Putting a handle on a fire steel

lmbhami

lmbhami

Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Messages
351
Looking for some help

I purchades some fire steel blanks from goinggear.com and would like to put handles on them.

I have 3 questions:

1. Is it necessary to drill it out and put a pin through it for retention or is epoxy enough
2. How much of the steel needs to inbeded into the handle material for it to hold well
3. Should I drill the hole in the handle material close enough to the diameter of the steel and press it in.


Thanks for the help. Look forward to hearing some recomendations
 
What Talfuchre said.......

If you get a good tight fit don't use much epoxy though. It can't seep out when you press the rod in and you won't be able to press it in completely if you fill the void with epoxy.

SDS
 
You can press it in using a thin piece of electrical tape, pounded out thin lead shim etc. Then if you ever wear it out, just pull the stub out and push in another piece. Or make another handle, you might be tired of the one you have.
 
I drilled out a decently snug fit, and used some 2 ton epoxy, and sunk it about 1" deep. Afterward I coated the antler handle with some Tru-Oil. The epoxy will hold it rock solid, plus keep any moisture away from the stem.

knives041.jpg

Good Luck,
Beckerhead
 
I have only made a couple with deer antler, but so far have not had one come apart.

I took the edge of a file and filed three small grooves in the section that goes into the antler to give the Gorilla glue that I used something to hold onto. No problems yet.
 
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