Oops

[Steve Beckwith]

Here's one for you. I've been working on this blade for a while, copper hilt and spacers. It is looking good. I got some really nice black oak from a friend, it has really unusual grain. Anyway, yesterday I woke up with a cold or allergy, foggy headed but upright so I epoxied it all together. Good fit, I'm satisfied with it to this point. Last night as I am standings in the shower it hits me that I used a BRASS pin to secure the handle. What do I do? I may go ahead and rough sand the wood and see how bad it looks. I don't see how I could remove the pin without damaging the wood. I used G Flex and heavily textured the pin and the wood is completely filled with epoxy. The only other alternative I can come up with is to cave man the wood off and start over. Any one have any ideas other than to be more careful next time?

 

[viral]

How did you attach the bolsters? If peened you are in luck. You can take a handle and put it in boiling wlater for a few minutes. The heat will kill the epoxy but not affect temper. It can be a pain to pull it apart but it's the best worst idea.

 

[tattooedfreak]

A brass pin should be relatively easy to drill out. Go one size smaller and take it slow, careful of the heat.

 

[rustyrazor]

a brass pin might just really set it off... i'd at least wait and see how my mistake looks. one of my favorite finishes on my guards was caused by a mistake and now it's something i use all the time.

 

[Steve Beckwith]

The pin was sticking out less than 1/8" on each side but i set it over my vise jaws and gave one end of the pin a whack with a hammer and to my surprise the thing moved. Anyway, I took a punch and drove it out from the other side. It took a surprising amount of force to remove it but it is gone without damaging the wood. A copper pin is now epoxied in place and I am good to go. I should have tried that before I posted my question.