How to Finish a Bolt-On Handle? How To Finish a Flared Thong Tube Handle?

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
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5,403
Howdy,

I am wondering how you all finish a handle when it will be affixed with bolts that you are not going to grind off?

I plan on doing a handle for a Spyderco Mule Team, but how do I shape it without cutting the bolt heads, and not leaving the bolts sticking up?

Marion
 
I don't understand the question. :confused:

Do you mean you want to use Corby-type bolts but not grind off the slots, so the bolts/scales can be removed? I just re-did a Becker Brute that way, it's fairly easy... just re-cut the screwdriver slots deep enough so you can grind the face of the bolt flush with the finished handle and still have a slot for a flat-head to grab onto. I used a cut-off disk in a Dremel to deepen the slots.
 
I was thinking in terms of using hardware that screws in from both sides, into a center female.

I would want the screw head flush or slightly reset, but how would I get that, without setting the length of the screw after the handle was finished.

But, then how would I hold the scales on, while I was finishing them?

Same thing with flared tubes. How does a person rough shape the handles, since you would want to wait to flare the tubes until you were very close to final finish....

Or maybe I am just over thinking it all.

I suppose I could super glue the scales on, mostly finish to shape, then drill and countersink for the hardware....
 
Marion David Poff said:
I was thinking in terms of using hardware that screws in from both sides, into a center female.

I would want the screw head flush or slightly reset, but how would I get that, without setting the length of the screw after the handle was finished.

But, then how would I hold the scales on, while I was finishing them?

Same thing with flared tubes. How does a person rough shape the handles, since you would want to wait to flare the tubes until you were very close to final finish....

Or maybe I am just over thinking it all.

I suppose I could super glue the scales on, mostly finish to shape, then drill and countersink for the hardware....
Click to expand...

how i do it would be like this. i would cut out the handle scales and then clamp them togather with c clamps then grind the front profile then when you get it how you like it then use supper glue and atatch the scales to each side of the knife making sure to line up the frount perfectley. now do the profile of the handle but leave the scales flat. then use a mill and drill your holes for the handle bolts and then counter sink the holes leaving .100 or so between the bottom of the counter sunk hole and the tang. do this on both sides. now shape you handle to what you want and finish it. then get your bolts and custom fit them to the hole so thy just sit under the profile of the handle. you can do it so that you can leave the slot or philips or allen wrench part of the bolt there so thy can be removed.
 
The usual way is to use allen head screws (bolts) in recessed sockets. The tang is fitted with a threaded insert ( standoff) that the screws seat into.

Flared thong tubes are finished with a flaring tool ( like the ones used to flare copper tubing), or a rotary flaring tool used in the drill press ( shaped like a counter-sink with no flute).
Stacy
 
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