Bolsters on Damascus blades

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
Messages
73
I have just finished grinding my first damascus blade and am at the point of drilling the tang for pins. I am trying to decide wheather to add bolsters or not. I know it will look much better with them, but this being my first and having very limited knowledge of its characteristics I have some concerns about the soldering process.
Will the nickle silver solder to the cable damascus, and if so how do you clean of any small amounts of solder left on the blade?
Will the acid in the solder flux eat at the blade?
Can you re-etch the blade with ferric chloride with the guard soldered in place or will it make a mess?
Just looking for advice as the blade turned out really well and I would hate to mess it up now.
Thanks in advance.
Mike C


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mconner@luminatorusa.com
Killing the dog wont cure the bite.

 
What material are you planning on using for your bolsters? You don't necessarily have to solder them on. I have put bolsters on several of my small Damascus hunters and used pins. It is important to match the pin material with the bolster material. After peining the only way those bolsters are going to let go is by cutting them off. If you like I could send you a jpeg of one that I won 3rd Best of Show with at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention. The bolsters are just pinned on and then I had Tanya VanHoy engrave them and there is No way you can see the pins. Drop me a message at rmtyser@quik.com with your e-mail address and I will send it to you.
 
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