Brass

Tommegow

Tommegow

Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
678
I was thinking about using some brass for bolsters and pinning them on with brass pins. I am assuming they will "disappear" like NS. I heard tell that brass is hard to match. If the pins were alittle different than the bolster that would negate the attempt. Do I just need to machine some pins outta brass stock
I get for the bolsters?
 
I may be wrong here so bear with me. I've only made one knife from scratch so far and I used brass pins to hold on the brass guard. Guard was one piece of brass, pins were from some brass rod I bought seperately. WRONG ! Despite reaming the holes slightly and peening the pin ends into them before polishing the whole job mirror smooth you can still see where the pins are because thay are a slightly different colour. :(
I'm moving house next month (all being well) and my workshop at the new place will have a centre lathe (yipee!). Having had this problem once I intend to avoid it in future by doing as you say and making my own pins from the same stock as the guard or bolsters. ;)
 
"brass" of the Cu-Zn type may contain anything from 5 to 40 % Zn !! Those range from red to very yellow in color. Bronzes also vary in color depending on composition.
 
Buy ya some pin stock and before cutting on any of it buff both peices. Place them side by side and compare.
 
I guess I have been lucky when buying brass pin stock from model shops that it has matched the brass bar I happen to have.

To elaborate on jim moyer's suggestion, you can try to buy stock from engineering supply sources that can quote a specific spec for their brass. For instance, here in the UK RS Supplies quote BS2874/CZ121M for all their brass stock. McMaster Carr carry Alloy 360 (ASTM B16). The chemical make up of these can be looked up and compared to other sources. Engineers can be be more fussy about knowing precisely what material they are using than hobbyists.
 
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