fitting metal bolsters

[JMJones]

Does anyone have or know of a good tutorial on fitting metal bolsters to a tapered tang. I have done it in the past with success but I always have to screw with the fittings for way too long. Just looking for some info that will help me refine or change processes.


Thanks

John

 

[Johnbeck180]

I use led free solder or pewter on my bolster.

[/IMG][IMG]http://i1054.photobucket.com/a...A-8698-00000A0AFF756CBE_zps66c515e4.jpg[/IMG]

Here are some I've done. I just drill one oblong hole or two or three 1/8 inch holes where I want my bolsters to be in my annealed knife blank, then HeatTreat, polish, attach handel material. then dam up where I want to pour my meted solder, as the solder is melting, I (my wife doesn't know this) use her hair dryer to heat my blade up. A hair dryer is great because its very unlikely you will take the temper out of your blade, don't hold me to this as I'm sure it can be done. Anyway the reason you heat the blade is to allow the melted solder to flow through the holes you have made. That brings my to another good point. Do not pour your solder in to hot, just heat it to the point where it flows nice. If you heat it to much then pour you'll watch as the heat chases up the blade and the temper comes out of your blade. Then take the dam off and file to Desired size and shape. Use chalk on your files as not to clog them up. This is just the way I do a lot of mine. Thanks

 

[Jason Fry]

This isn't my tutorial, but I do it like this guy.
http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php?9930

 

[OTK]

Jason, I've seen that tutorial before but it's been a while. I think it's excellent, thanks for posting that.

 

[theHobbyist]

I found this tutorial a little while ago and have been wanting to try, but since I'm kind of stuck using only files for the time being, I think it's going to have to wait for me...

http://www.mickleyknives.com/html/tight_fit_bolsters.html

In any case because of the situation I'm in bolsters and me are going to have to wait...

Best of luck to you with this!

 

[Salem Straub]

Here's a WIP of mine from a few years ago, in which I do do tapered tang with pinned bolsters.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/689635-Some-pics-of-blade-work

That's essentially still the way I do it. I'll stress to use the flat face to peen the pins, and peen the heck out of them. That way they should disappear. I know I typed a lot about it at some point, but can't find it right now.