Tube flaring?

[P-Cubed]

Hello, I am in need of some advice from makers who used tube style fasteners. I am re-handling a stock knife. I’d like to use 1/4” copper tubing and want to learn of ways to flair the tube once attached. I have counter sink bits and reamers but am having a hard time finding info on methods for flaring. I’ve been told some folks will peen the tubes for a flair. Others I’ve heard use dies. Also this is knobs of muddled, but would a reamer give me a flair once the tube is almost flush to the scale, where any remaining metal above the scale can just be sanded flush?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

You can use anything you want to flare tubing. A sharply tapered punch, a ball bearing. you can peen then if you have a small hammer.
Whatever works.

 

[REK Knives]

I use dies in a 3 ton arbor press and it works perfect... But that's for busse style flared tubing that's about .030" thick nickel based

 

[fitzo]

I made a set of dies and used to spin-flare thong tubes on the drill press. Lube the spinning side.

 

[USMCPOP]

Depending on the taper angle, you might get by with drift punches, pin punches, center punches or the like.

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

If I can find them I'll take a picture. I made a set of dies to go in my RCBS Rock Chucker.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I use the heads of two large screws in the vice. Same angle as the countersink I use to largen the hole

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Cut the heads off two oval head screws leaving just a little stub of the shank. Put one under the handle (in the tube) and the other on top. Gently tap with a mallet or hammer to flare, or squeeze in a vise or clamp. File and sand the excess flush with the handle.
For 1/4" ID copper tubing, use 1/4" oval head screws. Countersink the holes through the handle at 82° (standard screw countersink)

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

If you have a vise with removable jaws find some bolts that screw into where the bolts that hold the vise jaws go. Put your new bolts in a drill and grind them against your belt into a conical shape that matches your countersink. Then, screw them opposite each other in your vise.

 

[Ken H>]

I'd not thought about using screws for flaring the tube, great idea. I made some dies for an arbor press. My RockChucker would do a great job also - never thought about that.

 

[TheEdge01]

I use a tapered punch. As you probably know, be careful not to split softer materials.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Greasing, lubing the material helps with an easier press

 

[Bill Siegle]

Here’s how I do it. Please don’t judge the cosmetics too hard in my pics. I was working on a beater throwing knife so I’m not concerned with beauty on this one
So I start with 1/4in holes and 1/4in tubing. This is a tight fit through everything. The scales of course are countersunk already. I tap the tubes through the scales and tang until a bit is past both sides. I then cut the tubes flush with the scales. You can finish/clean up the tube ends now if you wish. I then countersink the tubes slightly and lube them. Then the screws are inserted into the tube ends. I then use the vice to squish/flare the tubes. After that I shape and finish out the scales. I think that’s it

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[P-Cubed]

Thanks everybody for the replies.