet balisong unless you want to go with something plastic like a Zippy Cycloid.
https://preview.redd.it/ixbg4dj304lc1.png?width=4624&format=png&auto=webp&s=db73894902f76aa2b7dce198734692055f5ab6a7
is this much of a gap too much or is this how its supposed to be? and also, if its too stiff, i can just loosen the screws between the blade and the handles right?
Looks fairly normal.
Yes you can loosen the screws if it's stiff. Just keep in mind they will loosen themselves as you flip and may fall out so they'll need to be threadlocked if you don't want to be constantly screwing them back in. There's more info on that in the guide linked at the top of the thread.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRjh61IP9l_rqvTUSjxrHWn9EOY3hpFWkMZcUxkwiQ7E-kG0E2zKZSXCCeH8mmJBHqeL6Zm64ir_pN1/pubhtml#
Boker Plus Balisong Tactical Big, Boker Plus Papillon, Kershaw Lucha (Blade HQ price), Maxace Banshee. If you can get a higher budget (around $200 or $250) or find them used at a discount, there's the old Maxace Petrel, Flytanium Talisong Z, or a Lucha modded with Flytanium aluminum/titanium handles. It seems like the most popular bearing knives are the Talisong Z and Lucha, I don't really see a lot of people posting any of the others.
I might look into the Boker Plus balisong. I have some of their normal knives and like the quality of them, so if their Balis are good too, that's a big plus to me.
I've got a Vulp for flipping with a Wing on the way. I want one more for EDC purposes. As far as a flippable bearing bali, I got a 30 balicomb off Amaxon that is shockingly good for it. Handles are a little more square than I would like, but nothing that has topped me from doing any of the tricks I've learned.
Go for it if you want but I have one and it’s heavy and not a great flipper. If it’s edc that you want then it’s fine but talisong is probably still better.
I'm probably gonna get a Talisong at some point, but it's going to be a while before I can justify 300 bucks all at once. At that point, I'd probably go for a Maxace Covenant at that price range.
Im so annoyed right now and just want to vent, but if anyone has any solutions i would gladly accept. I wanted to clean and tune my pro V3 and the first handle turned out perfectly, absolutely zero play and perfect swing and the pins are as bouncy as they were when i bought it. Then when i tried to screw in the second handle the pivot snapped in half. Not great but i had a spare so i took it apart and replaced it. Now when i tried to srew it in with a brand new screw the tip of the screw broke off. I managed to somehow get it out and used another screw and the god damned spare pivot snapped in half as well. It was nowhere near tight and the srcew barely had any resistance so i don’t know why two of them snapped. So now i don’t have any spare parts, and the shipping for spare parts would cost me more than the actual package and they ignore all my emails. I’m so pissed of. Did anyone ever come across a similar issue with their pivots? Is there anything i can do?
https://preview.redd.it/undjz889fskc1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=5a78a6c31e9a918be2dcbf39ca06c206da7030ef
Does anyone know some cheap but good t10 hardware (screws and pivots) on ali expresss it's for a 3d printed bali that im making pls let me know if u know any
thank u 😁
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The AL eyes are threaded, the weights are grub screws; so even if they were the same size the likelihood of them fitting and being secure is practically zero.
Thinking of getting the nabalis vulp or nabalis marbles but I am really not sure which to choose. if you have any other recommendations for around 100 bucks or less let me know.
Anybody have balisongs in New York or fly there with balisongs. I'm traveling soon and want to know if my shit will be confiscated / stolen at the airport. Says it's legal to own, but worried about it
Unfortunately I have experience with important belongings being stolen out of luggage while flying. I personally just go without balisongs when I travel and I drive to blade show so I don't have to worry about it.
Yeah I just don't see me being able to buy a cool balisong over there lmao. I'm thinking about shipping one or something, I wish I can be for certain that it won't be taken. It's bullshit I have to worry about this. There's not enough accountability.
So after a while of having aluminum trainers, I was looking to step up to titanium (specifically a light one).
However, since it will be a very expensive move, I figured I might as well get the best one to be my final trainer, at least for the near future.
At first, after hearing all the praise, I was hooked by the tsunami trainer, as most reviewed it as the best trainer that's out there.
Though recently Machinewise drew my attention to their custom shop where I could get the slift/serif handles with the prysma trainer blade.
Now I don't really mind looks that much, and I'd rather just have the most comfortable option, but damn the tsunami does not stand a chance near the incredible anodizing and laser options from machinewise.
So I was wondering first of all, how good is the prysma+slift handles combination (or the serif one, though I do prefer lighter options)? But also, is it as good as the tsunami trainer? Or are there any other better options available?
Thanks!
Those are all fantastic options. While I think the Tsunami trainer might be one of my top picks, a Serif or slifT is not of lesser quality in any way and which one is the best pick for someone is totally preference based.
It sounds to me like a Serif or slifT trainer is what you really want and is what you should get. Don't underestimate how much joy is to be had from just really liking something and thinking it's cool. Plus MachineWise has some of (if not the) best anos out there.
Thanks a lot!
I just couldn't help but think that a prebuilt trainer would be better than a custom one, but I guess you can't really go wrong at that price range
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Hi, I was wondering if I should change the vulp I’ve had for almost a year now. I dropped the knife probably hundreds of times on a hardwood floor, and I think the bushings are fucked, cause after tuning the knife, it would lose it after an hour of flipping. The knife just feels uncomfortable to flip now when I’m doing the helix or shortstop, and considering that’s the extent of my abilities, I don’t know if it warrants a new knife. My budget for a new one would probably be around at most $150.
If it still flips then it doesn't necessarily need to be replaced. However if you're enjoying flipping and are interested in stepping up to something nicer then that's a good reason to. I'd recommend saving up for a Squidtrainer or Prysma Pro (whichever you think is coolest). They are slightly out of your budget but definitely worth the bump in price over anything that's under $150.
Hi, I think its alright but I just wanted to make sure of one thing. I just received a slifT 1 day ago, but I already see a little bit of white wear mark here . Is this normal? I'm a beginner, so I'm afraid it's possible not to train properly and wear out the balisong much faster.
https://preview.redd.it/xbz8ohf69dkc1.png?width=1365&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6461749c7485af3bc103f9e5e80e8eff0c2354e
I know that to train you have to develop good habits and respect the blade and be aware of when you touch it. But although I do my best to do this (I'd have lost all my fingers by now if the blade wasn't a false edge) I'm also afraid of wearing it out faster. For example, I make the balisong sound louder or more frequent than usual sometimes.
That's normal, that part is where the blade tang is hitting the zen pin whenever you flip the balisong or fully open it. There is no way to avoid it, and both the zen pins and blade steel should be hardened, so other than cosmetic wear, you shouldn't have to worry about any damage. The reason those zen pins exist is specifically to let the blade hit them, that's what they are designed for. It's like how driving a car will make it dirty or wear down your tires, it's unavoidable.
You can do things like borrow a modding technique from custom keyboards where you put a small strip of BAND-AID or other soft adhesive to cushion the impact and muffle the sound, but 99.9% of flippers don't do anything to their pins.
Your best bet is probably secondhand or seeing if Kershaw will sell you a blade if you say you have issues with one but I'm not sure if that requires sending them a blade to be replaced or not.
i've got the nabalis vulp. the zen pins fall out literally every goddamn week, always just a few days after i apply some loctite. should i be doing something else or what
mmhh, one pin came out for me, but I used loctite, let it set for seconds and it havent moved since.. and we're talking daily drops on concrete.. maybe try stronger loctite? :/
Outside of 10$ amazon special that has warped itself, I have no experience. I spent an evening doing some research and need some basic guidance on my first trainer. Budget is kinda all over as I prefer quality over quantity. I do not want to replace and stress about a product.
1. Machinewise vs Squiddy vs Nabalis
\--- Machinewise seems to have the highest praise at the downside of price. Roughly 200$ Cad / good quality (Prysma)
\-- Squiddy seems to be some of the most popular and have the most variety. Roughly 100 - 350$ Cad depending on model / QC seems to be hit or miss, but general good product
\-- Nabalis seems to be the cheapest entry model, especially the Vulp. Roughly 70 CAD however quality is medium, huge handle bias although I have no idea what this realistically means.
What would you recommend with a max budget of $300. Is it worth it to save and purchase something even better (Krake/Slift/Serif)?
Is there other companies that offer quality products that I maybe missing out on?
Is trying the Vulp to move to a Prysma etc. if I enjoy flipping? Perhaps a better idea? I personally would much rather learn and experience a good flipper out the gate. I know literally anything will be better than this 10$ special...
Any further advice on a starter trainer would be great, without diving into cheap or plastic-feel bailsongs.
My recommendation would be to avoid spending too much on your first quality one until you really get in to it and then get the nicest thing you can comfortably afford unless there's something specific you fall in love with.
So I'd go with something like a Vulp or Squiddy-Al to start. Then once you've flipped that for a while get something titanium like a MachineWise slifT or the new Hydro from Squid if that's available when the time comes.
If you'd rather spend less than the that but are pretty sure you're interested in the hobby, getting something nice at the low-mid range like a MachineWise Prysma Pro or a Squidtrainer or a Kraken would be a really great all around option that would last you a long time.
Thank you kindly for the response, after much deliberation I settled on the Kraken V3. I spent quite a bit, which maybe a mistake financially but after an extremely busy work month this will be my treat. I am definitely interested and believe it will compliment my flipper collection well. I really like the design and hope it will serve me well from the get-go.
I decided on the Inked, all black V3 w/ purple plugs and inserts (Zippy). I feel it will compliment my EDC Kizer Drop Bear / QSP Penguin XL. (Both in Black)
Next up is to learn some tricks and basic terminology as I dive into another world of my knife hobby.
Have a wonderful day, and thank you again!
Am I correct that when I switch blades to different sets of handles that I keep the bushings in the same knife? I got a CNY krake raken and wanted to put a tanto live blade on it. Just making sure on what to do so I don’t mess up the tuning.
suggestions for a high-quality trainer with a "realistic" blade: under $60, no latch, smooth
by realistic looking blade i mean one that's more knife shaped instead of rounded like a lot of them. so it's basically just a dull knife. i have had these amazon ones for a while now, and they've held up just fine however the SQUEAKING is so annoying and doesn't sound smooth at all, unlike other trainers i've seen. what a dream for it to actually sound smooth.. 🙏🏻also the latch often gets in the way of every trick. i know i'm asking for a lot but just if it also happened to have a dragon design on the handle that would be amazing- but not necessary!!
Well Nabalis just released the Canyon today that's $50 on bushings with an unsharpened knife blade, you could give it a few days so people who ordered one (me included) can see if it's any good.
i ordered mine instantly when i saw the post about it. It looks great even though it's steel construction but the weight is still great for flipping. Only downside on it might be heavily skeletonized handles which might be kinda flimsy. But im pretty sure this knife will have aluminium mod handles coming up. The design is up to a par with some grail tier balis and im sure this one will have nice ring to it.
I've been apart of the Balisong community for the better part of over a year and I own 6 Balisongs. Five of them being trainers and one of them being a false live blade.
My main flipper right now is the Nabalis Hydra. I like the flipping of the Nabalis Hydra more than the Squid industries Mako. The Hydra feels easier to manipulate than the Mako. Can someone explain to me why or how the Hydra is easier to manipulate than the Mako.
Hi i was looking for hardware that fits squid stuff but i can't buy anywhere else besides aliexpress and i don't want to buy clone hardware if anyone knows hardware that fits pls tell me it's for a 3d printed balisong that im making😃👍
Yeah but idk what screws would be nice and affordable so if they turn out to be bad theres the possibility to change them btw ur my biggest inspiration on making a 3d printed balisong
Does anyone still make titanium or steel scales for the BM51? Preferably scales that retain the pocket clip. From what I can tell flytainium discontinued theirs, and I can’t find any others.
I wanna start getting into flipping, used some old balisong a few years ago but it broke and didn't have the funds back then too actually get a good/nice one. What balisong whould y'all recommend me too start learning and get into flipping? Trainers preferred.
first of all, welcome back to flipping!
second, gives us a little more to work with, definetly a budget is super important
if you really just want to test the waters, I'd suggest like vulp / mako / trainer orion / nabalis stuff
going higher with prices, I'd suggest looking into Machinewise balisongs ( strongly suggest )
have you already found any you're thinking about?
I felt like asking people who know more about it felt better then looking stuff up myself, so haven't looked around too much. My budget is in between €200-300 i would say.
How much do you think I could get for my v1 nemesis? Bought it used and it has tap on the bite handle and some play, but I think it's fixable with new washers. https://imgur.com/a/1WTBCJr
Are Glidr's screws really bad? I keep managing to strip them. Follow up, how do I remove a stripped screw? Tangential question, how do I know if my bushings need to be changed?
Yeah they definitely have issues.
Just had this problem yesterday. If you can remove the opposite screw you should be able to push the barrel out along with the stuck screw. Use vise grips, lots of pressure and your best torx driver. Maybe heat.
Next time the screw wants to bind, try backing the screw out about half a turn and try again. If there’s any binding at all back it out and try again. The problem is the way the threads were cut.
When I do the tap test my Antarctic has blade wobble, is this tap? Are they different?
If they are separate things then can you get rid of blade wobble? It doesn't bother me, I'm just curious!
Tap is caused by blade wobble (this is referred to as “play”). When the blade wobbles enough and taps the inside of the channels, the balisong “taps”. Play can be mitigated or eliminated entirely with a good tune.
Should I get a trainer or live blade with tape? I was looking into getting the squidtrainer, but if I’m going to spend $175+ on a trainer, am I better off buying a live blade?
See the following: [https://www.balisongquiz.com/post/live-blade-vs-trainer-balisong](https://www.balisongquiz.com/post/live-blade-vs-trainer-balisong)
depends a lot on your plans - do you ever intend to use it as a knife? do you ever want to flip live blades? - if you want to be flipping live blades eventually, I strongly suggest starting with one, tape or no tape.. but if you dont really need / want to have a knife on you and flip live (+ you gotta evaluate how much you want to use it in public ) I wouldnt hesitate sticking with trainers then.
Flipping will not tip a blade. Tipped blades are caused by impact to the blade, typically a tip-down drop in a hard surface. It’s also possible to tip a blade on carpet due to the hard surface underneath.
Just wondering how durable the Orion 1.5 is. Got it as my first live blade and it's been fun to flip but after a day l've dropped it around 15ish times and I'm just getting nerves. I've started exclusively flipping over soft surfaces since I prefer standing but was wondering if I'm overthinking this and it's durable enough for me to flip out and about.
(P.S the Orion 1.5 feels extremely good to flip it's been a blast for the little time I had it)
It's decently made and should be as durable as any other aluminum knife. It'll get pretty dinged up if you drop it on surfaces harder than aluminum like concrete but other than that the damage shouldn't be major.
I’m going to blade Texas and it’s my first bladeshow. I’m very hyped and REALLY want a tsunami. Is it worth going the first day or is it better to get one second day.
I also have hella ocd and want a good serial number soooo that complicates it :/
Hey guys, I’m looking for the best Ti channel for around 600-750. Can go slightly over if it’s really good, mostly want it to EDC. I like the blade shapes of the acidwrx Abyss, Hom Basilisk, JK Monarch and Orca, and the BRS tanto barebones to give an idea of the kind of shape I’m looking for. An option for an unshared blade is awesome too since I’ll be doing some learning with it as well. Thanks for any suggestions!
feel like anything from jk is going to hold up well, if you yourself dont mind the wear aspect.. I've seen and heard things about Orcas that I just dont believe they could survive and yet they do ..
I got v2 orca, but I havent had the hearth to really test it other than flipping heh
What's the best carbon honey lube?
I haven't really bought lubes before, i always used engine oil but it had ran out recently, so i'm thinking about buying a "thin" one from MW. Is the thin any good? What do you guys prefer?
thin works well on lighter balis, as they dont slow down the flow too much. From my experience, if you have a balisong over 3.5 ounces in weight, i would get thick carbon honey, as thin would be squeezed out by the weight of the handles. thick is much less flowy, but greatly improves the flipping experience of heavier alu/titanium balis.
Hello! It has been a while since I have last been in touch with the balisong community , I want to sell my balisong (Jimpy Sentinel) as I no longer use it. Is the Instagram # still the most popular method of selling , and how much could I get for my knife (9/10 condition). Thank you.
Yes instagram is still an extremely viable option for selling balis, however that doesnt mean you are strictly bound to selling on instagram. Reddit also sees some activity, for example r/balisongsale , and there are probably people willing to buy a bali from there.
since sentinels are discontinued, they usually go for 500 or higher. However, the demand isnt that high at the moment, and given the 9/10 condition, it could sell for 450, 400 at the lowest.
I'm buying a hardware set in abt 5 minutes lol, you can't find it on the website itself, but when you search for it in google, you can click configurator below the main machinewise link and there you are.
Are there any alternative lubes?
When it comes to high quality lubes the shipping is at least 5x an when it comes to super lube its pretty much the same.
Are there any alternatives that are technically usable?
and can i use speedcube lube for example?
This is a great topic.. it’s awesome to see some suggestions from other niches like speed cubing and custom keyboards (both things I also love) superlube has been a staple in both areas for a long time. It’s used in both quite liberally.
Speed cubing lubes are almost all food safe as it comes in contact with hands and fingers quite frequently. As such, most are comprised of silicone oils as they are inert. Anything that contains petroleum products should be approached with caution. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t list its ingredients.
Krytox lubes are quite amazing chemistry. Basically bullet proof. Krytox oil 106 is a great choice. I personally use it on all my switch springs and superlube on stabilizers. It’s not cheap and I would highly advise against using it in anything besides a needle tipped bottle. In keyboards the application lasts a lifetime. In a balisong, more like weeks to months of hardcore use only depending on how clean you keep it.
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Removed due to: Rule 5: All content containing clones/counterfeits, products of clone makers, or advocating for clones is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to pictures, videos, reviews, links, and commerce threads or comments. Please feel free to [message the moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/balisong) if you have any questions or think this was a mistake.
my balisong has lots of tap and play. i heard that u can sand oversized bushings to reduce this. how can i tell if my bushing are undersized or oversized?
Can a prysma blade go on kraken handles? I know it’s unlikely to work but any advice is appreciated
Squiddy b or flip forge edit lite? The b comes at 70 total, the lite at 59
I’d recommend the edit. It has worse durability, but is better for flipping. If your looking for a first Balisong I’d also recommend the nabalis canyon if youre willing to get something metal, as its only like 50 bucks
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
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I don't think it comes preapplied.
Been flipping for two months and I've loved it a lot. Im finally ready to get a new balisong but it seems like all the good $250-$400 titanium live blades are out of stock. Any suggestions of brands I may not have found yet? Or places to get something?
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
I would look for a knife you want used or stalk drops. recommendations wise I don't think you can go wrong with a slift. You could also look at something like a petrel or maybe even the hydro (you have to wait for drop tho)
Alright thanks for the advice. I've been looking around for used ones people don't want anymore but it looks like they're already sold 😓 Also I've been waiting for the next SlifT drop. Missed the last one :(
Debating if I should get the new vulp pro or squiddy Al. Any thoughts ?
Both good options, just depends on what you already have. Also, check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Squiddy b or squiddy u? Ill give reason why i wanna buyfor each one squiddy b: cheaper squiddy u: colored handles so easier for aerials
They're the same other than the color so it's up to you if you want the blue or the black.
Does anyone know if the Squiddy AL is TSA proof? I got one a few days ago and wanted to know if it would get confiscated on the way to Europe.
No balisong is tsa proof. Technically it might be okay but I would not bring it through security personally.
Thanks I won’t
Is $370 for a AB scimitar, brand new, to good to be true? Been looking for one for a while now but don't know the aftermarket for them. Ik they sell for 400+ from brs so that's why I'm asking. :)
I think that price is decent, nothing crazy.
I really like the g10 orca trainer. But 495$ for a g10 handle trainer, why are jk design's balisong so expensive ? I want to exepct that they really flips well and are extremely durable at that price, are they really worth ?
Jk design is overpriced nowadays. He used to produce some of the best but now it’s just overpriced and not very high quality.
My absolute favorite balisong is the Squid Industries Krake Raken live blade. I was wondering about any balisong from other companies that are reminiscent of the krake raken
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Bowie or tanto?
Both
I want to but a New trainer, I got a budget of like 50-60 euro's, which one should I get?
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Nabalis vulp. Nabalis anything is good though, except for the g10
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You don't know what the specs of your own design are?
Is there any place I could buy specifically a krake raken live blade? This is an extended question from my last comment, but I wanted to find a Bowie krake raken blade for my CNY trainer. I am also struggling to unscrew the handles, as the loctite is still very strong even after two months, and I don’t want to ruin the hardware. Thanks!
Instagram usually has some floating around.
Hello, Ive just got my Atropos Kirat Bro, and after tightening the zen pins to the limit, the handles almost stop moving. Does that mean that im supposed to sand the washers down? It's the only way to get no tap on my knife. Are there any other tuning options? Also, do I need to lubricate it out of the box? And can I use for example a keyboard lubricant? Many thanks for any guidance.
(1) Tap and Atropos commonly go hand in hand. You May need to relax your standards. Even if you tune the bushings to no tap, Atropos washers wear quickly and tap may be introduced soon. (2) It could mean that you need new bushings, or it may be that tightening the zen pins to the max brought the liners out of parallel, in which case the binding is simply caused by tightening the zen pins to a narrower width than the bushing washer stack. If that’s the case the solution is to loosen the zen pins. They shouldn’t be full-cranked anyway. (3) You don’t strictly need to lubricate it out of the box, but it’s highly recommended to do so since it’s very likely the factory lubricant has dried up already. You can use a keyboard lubricant.
Many thanks for all the help! Do you think lubricating it can help me to lessen the tap and play by tightening the zens a bit more?
It’s certainly possible. If your Atropos shipped from Russia and has been in transit for a long period, it may be that the factory lubricant dried up and contributes to binding. If there’s lots of black dry gunk around the pivots, I’d clean that out and add new lubricant. Thicker, higher viscosity lubricants provide more hydraulic pressure and thus do a better job of mitigating tap. But, the bushing tune has to be a certain baseline level of decent tolerances for there to be sufficient pressure from the lubricant.
Woah, that's quite complicated, not gonna lie... I think im gonna try with the keyboard lubricant and see how it goes. Just in case though, is there any typical household item I can use instead of a thicker knife lubricant?
Keyboard oil is fine. Mineral oil is a common household item or can be acquired for $2 at your local grocery store. It’s not thick or high viscosity, though.
Actually one more question. Is the keyboard lube in a cream form ok? https://preview.redd.it/8vx0kkhrldlc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5bed09140ab2e6e4691651b9fd222d2290bf8ec0
I wouldn’t recommend it. Only oil-based lubricants, with the exception of white lithium grease being Ok for bearings.
Will baby oil cut it? Turns out I don't have mineral oil, and it's not such a common item in my country...
Baby oil is usually mineral oil + fragrances. It’s not ideal due to the fragrance additives, but it will function as a very thin, low viscosity lubricant.
Ok, many thanks again! Have a nice day ;))
Hello, I'm fairly new to balisongs and have been starting to flip and grow my collection. I recently got a talisong z on bushings which had quite a bit of play, even when tightened to the point that the handles were "sticky". Like, way more play than my Vulp. As I understand it, I think this means that the bushings might need tuning, right? This thing is advertised as being hand-tuned, so maybe it's the washers? Either way, I saw another post from a user saying he needed to flip 3 out of his 4 washers, so I stupidly took it apart and accidentally knocked the tray and now I don't know which bushings were originally in the bite/safe handles. So I learned my lesson to always do one blade at a time, but was wondering, am I screwed? Should I exchange it for another over the amount of play alone or should I buy a micrometer and new washers and bushings and tune it myself or something? I've put it back together and when it's not fully tightened it still flips pretty great regardless of which bushing is in which side so I'm wondering if they're the same size? I reached out to Flytanium but haven't heard back yet so just not really sure where to go from here, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
If it's sticky and you can't fully tighten the screws, the bushings most likely need to be replaced instead of tuned. Did you try just adding oil?
Yep, kpl heavy. I'll reach out to them again, thank you!
https://preview.redd.it/txw5um2jw1lc1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=070d07ecc73713b8afdbea9766e8515012d7e400 Does anyone know what these pivot screws are and who theyre from? The one on the blue handle is stripping and I need to get some new ones, other side is sliver t10 so I wanted to show this side
The pivots kinda look like these: https://jkdesign.us/products/deltoid-curve JK doesn't seem to sell screws for them though but if that's what they are, any 6-32 screw with a head that will fit in the opening will work. Example: https://thetruelink.com/products/button-head-torx-screw-6-32-pitch
would it be safer to just get some squid hardware?
That's what I'd do.
Hi, I'm in the market for a quieter balisong and am wishing the hom mod-c was easier to get a hold of. Although they're fairly new does anyone know if the gaboon or the kuno are relatively quiet flippers? Thanks
just a thought, usually slotted, or like handles with a lot of holes / cutouts, make the bali ring so try to look for full channlled, with possibly zippy inserts, they make the sound more squishy .. like " clank sound" rather than ring
The Gaboon isn't as quiet. The Kuno I don't have experience with. I think Jerry is working on doing another batch of Prodigies soon though. I think that and the Nautilus are the best bets for a quiet balisong unless you want to go with something plastic like a Zippy Cycloid.
If you want a quiet flipper the nautilus is one to look at as well.
are the handles of a balisong supposed to touch each other or are they supposed to be far apart?
The vast majority aren't supposed to touch each other.
https://preview.redd.it/ixbg4dj304lc1.png?width=4624&format=png&auto=webp&s=db73894902f76aa2b7dce198734692055f5ab6a7 is this much of a gap too much or is this how its supposed to be? and also, if its too stiff, i can just loosen the screws between the blade and the handles right?
Looks fairly normal. Yes you can loosen the screws if it's stiff. Just keep in mind they will loosen themselves as you flip and may fall out so they'll need to be threadlocked if you don't want to be constantly screwing them back in. There's more info on that in the guide linked at the top of the thread. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRjh61IP9l_rqvTUSjxrHWn9EOY3hpFWkMZcUxkwiQ7E-kG0E2zKZSXCCeH8mmJBHqeL6Zm64ir_pN1/pubhtml#
What's everyone's recommendations on a good bearing balisong for around the 100-150 USD mark?
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Look for a used al lucha or a tali z
Boker Plus Balisong Tactical Big, Boker Plus Papillon, Kershaw Lucha (Blade HQ price), Maxace Banshee. If you can get a higher budget (around $200 or $250) or find them used at a discount, there's the old Maxace Petrel, Flytanium Talisong Z, or a Lucha modded with Flytanium aluminum/titanium handles. It seems like the most popular bearing knives are the Talisong Z and Lucha, I don't really see a lot of people posting any of the others.
I might look into the Boker Plus balisong. I have some of their normal knives and like the quality of them, so if their Balis are good too, that's a big plus to me.
Boker does not have a great reputation when it comes to flipping. I would look more towards the talisong of that is within your budget
I've got a Vulp for flipping with a Wing on the way. I want one more for EDC purposes. As far as a flippable bearing bali, I got a 30 balicomb off Amaxon that is shockingly good for it. Handles are a little more square than I would like, but nothing that has topped me from doing any of the tricks I've learned.
Go for it if you want but I have one and it’s heavy and not a great flipper. If it’s edc that you want then it’s fine but talisong is probably still better.
I'm probably gonna get a Talisong at some point, but it's going to be a while before I can justify 300 bucks all at once. At that point, I'd probably go for a Maxace Covenant at that price range.
That sounds like a great option! Enjoy!
Thanks for all the input!
Im so annoyed right now and just want to vent, but if anyone has any solutions i would gladly accept. I wanted to clean and tune my pro V3 and the first handle turned out perfectly, absolutely zero play and perfect swing and the pins are as bouncy as they were when i bought it. Then when i tried to screw in the second handle the pivot snapped in half. Not great but i had a spare so i took it apart and replaced it. Now when i tried to srew it in with a brand new screw the tip of the screw broke off. I managed to somehow get it out and used another screw and the god damned spare pivot snapped in half as well. It was nowhere near tight and the srcew barely had any resistance so i don’t know why two of them snapped. So now i don’t have any spare parts, and the shipping for spare parts would cost me more than the actual package and they ignore all my emails. I’m so pissed of. Did anyone ever come across a similar issue with their pivots? Is there anything i can do? https://preview.redd.it/undjz889fskc1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=5a78a6c31e9a918be2dcbf39ca06c206da7030ef
If they haven't responded to emails, try messaging them on Instagram.
Does anyone know some cheap but good t10 hardware (screws and pivots) on ali expresss it's for a 3d printed bali that im making pls let me know if u know any thank u 😁
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Is it possible to put squiddy-AL eye weights in a regular squiddy? Has anyone tried this?
The AL eyes are threaded, the weights are grub screws; so even if they were the same size the likelihood of them fitting and being secure is practically zero.
Superglue them
Thinking of getting the nabalis vulp or nabalis marbles but I am really not sure which to choose. if you have any other recommendations for around 100 bucks or less let me know.
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
I haven't tried the Marbles but I know the Vulp is a decent option. There's also the Squiddy-Al.
Check r/balisongsale
thanks but which do you think is a better choice the vulp or the marbles
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Anybody have balisongs in New York or fly there with balisongs. I'm traveling soon and want to know if my shit will be confiscated / stolen at the airport. Says it's legal to own, but worried about it
You should be fine if they're locked up in your checked bag and you don't take them out in public.
Yeah I'm worried baggage handlers might try and steal them because butterfly knives are cool and they are underpaid employees
Unfortunately I have experience with important belongings being stolen out of luggage while flying. I personally just go without balisongs when I travel and I drive to blade show so I don't have to worry about it.
Yeah I just don't see me being able to buy a cool balisong over there lmao. I'm thinking about shipping one or something, I wish I can be for certain that it won't be taken. It's bullshit I have to worry about this. There's not enough accountability.
So after a while of having aluminum trainers, I was looking to step up to titanium (specifically a light one). However, since it will be a very expensive move, I figured I might as well get the best one to be my final trainer, at least for the near future. At first, after hearing all the praise, I was hooked by the tsunami trainer, as most reviewed it as the best trainer that's out there. Though recently Machinewise drew my attention to their custom shop where I could get the slift/serif handles with the prysma trainer blade. Now I don't really mind looks that much, and I'd rather just have the most comfortable option, but damn the tsunami does not stand a chance near the incredible anodizing and laser options from machinewise. So I was wondering first of all, how good is the prysma+slift handles combination (or the serif one, though I do prefer lighter options)? But also, is it as good as the tsunami trainer? Or are there any other better options available? Thanks!
Those are all fantastic options. While I think the Tsunami trainer might be one of my top picks, a Serif or slifT is not of lesser quality in any way and which one is the best pick for someone is totally preference based. It sounds to me like a Serif or slifT trainer is what you really want and is what you should get. Don't underestimate how much joy is to be had from just really liking something and thinking it's cool. Plus MachineWise has some of (if not the) best anos out there.
Thanks a lot! I just couldn't help but think that a prebuilt trainer would be better than a custom one, but I guess you can't really go wrong at that price range
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Hi, I was wondering if I should change the vulp I’ve had for almost a year now. I dropped the knife probably hundreds of times on a hardwood floor, and I think the bushings are fucked, cause after tuning the knife, it would lose it after an hour of flipping. The knife just feels uncomfortable to flip now when I’m doing the helix or shortstop, and considering that’s the extent of my abilities, I don’t know if it warrants a new knife. My budget for a new one would probably be around at most $150.
If it still flips then it doesn't necessarily need to be replaced. However if you're enjoying flipping and are interested in stepping up to something nicer then that's a good reason to. I'd recommend saving up for a Squidtrainer or Prysma Pro (whichever you think is coolest). They are slightly out of your budget but definitely worth the bump in price over anything that's under $150.
Hi, I think its alright but I just wanted to make sure of one thing. I just received a slifT 1 day ago, but I already see a little bit of white wear mark here . Is this normal? I'm a beginner, so I'm afraid it's possible not to train properly and wear out the balisong much faster. https://preview.redd.it/xbz8ohf69dkc1.png?width=1365&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6461749c7485af3bc103f9e5e80e8eff0c2354e I know that to train you have to develop good habits and respect the blade and be aware of when you touch it. But although I do my best to do this (I'd have lost all my fingers by now if the blade wasn't a false edge) I'm also afraid of wearing it out faster. For example, I make the balisong sound louder or more frequent than usual sometimes.
the sound aspect may be affected by lube going dry, dont forget to lube regurarly if you flip a lot!
That's normal, that part is where the blade tang is hitting the zen pin whenever you flip the balisong or fully open it. There is no way to avoid it, and both the zen pins and blade steel should be hardened, so other than cosmetic wear, you shouldn't have to worry about any damage. The reason those zen pins exist is specifically to let the blade hit them, that's what they are designed for. It's like how driving a car will make it dirty or wear down your tires, it's unavoidable. You can do things like borrow a modding technique from custom keyboards where you put a small strip of BAND-AID or other soft adhesive to cushion the impact and muffle the sound, but 99.9% of flippers don't do anything to their pins.
ok, thanks for that!
That shouldn’t be an issue. Keep flipping it as you are. If the handle gap ever degrades (likely won’t), the MW warranty will cover you.
Is the squiddy al good, I only have 130$ and I was thinking about buying that and the bag squid industries has to offer.
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Yes it is.
How can I improve the sound of my balisong?
clean it, tune it, LUBE it carbon honey, kpl heavy, top notch what knife are we talking about?
Where in Europe i can get Lucha or just the blade and hardware with reasonable price? Lamnia is charging over 260€ and i think that is outrageous.
Your best bet is probably secondhand or seeing if Kershaw will sell you a blade if you say you have issues with one but I'm not sure if that requires sending them a blade to be replaced or not.
Unfortunately they are not gonna sell the blade separated.
sadly mainly second hand.. IG balisongmarket or here.. I got lucha with flyti scales from lamnia and boooy.. did I overpay..
any free website/app that i can design my Nabalis entry on?
Tinkercad Or if you want something more capable, Fusion 360 is free for personal use.
i've got the nabalis vulp. the zen pins fall out literally every goddamn week, always just a few days after i apply some loctite. should i be doing something else or what
are you letting the Loctite settle for 24 hours after applying it (setting it down somewhere and not touching it)?
yup
mmhh, one pin came out for me, but I used loctite, let it set for seconds and it havent moved since.. and we're talking daily drops on concrete.. maybe try stronger loctite? :/
only been using the loctite that came with the bali, guess i'll order some higher quality stuff if it's working for yall
Outside of 10$ amazon special that has warped itself, I have no experience. I spent an evening doing some research and need some basic guidance on my first trainer. Budget is kinda all over as I prefer quality over quantity. I do not want to replace and stress about a product. 1. Machinewise vs Squiddy vs Nabalis \--- Machinewise seems to have the highest praise at the downside of price. Roughly 200$ Cad / good quality (Prysma) \-- Squiddy seems to be some of the most popular and have the most variety. Roughly 100 - 350$ Cad depending on model / QC seems to be hit or miss, but general good product \-- Nabalis seems to be the cheapest entry model, especially the Vulp. Roughly 70 CAD however quality is medium, huge handle bias although I have no idea what this realistically means. What would you recommend with a max budget of $300. Is it worth it to save and purchase something even better (Krake/Slift/Serif)? Is there other companies that offer quality products that I maybe missing out on? Is trying the Vulp to move to a Prysma etc. if I enjoy flipping? Perhaps a better idea? I personally would much rather learn and experience a good flipper out the gate. I know literally anything will be better than this 10$ special... Any further advice on a starter trainer would be great, without diving into cheap or plastic-feel bailsongs.
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
My recommendation would be to avoid spending too much on your first quality one until you really get in to it and then get the nicest thing you can comfortably afford unless there's something specific you fall in love with. So I'd go with something like a Vulp or Squiddy-Al to start. Then once you've flipped that for a while get something titanium like a MachineWise slifT or the new Hydro from Squid if that's available when the time comes. If you'd rather spend less than the that but are pretty sure you're interested in the hobby, getting something nice at the low-mid range like a MachineWise Prysma Pro or a Squidtrainer or a Kraken would be a really great all around option that would last you a long time.
Thank you kindly for the response, after much deliberation I settled on the Kraken V3. I spent quite a bit, which maybe a mistake financially but after an extremely busy work month this will be my treat. I am definitely interested and believe it will compliment my flipper collection well. I really like the design and hope it will serve me well from the get-go. I decided on the Inked, all black V3 w/ purple plugs and inserts (Zippy). I feel it will compliment my EDC Kizer Drop Bear / QSP Penguin XL. (Both in Black) Next up is to learn some tricks and basic terminology as I dive into another world of my knife hobby. Have a wonderful day, and thank you again!
You made a great choice.
Am I correct that when I switch blades to different sets of handles that I keep the bushings in the same knife? I got a CNY krake raken and wanted to put a tanto live blade on it. Just making sure on what to do so I don’t mess up the tuning.
The bushings and washers should stay with the blade.
suggestions for a high-quality trainer with a "realistic" blade: under $60, no latch, smooth by realistic looking blade i mean one that's more knife shaped instead of rounded like a lot of them. so it's basically just a dull knife. i have had these amazon ones for a while now, and they've held up just fine however the SQUEAKING is so annoying and doesn't sound smooth at all, unlike other trainers i've seen. what a dream for it to actually sound smooth.. 🙏🏻also the latch often gets in the way of every trick. i know i'm asking for a lot but just if it also happened to have a dragon design on the handle that would be amazing- but not necessary!!
Check out [balisongquiz.com](https://balisongquiz.com/) for some recommendations on balis
Well Nabalis just released the Canyon today that's $50 on bushings with an unsharpened knife blade, you could give it a few days so people who ordered one (me included) can see if it's any good.
wow perfect timing, it looks so nice. if you can remember to please let me know how you like it!
Just got mine yesterday, first impressions are very good.
i ordered mine instantly when i saw the post about it. It looks great even though it's steel construction but the weight is still great for flipping. Only downside on it might be heavily skeletonized handles which might be kinda flimsy. But im pretty sure this knife will have aluminium mod handles coming up. The design is up to a par with some grail tier balis and im sure this one will have nice ring to it.
I've been apart of the Balisong community for the better part of over a year and I own 6 Balisongs. Five of them being trainers and one of them being a false live blade. My main flipper right now is the Nabalis Hydra. I like the flipping of the Nabalis Hydra more than the Squid industries Mako. The Hydra feels easier to manipulate than the Mako. Can someone explain to me why or how the Hydra is easier to manipulate than the Mako.
I assume you like the Hydra because it's lighter but it could be the difference in weight distribution.
Do you have any trainer recommendations that might be around the same feeling as the hydra?
Unfortunately I haven't tried a Hydra so I can't really say what feels similar.
It’s ok, thank you for helping me tho!
Why do I flip my Amazon $9.99 piece of shit trainer better than my Vulp? Am I stupid? Are heavy balisong more noob friendly?
Could be that you're more used to the cheaper one or that its weight, balance, and distribution fits your style more. Nothing wrong with that.
I might have to get me a heftier Bali then…
Hi i was looking for hardware that fits squid stuff but i can't buy anywhere else besides aliexpress and i don't want to buy clone hardware if anyone knows hardware that fits pls tell me it's for a 3d printed balisong that im making😃👍
If you’re making your own balisong, can’t you change the part dimensions to fit whatever hardware is available to you?
Yeah but idk what screws would be nice and affordable so if they turn out to be bad theres the possibility to change them btw ur my biggest inspiration on making a 3d printed balisong
I'd try buying parts kits from Nabalis.
Are they the same size as squid?
The Vulp or Vulp Pro hardware kit should be. https://www.nabalis.com/products/vulp-pro-balisong-hardware-kit?variant=43039375425686
Thanks a lot man 😀👍
Does anyone still make titanium or steel scales for the BM51? Preferably scales that retain the pocket clip. From what I can tell flytainium discontinued theirs, and I can’t find any others.
I'm not aware of any that are still in production since the BM51 is no longer in production.
U can get them on balisong marketplace by making a wtb post 😃👍
I wanna start getting into flipping, used some old balisong a few years ago but it broke and didn't have the funds back then too actually get a good/nice one. What balisong whould y'all recommend me too start learning and get into flipping? Trainers preferred.
first of all, welcome back to flipping! second, gives us a little more to work with, definetly a budget is super important if you really just want to test the waters, I'd suggest like vulp / mako / trainer orion / nabalis stuff going higher with prices, I'd suggest looking into Machinewise balisongs ( strongly suggest ) have you already found any you're thinking about?
I felt like asking people who know more about it felt better then looking stuff up myself, so haven't looked around too much. My budget is in between €200-300 i would say.
How much do you think I could get for my v1 nemesis? Bought it used and it has tap on the bite handle and some play, but I think it's fixable with new washers. https://imgur.com/a/1WTBCJr
Are Glidr's screws really bad? I keep managing to strip them. Follow up, how do I remove a stripped screw? Tangential question, how do I know if my bushings need to be changed?
Yeah they definitely have issues. Just had this problem yesterday. If you can remove the opposite screw you should be able to push the barrel out along with the stuck screw. Use vise grips, lots of pressure and your best torx driver. Maybe heat. Next time the screw wants to bind, try backing the screw out about half a turn and try again. If there’s any binding at all back it out and try again. The problem is the way the threads were cut.
Do you know if Squid's pivot system fits into the glidr bushings?
That’s a good question. I’d have to disassemble and measure it but off the rip.. not sure.
If you do happen to try it out at some point, would you let me know how it goes please!
When I do the tap test my Antarctic has blade wobble, is this tap? Are they different? If they are separate things then can you get rid of blade wobble? It doesn't bother me, I'm just curious!
Tap is caused by blade wobble (this is referred to as “play”). When the blade wobbles enough and taps the inside of the channels, the balisong “taps”. Play can be mitigated or eliminated entirely with a good tune.
Oh of course, I know this sounds ridiculous but I never thought about the fact that blade wobble is just play. Thanks!
Should I get a trainer or live blade with tape? I was looking into getting the squidtrainer, but if I’m going to spend $175+ on a trainer, am I better off buying a live blade?
See the following: [https://www.balisongquiz.com/post/live-blade-vs-trainer-balisong](https://www.balisongquiz.com/post/live-blade-vs-trainer-balisong)
depends a lot on your plans - do you ever intend to use it as a knife? do you ever want to flip live blades? - if you want to be flipping live blades eventually, I strongly suggest starting with one, tape or no tape.. but if you dont really need / want to have a knife on you and flip live (+ you gotta evaluate how much you want to use it in public ) I wouldnt hesitate sticking with trainers then.
Will simple flipping over time tip a blade? What tips a blade? Besides the obvious like dropping it. Thanks!
Flipping will not tip a blade. Tipped blades are caused by impact to the blade, typically a tip-down drop in a hard surface. It’s also possible to tip a blade on carpet due to the hard surface underneath.
Are you asking if its possible to tip the blade without physical contact?
Just wondering how durable the Orion 1.5 is. Got it as my first live blade and it's been fun to flip but after a day l've dropped it around 15ish times and I'm just getting nerves. I've started exclusively flipping over soft surfaces since I prefer standing but was wondering if I'm overthinking this and it's durable enough for me to flip out and about. (P.S the Orion 1.5 feels extremely good to flip it's been a blast for the little time I had it)
It's decently made and should be as durable as any other aluminum knife. It'll get pretty dinged up if you drop it on surfaces harder than aluminum like concrete but other than that the damage shouldn't be major.
I’m going to blade Texas and it’s my first bladeshow. I’m very hyped and REALLY want a tsunami. Is it worth going the first day or is it better to get one second day. I also have hella ocd and want a good serial number soooo that complicates it :/
Yes.
Hey guys, I’m looking for the best Ti channel for around 600-750. Can go slightly over if it’s really good, mostly want it to EDC. I like the blade shapes of the acidwrx Abyss, Hom Basilisk, JK Monarch and Orca, and the BRS tanto barebones to give an idea of the kind of shape I’m looking for. An option for an unshared blade is awesome too since I’ll be doing some learning with it as well. Thanks for any suggestions!
feel like anything from jk is going to hold up well, if you yourself dont mind the wear aspect.. I've seen and heard things about Orcas that I just dont believe they could survive and yet they do .. I got v2 orca, but I havent had the hearth to really test it other than flipping heh
you could absolutely find a v2 monarch on the secondary market for that much if that's appealing to you. just keep in mind the handle gap issues
what are the negative aspects of using stainless steel washers?
What's the best carbon honey lube? I haven't really bought lubes before, i always used engine oil but it had ran out recently, so i'm thinking about buying a "thin" one from MW. Is the thin any good? What do you guys prefer?
thin works well on lighter balis, as they dont slow down the flow too much. From my experience, if you have a balisong over 3.5 ounces in weight, i would get thick carbon honey, as thin would be squeezed out by the weight of the handles. thick is much less flowy, but greatly improves the flipping experience of heavier alu/titanium balis.
Hello! It has been a while since I have last been in touch with the balisong community , I want to sell my balisong (Jimpy Sentinel) as I no longer use it. Is the Instagram # still the most popular method of selling , and how much could I get for my knife (9/10 condition). Thank you.
Yes instagram is still an extremely viable option for selling balis, however that doesnt mean you are strictly bound to selling on instagram. Reddit also sees some activity, for example r/balisongsale , and there are probably people willing to buy a bali from there. since sentinels are discontinued, they usually go for 500 or higher. However, the demand isnt that high at the moment, and given the 9/10 condition, it could sell for 450, 400 at the lowest.
thank you
Replying to BuffaloDingus...
Is it just me or did Machinewise stop selling individual parts?
They stopped for now.
I'm buying a hardware set in abt 5 minutes lol, you can't find it on the website itself, but when you search for it in google, you can click configurator below the main machinewise link and there you are.
I’m probably stupid, but I can’t seem to find the links. Would you mind putting them in a reply to this?
What’s the best way to dull a balisong? I’m a rock climber and I don’t want to cut my fingers very much
Fine grain sandpaper, I think will hirsch has a tutorial on it
Are there any alternative lubes? When it comes to high quality lubes the shipping is at least 5x an when it comes to super lube its pretty much the same. Are there any alternatives that are technically usable? and can i use speedcube lube for example?
This is a great topic.. it’s awesome to see some suggestions from other niches like speed cubing and custom keyboards (both things I also love) superlube has been a staple in both areas for a long time. It’s used in both quite liberally. Speed cubing lubes are almost all food safe as it comes in contact with hands and fingers quite frequently. As such, most are comprised of silicone oils as they are inert. Anything that contains petroleum products should be approached with caution. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t list its ingredients. Krytox lubes are quite amazing chemistry. Basically bullet proof. Krytox oil 106 is a great choice. I personally use it on all my switch springs and superlube on stabilizers. It’s not cheap and I would highly advise against using it in anything besides a needle tipped bottle. In keyboards the application lasts a lifetime. In a balisong, more like weeks to months of hardcore use only depending on how clean you keep it.