Tubing as pins question ???

[Frontier Forge]

Im working on a little blade thats full tang construction that has scale handles of stabilized redwood burl, there are 11, 1/8(#30) holes thru the scales and the tang. I wanted to use 1/8 od tubing as pins ( dont ask why, cause I dont know) But the plan was to epoxy the wood down and epoxy the pins(tubes) in place. Should I flare the tube ends? If so how would the surface of the wood be preped to acccept the flare? A countersink? How many degrees and how deep? And how much tubing should protrude from each side? And what could i use to flare the tube? It all seem like a good idea untill I started it, argh. Any ideas guy's?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Ok,you have an interesting project -Why you want it is your business.Fill the tubes with modeling clay so the glue does not fill them up.The clay can be pushed out later with a wooden skewer of very small dowel.Put a very slight chamfer on the holes in the wood.Make a flaring tool from a piece of 1/4 inch round stock.Taper it to about a 30 degree cone and harden it.Chuck it in a drill and flare one end of the tubing a bit before inserting it in the handle.Put the tube through the hole and trim the remainder to about 1mm beyond the handle.Place the flared end on a firm support and put the flaring tool in the tube from the other end.Hit the drill trigger while pressing down.It doesn't take much to flare it.Go back and snug up the other side the same way.After all the tubes are in and the glue is cured you can sand the tubing flush and finish the handle.Clean out the clay last thing.This is one way to do it,I'm sure there are more.

 

[pso]

How about using a simple center punch that you would hit with a hammer (not the spring-loaded ones that you push down on). It would be about the right size for 1/8 inch tubing.

 

[paintfool]

using the clay would be a good idea and might save you some time in the end, but if you do get any epoxy in the tube u can use a razor to scrap it out. If you take your time u can do it w/o scratching the tube up.

You can use anything to flare the tube ends, as long as it's nice 'n smooth, if you can find something the right size that happens to be chromed it'll do a good job too

 

[Burchtree]

when I do slabs I like using tubes, but I don't flare them at all. I've had one that I've used and the slabs ain't going any where.

 

[Frontier Forge]

Thanks guys.
Good ideas... Burchtree do you have a photo of your handle?? In the past ive done a thong tube and tried the nail puch to flare the tube but it cracked the wood, in hindsight I think the nail set was to small and not enough taper. Plus its been so long I can remember if I countersank the hole... Oh well learn and live(or somthing like that)

 

[Burchtree]

Here's a couple of pics of some older blades done with just SS tubing:

 

[Sweany]

you can buy a tubeing flare at any home store. Just wack it lightly with a hammer


I fon't flare my tubes either but it sure looks good if they are centered correctly

 

[Sando]

Here's a blade with some tubes:

Steve

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Using a flaring tool or a nail punch may split the wood.A spinner style flaring bit will push the metal without the impact stress.The tube hole only need a slight chamfer to hold tight.
Steve - Neat knife!

 

[Sweany]

good point Steve