Hidden tang help please

[LRICE]

I did a search and came up with some info, but that only left me with more questions, so here goes....I am attempting my first hidden tang knife. It is ATS-34. I left about a 2" stub to weld the threaded rod to. I believe Tom suggested slotting the stub and welding/brazing a grade 8 bolt in. Now my questions. Do you weld or braze? What do you use for a heat sink? Can you suspend the blade in water up to the point that you don't want the heat to spread past? I have access to TIG, MIG, stick, and brazing equipment, which is best for ATS? What type of rod/wire do you use? My appologies for all the questions, but I would rather ask than ruin a blade.
Thanks in advance.

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Thanks
Leonard
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=875252&a=6373014

 

[tom mayo]

I weld mine with a little wire feed welder. got it just for that....dont do nothing to the blade except try to hold it still, but if youre worried wrap it with a wet towel or some such......i cut a slot with my cuttoff wheel i have on a bench grinder....i use it for just about everything....including cutting talonite in two.....if you dont have something like this you can drill some holes, but wait, its already hard right, need a cuttoff wheel of some kind...i make it so the threadall fits tight, both by cutting the slot and grinding on the threadall threads, and weld away, dont have to have it perfect to have it be plenty strong...the hardest part is getting the handle to fit snug at both ends (read no gaps-flush fit when everything is snugged up) you will have to fiddle with it a bit to get it right, sometimes you are lucky and it goes right together, I almost always use some vulcanized paper as spacers to get it just like i want, plus they look really cool. red and white and blue and black..plus maybe a slim piece of nickle silver or brass in there too.

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http://www.mayoknives.com

 

[LRICE]

Thanks Tom,
Yes I do have a cut off wheel set up like that, probably the handiest thing I've got in the shop. Hadn't mentioned it because it would probably send Ralph Nader into a coma.

(safety is questionable) It isn't hardened yet so I'll cut the slot before I send it out. Thanks again. I tend to get paranoid when I enter unfamiliar territory.

Speaking of spacer material, on my last knife, I tried wet sanding the Micarta handle and I guess the spacer swelled because now it has shrunk behind the scales.

Any one had this happen?

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Thanks
Leonard
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=875252&a=6373014