How I Flare Handle Tubes *Video*

chavez556

chavez556

Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
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This is a quick video on my tube flaring set up. It is a good alternative to some of the other methods. The die I made is interchangeable with the USA Knifemaker eyelet dies. Sorry if the video is a little choppy.

Let me know if you have questions.

[video=youtube;7Oxj1VYAKGs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oxj1VYAKGs[/video]
 
I thought it was good, thanks. :)

There are some things that I think would be helpful to add... like how deep to drill the countersink/taper in the scales, how much extra length to leave on the tubes prior to flaring, and what type of finish to put on the tube ends before flaring.

Are you using a waxed/greased dummy pin through the scales for glue-up? I ask because you mentioned that the handle scales were already epoxied in place.

Thanks. :)
 
Good points Nick

The actual squishing is easy, but it's the countersinking and tube lengths that mean success or failure.
 
I don't use a dummy pin I just clean up any epoxy off the tubes during glue up.

The depth of the counter sink can vary based on the look you are going for.

I measure the length of the scale and tang then add .010 to account for length lost while chamfering the tubes.

I will make a follow up video showing the prep process. This one was really just focusing on the dies and the set up.
 
I love seeing how other people do things but more detail would be helpful. I have tried with some success and a lot of failure the Tracy Mickley measurements (length of tube and diameter of countersink relative to the thickness of the overall handle). I found it too hard to get exactly right so as of yesterday I am a new graduate of the Fairly School of Flaring. What I like is to keep it as simple as possible. I countersunk the holes with an 82 degree bit to an outside diameter of 3/8" for 1/4" tubes. Saturday I epoxied the tubes and the handle together with little regard to the length of tube sticking out. Q-tips and acetone were the hardest part but necessary to keep the epoxy from hardening in the countersink. Yesteday, after it set, I cut off the tubes with a port-a-band close to the handle and then sanded the tubes flush to the scales on a flat platen to 400 grit. The only tubes I had around were thick walled 304 so I was worrying about splitting. I lightly flared the inside of the tubes with the 82 degree bit and flared them.

There are so many different ways to do the same things and the results will vary on the method used but for simplicity sake I think I like how it went.

I'd love to hear how other people do it too.
 
Strider have you tried case lube ? What sort of problem were you having in the past?

I use .020 x12" x.25" ss tubing
 
I have used Vaseline but not case lube. Last time I went dry with no problems. I haven't found any tubes so thin walled and the last one I used were .034 I believe. I don't know exaxctly why I kept splitting them but it was probably in the prep or trying to get too much flare out of them. New method works like a charm, though.

Eta- I also found it is much easier to make a handle with three tubes than two. With two there is still some play in the scales and it is harder to get them exactly aligned while with three they just line up perfectly.
 
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