Question on bolsters?

[Mike Turner]

I am getting ready to put bolsters on my first SS knife (ATS34) with 304 or 416 bolsters and will have SS pins. My question is what method do you all prefer? I was told you can not silver solder to SS and I don't want to leave them unsealed.

Thanks Mike

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If the bolsters are properly fitted to the blade, there should be virtually no gap. What small gap there is can be sealed in several ways. One is to put it all together and wick up a thin cyanoacrylic glue to seal the bolster/blade joint. Another is to apply a thin epoxy to the surfaces,clamp together and pein the rivets.Bolsters can be soldered on ( use cutlery grade stainless steel type soft solder on surgically clean surfaces),but it is a science with SS.I usually do the thin epoxy trick.
Stacy

 

[argel55]

One thing that helps also before you attach the bolsters is to use a tapered reamer same size as your pins to help hide the pins and also help pull the bolsters even tighter against the blade flat. My grammar is terrible. Plus the glue will seal everything.

 

[Mike Turner]

Thanks Stacey that is what I was thinking a friend told me to do the superglue thing but I thought I would get some more ideas. This will be a user and I know how blood can make a blade rust, so I just don't want to take any chances.

Mike

 

[Mike Turner]

One thing that helps also before you attach the bolsters is to use a tapered reamer same size as your pins to help hide the pins and also help pull the bolsters even tighter against the blade flat. My grammar is terrible. Plus the glue will seal everything.

Thanks for the tip, as I already do this but it helps to spread it around. I am sure there are newbies that don't know this trick.

Mike