Removing Khuk handle

etp777

etp777

Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
2,259
OK, I apologize for posting this question as I KNOW it's been discussed before, but search fucntion is crapping out on me here, and I don't want to fight with this as I'm hoping to start working on these tomorrow.

I need step by step instructions on removing handles from two 15" AKs here. THey both have horn handles if that matters, and I'd like to be able to reuse the horn if possible. If I have to give any more information to get the right directions juts tell me what you need to know. THanks much in advance.
 
1. put on a deep pan of water to heat, full enough to completely cover handles.

2. File the exposed tang as flat as possible to remove small keeper. Gently insert small knife blade or other instrument under keeper to gently pry off.

3. Put handle in boiling water until laha begins to melt, horn becomes loose on tang. (You can remove butt cap at this time if you wish after laha becomes loose, test by gently twisting knife and handle by holding in old HEAVY CLOTHS!!!!)

4. USE OLD HEAVY CLOTHS and grip handle and blade securely and give a stout pull to remove handle /and-or butt cap. Do only one at a time! Remove handle.

5. Don't touch any surfaces with exposed hot laha as it will stick to whatever it touches.

6. Proceed to next khuk.

7. let cool to touch, viola.:D

I think that's it. Kinda sleepy as I just woke up from a much needed nap.:D :rolleyes: ;)
 
Must admit I'm kinda slow sometimes. Was sitting here working with file on the tang to try to let keeper lose, then looked up and noticed my grinder over on other side of room. Sigh. Oh well, got it fixed now, jsut took off first keeper on one of them
 
Originally posted by etp777
Was sitting here working with file on the tang to try to let keeper lose, then looked up and noticed my grinder over on other side of room.
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The file is better than the grinder any day as it keeps the "Oh Poop" factor to a minimum.:D
I have grinders as well and still use a file.:)
 
no worries on jsut removing mushrooming of tang(plus used duller belt that I have set aside for doing handle material).

For cleaning up the tang before I put handle stuff back on THAT will be done with the files for sure.
 
Originally posted by etp777
For cleaning up the tang before I put handle stuff back on THAT will be done with the files for sure.
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777, I don't mess to much with the laha left on the tang. A couple, or several, good whacks with a hammer will knock off most of what's left.
Anything else usually succumbs to a good scraping with the end of a file, no sense in loading up a file with the laha.
The handles however are a different story.:rolleyes: :( It sometimes takes some hard work to get the laha out of the handle so the tang will fit back in.
I use some metal bars and a hammer to try and knock most of it out in order to get it ready for the epoxy.
A little laha left in place, as long as it's good and solid, won't hurt anything.:)

It's a good idea when putting things back together to tape the bolster extremely secure to the blade and exactly where you want it.
Then cover the bolster entirely with tape.
I use masking tape so it can be easily removed before the epoxy is entirely dry.
Fill the bolster part way with the epoxy before putting the handle on, the reason for secureing it tightly.
I also tape up the entire handle that isn't going to be bonded, also tape up the top of the butt cap and the keeper, cutting through the holes.
It's a lot easier to keep the epoxy off of parts you don't want it on than to remove it later.
Removing all the tape before the epoxy is completely cured makes it easy to trim any excess with a sharp knife.
There's very little cleanup when I get through putting a handle back on.:D
Of course you want to make sure everything is copasetic by dry fitting everything before mixing the epoxy.:rolleyes: ;)
 
etp777: For what purpose are you removing the handles?

Yvsa: What epoxy would you recommend to put the handles back on?
 
Mainly just because I can mrostov. :) Going to rehandle these. Not sure what I'm doing with second, but think with first one will be alternating layers of red heart and water buffalo. Spacers between these will be TKS plastic spacers and some brass sheet. THinking it might turn out well. Then going to convex edge, apply a satin finish, and probably see if anyone is interested in buying it(if I don't completely ruin it) so I can get some more to try this on(and yes, I'm doing this on blems, not on regular HI khuks). Oh yeah, and chakma and karda, one will have the water buffalo handle still and other will get red heart.
 
Originally posted by mrostov
Yvsa: What epoxy would you recommend to put the handles back on?
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Any good Two Ton or 30 minute cure epoxy. I believe the one I use is Devcon, purchased at our local Wal-Marts.:D

Another good one and one that's reprted to be even better is the 24 hour cure epoxy, but that isn't available locally that I know of.
Supposedly the longer the cure the stronger the bond.
 
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