wa handle questions

H

Hesparus

Joined
Oct 31, 2004
Messages
1,442
Hi Everyone,

I'm working on some japanese-inspired kitchen knives and I'm planning on giving a shot at wa handles. A couple of questions:
I don't usually see these types of handles with any sort of pins or rivets. Is there anything special I need to do to make a secure fit? How strong are these handles with just epoxy?
Thanks,
Chris
 
Hesparus said:
Hi Everyone,

I'm working on some japanese-inspired kitchen knives and I'm planning on giving a shot at wa handles. A couple of questions:
I don't usually see these types of handles with any sort of pins or rivets. Is there anything special I need to do to make a secure fit? How strong are these handles with just epoxy?
Thanks,
Chris
Click to expand...

It depends.

How do you plan to do it?

You maximise the strength by using strong epoxy and by preparing the tang surface well and ensuring it is free of contamination.

I use loctite e-120hp. West gflex, acraglas and a few others are good options too I hear.

I prepare the tang by cleaning it with water and detergent and roughing it up with 80 grit paper. Sandblasting it is better though, if you can, for maximum adhesion.

I put a hole in the tang, which gets filled with epoxy and forms an epoxy pin.
 
Ive done a few and put a hole or two in the tang and also burn my tang into the handle after making a basic slot real close to size. That and some good epoxy and your set. Here is a example. Ebony, copper and koa.

DSC_6023.jpg
 
notch the end of the tang like a saw blade using a Dremel cut off wheel if you are using epoxy.
 
I like to use the edge of a belt to rough some grooves on the side of the tang for traction. Then directly to epoxy after grinding the tang, nice and clean for a good bond. Here's a pic of one before glue up, then an after shot. The block is roughly fit, and the bolster is filed to fit the tang, and press fits onto the block. Shaping was done with a wood lathe and mill for the tenon, and the wa shape by either mill, grinder, or both.

IMG_9129.JPG


IMG_9134.JPG
 
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