Custom Mosaic Pins

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Anybody know anyone that takes custom orders for mosaic pins?

I know it can be done with epoxy and a vaccuum pump - but call me lazy....:p

I want somebody else to make me some - and I'm willing to pay for good work (must be very good). I'll probably order 5-10 feet of it first time around. (have a specific design in mind).

Thanks for any help!
 
I think it's TKS that sells Barry Posner's pins and they're nice. I've used some in the past and they're very solid. Good stuff.
 
regular mosaic pins are $1.00-$1.50 per inch, right?

what would Barry's go for?




Thanks for the link, Ray - I sent off an email to Jake.
 
I have paid $20-$25/ft. for 1/4" through the supply houses. Sure would like to know where to get it cheaper.
 
Danial, The mosaic pins are pretty simple to make. I get my stuff from the local Ace hardware store and just make them up as I need them. No degrees required to make mosaic pins!! Just some thin epoxy and a little something to color it with if thats what you want. A large vet syringe will pull enough vacuum to suck the epoxy through the tube.

Ron
 
can you get flat strips at Ace, Rob? (1/8 or 3/32" wide, 1/32" thick, 12-24" long)
 
Daniel, The local Westlakes Ace hardware store has all kinds of stuff that can be used in these mosaic pins and it's all in one big bin. I just go to the store and fit different parts together to see what looks best, they have copper, brass,aluminum,and some SS in flats, rounds, square, solids, hex,and tube in several different sizes so you can mix and match to your own taste. It's kind of fun just trying different things together to see what it will look like. I use the 12" stuff because the assortment they have in this length is a lot bigger than what they have in the longer lengths. Good luck!!! Ron
 
Daniel, This is a pic of one of the last mosaic pins I made with the Ace hardware stuff. Nothing very fancy but it works!!! Sorry for the poor picture!
Ron
orig
 
Daniel,

If'n you does wanna make pins, I have some tips:

Don't use tight fitting stuff (round tube that just fits inside another round tube) very tough to get the epoxy inbetween.

The already black DEVCON epoxy is thicker than the regular - harder to use - only do 6" at a time

If you thin the epoxy with a heat gun it thins real nice, but starts to set fast. (boy did that create a lot of wonderment, "why .... is ....it ... getting..........soooo.........haaard .....ttoooo puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuush").

I push the epoxy rather than pull. That just worked for me. I drilled the end of the syringe to just accept the tube. Then I filled the syringe from the back. Put in the plunger, hold it plunger down, insert tube and push. The pins push up and I just put them back down as it goes.

However, I'm going to switch to bolting handles on with a deep counter sink. Then plug the holes with small sections of mosaic pins. Not only will I have bolted handles, but 12" of mosaic is going to last a very long time. $25 becomes cheap.

Steve

PS Cool pins Ron!
 
Ok, Rob....you got me thinking....there's an Ace about 12 miles away. I'll check it out.

Where do you get the vet syringe? and the thin epoxy?
 
Steve - I'm planning on doing the same thing - bolting on handles with a short mosaic pin over it. Got any tips?
 
Syringe's are available at livestock feed stores. 12cc size is about right, but about any size will work.

Got no tips yet Dan. I haven't tried it myself. Just came to that conclusion after my first round of the epoxy war.

Steve
 
You might also want to check out a hobby shop for pin materials. I used to build model tanks before I got into knives, and they make pretty much every shape and size of brass, copper, and aluminum you could want. IIRC the maker was K&S?

Yep, here is a link.
 
Daniel, I used Brownells acraglass the last time around as it is thinner than the devcon two ton that I had used before. The devcon was real hard to pull all the way through without thinning it down first, I've never tried pushing it like Steve says he does but I will try that the next time around to see how it works.

Ron
 
Dan, are you thinking of Shore's in Cave Springs? It's been several years since I stopped in there, but I bet they'll have what you need. Good small town rural hardware store. There's a Westlake's here in Fayetteville you might want to visit if you're ever down. And, you might also check the Tractor Supply store there in Bentonville. Hey, can't have too many places to hang out! :D - Jim
 
I've made my own mosaic pins several times using regular Devcon 2 ton mixed with those little bottles of model paint (just a couple drops) and they're worked. If I can do it, anyone can.
 
Barry Posner makes most of the mosaic pins available at knifemaking suppliers including us. His quality is the best.

Barry told me he does not use a vacuum to pull the epoxy into the pin. He coats all the components with epoxy and pushes them into the pin until about six inches is protruding through the other side. He then re-coats the components, pushes them back into the pin and sets it aside to harden.

After making a few mosaic pins I quickly became aware that it was much less expensive to buy them. ;)

Dan, let me know if you want more information.
 
ErikD said:
You might also want to check out a hobby shop for pin materials. ... IIRC the maker was K&S?

Yep, here is a link.
Click to expand...
Yep, that's the same stuff I've used. I had a blast standing in the hobby store fitting stuff together. Someone came to ask if I needed help; when I tried to explain what I was doing I got one of those looks that said he was wondering whether to call the authorities or just let me wander off. :D
Chuck Bybee said:
Barry Posner makes most of the mosaic pins available at knifemaking suppliers including us. His quality is the best.

Barry told me he does not use a vacuum to pull the epoxy into the pin. He coats all the components with epoxy and pushes them into the pin until about six inches is protruding through the other side. He then re-coats the components, pushes them back into the pin and sets it aside to harden.

After making a few mosaic pins I quickly became aware that it was much less expensive to buy them. ;)
Click to expand...
That's interesting. After failing miserably trying to use a brake vac to pull epoxy through the pins I resorted to the "paint the components" method too. But my results are nowhere near as good as Barry Posner's. Still have too many voids. And it's messy!!! Cripes what a mess. Also, I've often heard that the fumes of epoxy are carcinogenic, so I recommend doing this outdoors.

I found the best selection of parts at K&G - they have virtually everything under the sun. I think I spent about $75 buying parts, made probably 5 feet of reasonably nice pins and still have a ton of stuff to play with.

Because I want to do everything on my knives that I can I'll continue trying to get this right, but it really is harder than it seems like it should be... :D

Good luck Dan. I think you can do it and you'll be happy if you do.
 
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