How to rehandle chinese cleaver?

[penguin_2000]

Hmm... my first attempt at posting this question seems to have taken a wrong turn on the information super-highway, so let me try again.
I have a chinese cleaver that I want to rehandle. Unfortunately, the tang is only about 1.5-2" long and it isn't thick enough to put significantly sized pins in. Are there any suggestions for how I might go about rehandleing it?? Would epoxy be strong enough for such a small tang... or is my only option to weld a new handle? Thanks.

 

[Mike Hull]

Originally posted by penguin_2000
Would epoxy be strong enough for such a small tang... or is my only option to weld a new handle? Thanks.

That's what I would do. just get a 1/4" bolt and saw the head off. file a "V" shaped point on the end of the existing tang, and a corresponding notch in the bolt. You can get them welded at a local muffler shop, lacking the tools yourself.

I would still use epoxy when you put it all together.

 

[penguin_2000]

Thanks for the tip, Mike. Should I file the bolt to the same thickness as the tang before fitting a handle?

 

[RARanney]

This site will help you with handle fitting. If you use a bolt you sort of need a guard which you probably don't have on a cleaver. Not impossible, but there might be easier ways. Let the late great Bob Engnath show you how.

http://www.engnath.com/public/intable.htm

 

[Tom Krein]

I would suggest silver brazing a tang extension on instead of welding. I personally have not welded on tool steel, but from what I have heard it is difficult. From what I understand you use special rods and then need to aneal the weld/blade.
If you decide to silver braze the tang be sure and put a heat sink between where you are brazing and the blade to keep from getting it to hot.

Tom