Bolster Pin Trick

[Robert Dark]

This is probably nothing new to you guys, but I thought I would share it anyway.

One problem with piening pins on bolsters is to make sure that each hammer blow is "dead" square in order not to "bend" your pins in one direction or the other. This can be hard to do unless you have tons of practice with hammer control.

Some have tried to just "squeeze" the pins with their vise. This puts excess pressure on the vise jaws and the vice tightening mechanism (especially if you have a rather small vise).

I learned this trick some 35 years ago when I had to replace universal joints in "big" trucks. We would "hammer-squeeze" the trunions onto the u-joint with the help of a vise and a hammer.

1. Place your blade in the vise and position it so that you are only hammer squeezing one pin at a time (you will need to alternate between pins)

2. Use a brass hammer or maybe even a dead-blow hammer using "moderate" blows to the outside of the vise (it helps save the vise) (see photo)

3. Use "moderate" tightening pressure on your vise handle (you will actually feel the handle moving with each hammer blow)

4. Once you are satisfied that your pins are straight and tight, then you can remove your blade from the vise and finish off as usual with your regular piening methods.

When you try it, you will probably notice, just like using the regular hammer method, that your bolsters want to separate from the blade a little. You can use this same "hammer squeezing" method with a pair of pliers to tighten everything back up........... Just "squeeze" and "tap" your pliers. It cuts down on scratches too.

Hope this helps someone......... It works for me..... Robert

 

[J W Starrknives]

Roosko Great idea I have the same problem peening

 

[MCoughlin]

I've been doing that for a while now (with the exception of using the hammer...) but have found I need some hardened vice jaws. Every knife I do puts a couple more dents in each side. I like the method though. Especially for those pins that end up being a little close to the edge. Less chance of smoking the front edge of your bolster with your hammer when peening. Peening sucks. Sub par method in my opinion. It's too dangerous to your work after all that you put into it. You have much more control of the pin flaring when using the vice....pretty much eliminates cracking in the pins too. Great idea with the hammer though. I never really thought to take the stress off my vice.

Oh.. I also found that once you have the pin tightened in the vice enough to hold your knife sturdy..a pair of vice grips holds everything to the blade nicely. The type that form a large "C" shape coming together at the handle and of course where you clamp like so "[ ]". There is more clearance with these types than standard vice grips. I don't know the name of them off hand though. This way you don't have to keep sqeezing the bolsters to the sides and keep checking to make sure they are flush. Here's a couple pics of what flaring pins does if you don't have hardened vice jaws.

Mike

 

[Doug C]

I've learned something tonight.Thanks.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Another thing that causes the problems in pinning is too long on the pins.The amount to have sticking out is 1/2 the pin diameter.on an 1/8 pin the projection should only be 1/16.That way the pin cannot bend sideways.A staking tool makes peening the pins a dream.Use a 1/4" stake.(A staking tool resembles a tang stamping jig)

 

[MCoughlin]

I never knew about the 1/2 of the diameter thing. I will set it up that way next time and try it out.

 

[Nowicki]

Great tip. I usually do the hammer thing but I'll try this on the next one.

Larry