Mircarta Pins?

[Kim Lau]

I saw the mircarta pins over on texas knifemaker supple, and i was wondering of they were strong and durable enough to be used?

 

[lukus]

I've used the micarta pins and never had any problems. If you're using the same color micarta they are virtually invisible.

The most important part of epoxying up a set of scales is the surface preparation of the parts. I usually rough the tang and scales with 180 or 220 grit paper and usually have a few extra holes drilled through the tang. If it's all preped right the pins are almost superfluous.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

lukus is right. While the micarta rivets are OK strength wise, they are not really there for strength, but for looks. I use them for contrasting, but easy to finish ,rivets in micarta ( and occasionally ivory) handles. The thing that keeps my handles on is good adhesives, and proper glue engineering - allowing a "glue reservoir" by concaving the tang, drilling extra tang holes, using a slow set resin, avoiding excessive clamp pressure. That and the fact that I usually use Corby bolts.
Stacy

 

[atakach]

ive never used them, but i have hand turned pieces of ivory and desert ironwood down into 1/8'' pins before that have worked out pretty good.