Attaching handles

P

Patrick0333

Joined
Mar 20, 2002
Messages
9
Hey guys im new to knife making and i was wondering what yall use to secure the handles. Rivets? Threaded post screws? Thanks in advance

PAtrick
 
Depends on the knife and the handle Patrick. On full tang handles I use hidden pins as often as I can. Sometimes I use through pins for the pattern they show but I'm not nearly as talented as most of the guys here and they just don't look the way I'd like. I use Chicago screws sometimes and I use homemade rivets. The homemades are mostly on forge and file knives. On some heavy duty fighters and survival knives with full tangs I drill 4 holes in the tang and thread them. I use Allen screws in them. On stick tangs I barb the tang and epoxy the handle on and when I can, use a butt cap with a nut soldered on to screw to the tang. The whole mess gets epoxied then. The list goes on and on.
 
I've only made full tang blades. I use pins and epoxy. The handle gets a good rub with a coarse file too, to give it a grippy surface for the epoxy. I like using mosaic pins, so sometimes I use one mosaic, one regular and a thong tube. I am making 3 more magic knot knives (see my avatar) and the wrap secion goes over the solid pin. I think it looks elegant, having just the mosaic pin showing.
 
I epoxy the handles on, and I use notched 1/8" pins, thong hole tube, and 1/4" mosaic pins. The thonghole tube and mosaic pins get roughed out on the grinder. It also takes down a little tiny bit of diameter so I don't have to fight it through the hole. Then I epoxy or JB-Weld set the pins and tubes into the handle. It helps if you rub the the tang down with a little acetone, and you can also clean the pins with acetone as well. Gets the grease off, so the epoxy bonds stronger. If you drill a lot of holes in your tang, it helps the epoxy squeeze into the holes when you clamp the handles, and it adds to the bond strength a bit. I usually use three spring clamps to clamp my handles while the epoxy sets.
 
Pins is pins Patrick. You can get brass rod at most hobby shops, for copper pins I use the bare wire from 10 ga wire. Texas knifemaker supply and all of the major supply stores supply pins. Use cut off nails for steel pins.
 
Pins are all I've ever used, sometimes mosaic pins. How do you do hidden pins? I like the idea of the Loveless bolts too, for tradtion's sake and because they look cool.

Dave
 
I don't know the right way Dave but the way I do them is.
Drill your tang for the pins.
Cut the pins short so they won't go through the handle slabs.
I stick one blank on the tang and press the pins down on a steel plate so they make an impression on the wood.
Holding the slab in place I scribe the outline of the tang on the wood.
Do the same thing on the other side.

Drill the slabs the depth of the pins and a little wider.
Rough out the slab.
Put the pins through the holes in the tang again and peen the ends a little.

Prepare the surface for glueing.
Spread the epoxy on the slabs and make sure the holes are filled.
Line up the pins and push them into the predrilled holes.
Do the same thing to the other side.
Clamp it and after it cures, finish the handle.

This ain't gonna come off!
 
There are a hundred different ways to attach any one handle,Just give it a try the best way you can..5 minute epoxy and brazing rod pins put all the way through the handle work as well as anything else..
Hey tahnks Peter,I have been curious how to do those myself.Cool a new idea on a framed handle for me know..
Bruce
 
For a handle with hidden pins you can also use a short piece of a thread rod. Should give the epoxy some extra surface...
 
That's not a bad idea Jester. In addition to giving a better glue surface you could tap the tang and then you wouldn't have to fart with the pins as much.:eek:
 
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