Pinning Bolsters?

[Jason Fry]

I have a knife that I'm trying to fit with brass pinned bolsters. This knife is "practice" for one that I'm really interested in making for my dad for Christmas. Using superglue and a clamp, I managed to get holes drilled through the blade and both sides of the bolster. They're not perfectly straight, but pretty close, and I don't have a drill press. I plan on pinning them to each other for initial shaping, then pinning them to the blade for final profiling to match the steel. Any tips and tricks? I was thinking I could pin them with brass pins peened down and ground flush. Do I need to glue them also, or will the pins be enough to bring them down tight and secure? Do I need to ream out the holes a little to get a better grab on the pins?
Thanks,
Jason

 

[galadduin]

o I need to glue them also, or will the pins be enough to bring them down tight and secure?

Not for securing but for sealing the gaps between blade and bolster material it is advisable. Use a thin layer of transparent slow curing epoxy. epoxy will make the junction water-proof. Otherwise you'll get some rust and bacterias.

 

[GlassJax]

Soldering the bolsters would be my choice.

Soft Solder (~450 deg) since it's directly to the blade.

 

[Bill Burke]

Pin and super glue them for shaping do not peen the pins. Then pin an solder them to the blade for finale finishing and to keep out moisture and gunk.