Tube expansion for lanyards etc

Fish30114

Fish30114

Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
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Folks, what do ya'll use to expand the top of tubes in your knive handles? I haven't put in any lanyard holes except one, and that one I simply drilled and left an unlined hole in the handle through a hole I had put in the tang for lightening. I don't plan on doing lanyard holes regularly, but I've seen where makers used tubes instead of rivets, and I assume these are expanded at the ends somehow?

Feedback input appreciated.
 
I made two 90 degree cones on the lathe I use as die/punch. I don't countersink the holes, but I don't expand the tubes too much either.
 
I cut grooves on the outside middle part of the tube so the epoxy will hold. I don't flare them but I do chamfer the inside.
 
USAKnifeMaker used to sell some lanyard tube flaring dies, but I just looked, and big surprise, they're out of stock. Like gammarad's, they're just two 90 degree tapers that are meant for an arbor press.

Like Matt, I just rough up and/or groove the outside of the tube and epoxy, though I would like to try making a set of flaring dies on the lathe eventually.
 
Easy flaring dies = polished up ball bearings and a vise.

Keep us informed.
 
NJBillK said:
Easy flaring dies = polished up ball bearings and a vise.

Keep us informed.
Click to expand...
I had thought of just that as a simple approach to get it done. I have a woodturning lathe, I could probably fashion a tube flaring tool on it somehow as well.

Thanks for the thoughts folks.
 
I read somewhere that a guy used 2 cut off screw heads. Put one in each end of the tube and tightened it up in a vice. Haven't tried it yet, but I plan on it on my next project.
 
Lie, I agree with your view on hidden tang knives no being the place for 'tubes' and that is a great tip on the lather deadcenters-I have several extra ones of those laying around, and that's exactly what I think I'm gonna try next time I install a tube in a handle.

Thanks--Don
 
Fish30114 said:
Folks, what do ya'll use to expand the top of tubes in your knive handles? I haven't put in any lanyard holes except one, and that one I simply drilled and left an unlined hole in the handle through a hole I had put in the tang for lightening. I don't plan on doing lanyard holes regularly, but I've seen where makers used tubes instead of rivets, and I assume these are expanded at the ends somehow?

Feedback input appreciated.
Click to expand...

Two ball from ball bearings and in a vise ?
 
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That was a suggestion someone made, I had actually thought of that as an option-pretty simple--pick the appropriate sized ball bearing and put one in both sides of the tube in your handle, and then catch the two bearings between the jaws of your vise and squeeze em til they flare out the top of the tubes appropriately.
 
Someone already mentioned it, but I use the cut off screw heads frequently. Works great!
 
The cut off screws tip may have come from me. To make your life easier wether you use the screw heads or ball bearings, hold them in place with a wrap of tape before you squish in the vice.
 
i use an arbor press with two polished steel cones... top one is mounted right to the press plunger while the bottom one i leave moving freely so i can oscillate the tube as i flare it to even it up if it's not straight... can't take pics right now, but it works pretty well. i use a fluted countersink to make the recess to accommodate the flare.
 
E.Carlson said:
I read somewhere that a guy used 2 cut off screw heads. Put one in each end of the tube and tightened it up in a vice. Haven't tried it yet, but I plan on it on my next project.
Click to expand...

That's what I do. Use regular sheet rock screws. Cut the heads off, and glue them to blocks of wood. Superglue works fine. Instant flaring dies.
 
All good intel folks--thanks! I really like the approach of the cones on a arbor press, I have both---lathe dead centers and an arbor press. Just don't know how I would mount one to the press--maybe JB Weld??
 
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