Washer: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Balisong cross section washer.png|700px|thumb|right|Bushing Balisong With Washer Cross section]] | [[File:Balisong cross section washer.png|700px|thumb|right|Bushing Balisong With Washer Cross section]] | ||
==Material== | |||
Washers used in balisongs are typically made from one of three metals: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphor_bronze phosphor bronze], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass brass]] or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel stainless steel]]. They sit between the handles and the blade in order to reduce friction and minimize the damage to the blade which makes them expendable wear items. | |||
===Phosphor Bronze=== | |||
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphor_bronze Phosphor bronze] (often shortened to "PB) washers are the industry standard for balisongs these days because they offer low friction, decent wear and corrosion resistance and are not going to abraide the blade. | |||
===Stainless Steel=== | |||
Stainless steel washers are much harder than phosphor bronze or brass. This property has upsides and downsides: It is good because it means that the stainless steel washers won't deform and will only need replacting very rarely, or not at all. The downside is that that washers are supposed to be "sacrificial" to protect the blade as explained in in the [[#Material]] chapter. However, due to it's much higher hardness the washer is no longer "sacrificial" becuase instead of the washer being worn down, now the washer AND the blade are being worn down. | |||
===Brass=== | |||
Some cheaper balisongs, especially [[Clone|Clones]] use bronze washers. Bronze is a lot softer than phosphor bronze and stainless steel, meaning it will bend around the bushing a lot more, allowing for a balisong which has a lose tune, to feel tighter. It however lacks the low friction and wear resistance which PB offers. | |||
==Size== | |||
The two most important measurements for washers are the height(/thickness) and outer diameter. The inner diameter usually isnt as important, as long as it's close enough to being slightly larger than the sexbolt. | |||
===Thickness=== | |||
Most balisongs use washers that are 0.5mm high. There are however exceptions to this, like the [[Bladerunners_Systems_Replicant|Replicant]], who require thinner washers of 0.4mm, or the [[LDY_Sirius_V4|Sirius V4]] which requires 1mm washers. | |||
===Outer Diameter=== | |||
When you swap out your current washers for new ones, make sure that the new washers have the same outer diameter as your old washers. That is because the outer diameter of washers can play a crucial role in a balisongs tune. To learn more about this, read this chapter: [[Pivot_System|Pivot_System#Different Outer Diameter Of Washer]]. | |||
Revision as of 23:09, 2 October 2025

Material
Washers used in balisongs are typically made from one of three metals: phosphor bronze, [brass] or [stainless steel]. They sit between the handles and the blade in order to reduce friction and minimize the damage to the blade which makes them expendable wear items.
Phosphor Bronze
Phosphor bronze (often shortened to "PB) washers are the industry standard for balisongs these days because they offer low friction, decent wear and corrosion resistance and are not going to abraide the blade.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel washers are much harder than phosphor bronze or brass. This property has upsides and downsides: It is good because it means that the stainless steel washers won't deform and will only need replacting very rarely, or not at all. The downside is that that washers are supposed to be "sacrificial" to protect the blade as explained in in the #Material chapter. However, due to it's much higher hardness the washer is no longer "sacrificial" becuase instead of the washer being worn down, now the washer AND the blade are being worn down.
Brass
Some cheaper balisongs, especially Clones use bronze washers. Bronze is a lot softer than phosphor bronze and stainless steel, meaning it will bend around the bushing a lot more, allowing for a balisong which has a lose tune, to feel tighter. It however lacks the low friction and wear resistance which PB offers.
Size
The two most important measurements for washers are the height(/thickness) and outer diameter. The inner diameter usually isnt as important, as long as it's close enough to being slightly larger than the sexbolt.
Thickness
Most balisongs use washers that are 0.5mm high. There are however exceptions to this, like the Replicant, who require thinner washers of 0.4mm, or the Sirius V4 which requires 1mm washers.
Outer Diameter
When you swap out your current washers for new ones, make sure that the new washers have the same outer diameter as your old washers. That is because the outer diameter of washers can play a crucial role in a balisongs tune. To learn more about this, read this chapter: Pivot_System#Different Outer Diameter Of Washer.