Knife Pin Material

[Nightwing89]

Im looking to put the pins in my knife handle but I’m wondering if the stuff I was going to use will work.

I have some old nails that are about 3mm in diameter but I’m not entirely sure what kind of metal they’re made of. I’m almost 100% positive they’re steel nails, but I’m assuming they’re just normal steel and not stainless steel. My concern with this is oxidation/rust. If I use these nails as pins will they oxidize/rust? Has anyone else used anything like this and could give me some advice?

 

[AVigil]

Of course they will rust, but with care, oil and cleaning they will work fine.

Much of the world is held together with old steel nails

 

[Hengelo_77]

why not get some stainless it's not that expensive

 

[TRfromMT]

You should get pin stock that is 1) round, and 2) dimensionally accurate. Nails probably are neither. Also, you want to be able to drill the hole within a few thousandth of a inch from the pin stock diameter. You will see anything more than about .005" as a black line around your pin.

I have use copper wire that happened to be .091" and .102" and using 3/32" and 7/64" drill bits worked perfectly.

I've also used SS welding rod.

I'm a big fan of free materials, but it should look clean.

 

[Ken H>]

Welding rod works just fine, brass or SS. Welding supply will have all you need, OR, you can order online, Amazon, etc.

This comment is based on you being in USA - you don't have any location filled out. That really helps when folks are trying to offer solutions to a problem.

 

[scott.livesey]

industrial supply houses such as McMaster/Carr has rod in steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze, and aluminum. here are 303 stainless steel rods that start at 3/32" https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-stainless-steel-rods/=1d2x7hq. another option would be dowel pins, taper pins or spring pins https://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-dowel-pins/=1d2x92d.