Real mineral inlays

B

banjo_art

Joined
Sep 20, 2006
Messages
3
I'd like to try gem quality mineral inlay like jasper in my 416 stainless handles and was wondering the best way to fasten them in the milled pocket. On the knives I've seen using the real mineral (not the reconsistuted stuff), there are no pins etc. I'm set up with some wet diamond grinding equipment for the cutting and shaping but I'd like some advice on the best way to secure the inlay.
Epoxy is obvious but which one? And advice would be welcome.
Thanks
--Art
 
probably the best way, if there is such a thing is get a bezel from a jewelry outfit that fits in the milled pocket, then pin or JB weld it in place or silver solder. The prongs will hold the gem better than glue and look better too. Good luck!
 
Dovetails would work nicely, I think.

I've done a lot of gemstone inlays into trumpet keys. We just use epoxy and I've never had a problem with it.

Phillip
 
Feel free to contact me by email. It would be easier to go back and forth to chat that way. Photo's of the milled pocket and identification of the equipment you have for stone works would help too. If you have a specific stone choice that too would help as there are variables in polishing and cutting depending on the stone used.....

I do not recommend epoxy.....
 
Thanks for the replies. I've attached a link to a knife I've recently made showing the type of iinlay. Typically these are mother of pearl shell, bone or horn material or in my case mineral such as malachite. In this knife I've use epoxy to hold the inlay in the stainless pocket. Sometimes I'll use two riveted pins in addition to the epoxy to secure the inlay which is commonly used im pocket knives with stag or horn type handles.

In the higher end knives that I've seen, rivets are not used to hold the stone inlay which gives the knife handle a very clean look. John LeBlanc does this with his beautiful interframe knives with jasper inlay. Putting some sort of undercut or dovetal feature on the inlay might be possible but would add more difficulty to shaping the stone and getting a perfect fit to the pocket.

I can continue to use epoxy but I'd like to know what other makers are doing.

Thanks
--Art

http://www.artgaudette.com/new_page_1.htm
 
Your work is just incredible.

I use locktite 324 and 325 as the the cleanup is incredibly easy and the adhesion and shear strength are up to the task without pins.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top