pin placement technique mini tutorial

[HSC ///]

this in response to an earlier post and is another way to do pin holes.
This is how I was taught and I am just passing it on. Of course there are many ways to do this
I'm doing this on a thin pattern because that is all I had available

note added- there is an element of punch and pray involved here as mentioned by Carlson below.
It's sort of like taking the first shot on a target and then you adjust your sights as required.

tool required
prick punch
larger punch
hammer
calipers
some anvil base

mark off the handle

use the prick punch to place the first hole
I do this be eye

punch the 2nd location in - the first pin up by the front

use the calipers to measure the distance in between

split it and scribe an arc
repeat from the 2nd location (up at the front)

place punch in the location using the scribe arcs as a guide
I like to go a tad higher and forward if I'm going to miss

if everything looks good
use larger punch in all three locations

check alignment
front one looks a tad high

you can actually "move" the punch location by moving the metal.
place punch at an angle and drive the punch divot in the direction you want to move

you can see how I moved the divot over

comments and criticism welcome

 

[E.Carlson]

Thanks for sharing this. Much better process than my punch and pray method!

 

[Lo/Rez]

That's a good tutorial. Thanks.

 

[JeridJohnson]

where were you on Saturday when I completely missed my punch Mark when drilling my center hole?

 

[HSC ///]

where were you on Saturday when I completely missed my punch Mark when drilling my center hole?

Um I was standing right next to you....
I'm a student of knifemaking. You are the one who knows what he his doing. Lol

 

[josh81]

This might be in regards to my post. Either way thanks for the tutorial. I don't want to ask too many questions on here so it's nice to have these tutorials pop up.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[HSC ///]

This might be in regards to my post. Either way thanks for the tutorial. I don't want to ask too many questions on here so it's nice to have these tutorials pop up.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

yes it was happy to help

and here is the same handle (pattern) after I peened the pins last night

 

[flatgrinder]

Thanks for sharing Harbeer. Looking good! :thumbup:

 

[NJBillK]

Thanks for showing this, I like your center pin method. I have just been doing the math and measuring it from the first pin and using the rear to check.

One thing that I find useful is that after I use my punch, I will remove the raised material flush with a medium sized ball in my dremel. I have had my blank jump (even while clamped, since I use a piece of wood as a backer) while initiating the cut with my drill press.

 

[HSC ///]

Thanks for showing this, I like your center pin method. I have just been doing the math and measuring it from the first pin and using the rear to check.

One thing that I find useful is that after I use my punch, I will remove the raised material flush with a medium sized ball in my dremel. I have had my blank jump (even while clamped, since I use a piece of wood as a backer) while initiating the cut with my drill press.

the center pin method, the intersecting arcs are used as a guide to help your eye pinpoint the center pin location to punch.

I would suggest trying a center drill first, shorter and stiffer, as you probably know they come numbered in different sizes.

 

[NJBillK]

This will ease the process a bit!

Thanks!

 

[HSC ///]

a little follow up on this
I just peened two pins to test and then sawed in half to see the cross section

The one on the left is peened by rounding the top
The one on the left is more pounded to create a swell. This would mostly be used in a bolster where you wanted to fill the hole and create a seamless bolster pin match

wood is cocobolo I think
pin is 1/8" brass

welcome any comments or suggestions

 

[AVigil]

Nice method.

I blue the tang and with a caliper measure the width of the location for the first pin, divide that number in half and use the caliper to scribe a line.

Repeat for rear hole and center hole.

Now all pins are mark dead center on the tang.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Gee, guys! I just use a Sharpie and put dots on the tang, then punch.
If you get the dots in the wrong place, just erase them and move them.
Measuring to make sure the dots are even is good.

 

[Natlek]

Sometimes you guys complicate such a simple thing .It took me two minute to do this