MIG rods for pinning handles?

Scott Hartman

Scott Hartman

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Oct 28, 2005
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I picked up some 1/8" Silicon Bronze MIG welding rods. Anyone ever use them for pinning handles on a full tang knife?
 
Tip o' the day. Whether it is brazing rod, or pin stock or some brass rod in a hobby pack from a craft store (or a piece of wire unwound off something old for that matter) always anneal it before trying to use it. Some wire/rod is work hardened in drawing to a surprising degree and is much too stiff to peen with out cracking. ;)
 
Ive used quite a bit of the oxy/acet rods that are fluxed. I just break the fux off and lightly sand them.
 
A welding supply place has many things that can be used as pins.
You can get brass and stainless rod cheaper than most hobby shops.
 
Just make sure you have a decent asortment of drill bits, 1/8" is not always 1/8", wether it's from a welding shop or knife supply shop.

I curently have 3 lbs. each of brazing rod and 308 stainless rod from a welding supply outfit. The brass is unfluxed torch brazing rod and the stainless is unfluxed tig rod. It'll take a couple of years to use it all up, and if I need to do some brazing in the meantime I'm good to go!:D
 
Hey guys, thanks for your input. I am still very new to knife making, but I do know I like using any "freebies" I find :D Everything has an intended purpose, and then there's "can I use it in the shop or put it in a knife" purpose.
 
Only problem with my rods is they come with little stamped marks along along the rod, I assume so one can tell how fast one is pushing the stuff in. Doesn't seem like the perfect stock with those marks.
 
My regular steel rods are pretty plain, just some copper coating, but the 316 ones (which I was told I could weld 304 with also) come with each end stamped with the 316 number, and every half inch a little anular groove. Very fancy. They probably know I need the help.
 
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