Domeing pins??

[cpirtle]

Hey guys, when you are using pins for assembly, how do you dome them?

Any time I have used pins in the past I counter sink the hole a little to allow for expansion and then grind it flush to the surface. Now I'm going to be doing some projects where domed pins would be more appropriate.

I'm kind of envisioning a punch that has been dished out to allow the cap to form but not sure where I could aquire something like that.

Thanks!

 

[AwP]

Rivet setters you can find at leather stores are just like you describe, but rivets are bigger then the average pins. Maybe if you looked at one you could make the same thing smaller. A round dremmel burr could let you make one pretty well I think.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The knife suppliers sell a tool called a head spinner.You chuck it in your drill press and lower it onto the pin.It burnishes a perfect domed head.It does two sizes of rivets.The tool costs about $15 I think.Check Koval and K&G.You can make your own,or can use cup burrs.Cup burrs from jewelery suppliers come in a big range of sizes.I think Dremmel has some ,too. - SA

 

[anvilring]

there's a lot to domeing pins. A lot. I've got to sing here for early service but I'll try and tell you what I've found myself as this is a common practice found on a lot of early American knives and such. That's the stuff that rings my bell.... Do you have a copy of the "Antique Bowie Knife BooK"??


regards, mitch

 

[Mike Hull]

What Stacy said, and a small warning!
If you're using epoxy on your scales, and pins, there's no need to countersink the materials, and expand those pins.

Epoxy will hold them just fine, in the proper sized hole(try to get one apart sometime), and you stand a good chance of splitting the handle material if you try expanding the pins.

 

[cpirtle]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll pick up a head spinner on my next order with TKS.

Mitch, I don't have a copy of American Bowie Knife. Is there something I should be looking for in there?

Mike, I usually like the reassurance of a peened pin, but I know many people do not. I also do not set them when I use Micarta or mosaic pins (for obvious reasons ). I do a lot of pivot pins which I would not want to set with epoxy.

I've definitely split my share of handle material by getting too agressive with peening though!