Wire wrapped handle?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
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Can anyone give me some tips on how to go about wrapping a handle with twisted wire?
I have a dagger I've been working on for eons and want to make an oval shaped handle and wrap it with some twisted copper wire I have but I can figure out how to wrap it and keep the wire nice and tight. Since theres a constant taper on both ends, how do you keep the wire from sliding down the taper?
Any help you folks can give me will be extremely appreciated!!!!
 
Michael, Jim H. is his book gives a good chapter on this. He secures the end of the wire with a dab of soft solder and covers it with a closely fitted band,likewise the other end. Then gives all a couple of coats of clear lacquer which penetrates the twisted wire and helps seal/glue/secure all. You buff the excess lacquer off the surface of the wire. I also have seen wire secured in a little hole in the grip core with a domed pin.
 
L6
I think I know what you are asking. I wrap my handles with cord and have the same problem.
Because the core of the handle is going to be covered you could try to put some small grooves running around the handle for the copper wire to bite into. I also find it heaps easier to put the knife verticaly in a large vice (tip down) and then wrap it there. I put downward tension on the cord as I wrap and this helps to keep it all bunched up.
Hope this is what you were after.

Mick

and by the way I realy like the neckers
 
Michael be sure to anneal the wire first. I started mine in a tight hole in the wood base. One end of the wire attached to a solid anchor (tree, fence post, etc) and holding the blade in one hand and the handle in the other I started to roll the knife over the wire, approaching the anchored end. Going "uphill" on the handle is easy, just keep the wire tight against each turn. On the downhill side you will still wrap to keep the turns tight, and have your helper gently tap each turn tight with a wood or plastic shim and hammer. I used oak, and it was still soft enough to take an impression from the tight wire turns and act as a sort of "bed" for the wire. When I got to the end I drilled another tight hole and worked the end of the wire into it. That was the hardest part, keeping the final turns tight while getting the end of the wire into a 90 degree hole. I suggest you secure both holes with a pin or even a toothpick and epoxy. I worked epoxy into all the wires after wrapping, cleaned the surface with acetone on a rag, and buffed the balance off after it cured.

You will need a helper to tap the winds tight, and be prepared to rest as your hands will get very tired. I have some pics of this process, write and I'll send them to you.

Good luck! A wire wrapped handle really feels good in your hand.

Dave
 
Thanks for the tips guys!!!
It might sound odd wrapping the handle of a fancy knife with copper wire but this stuff looks so neat. It's almost translucent. I took a set of speakers apart and they had laquered windings in them. It even glistens when turned to the light in the right way. I sure hope I can get it right!
Dave, email is on it's way, thanks!
 
Greetings... There is a set of pliers that old time electricians used
to twist the ends of connections before wraping them in tape. I can not think of what they are called but they are really neat and can be obtained at hardware or automotive supply shops for about $10.00.
You loop a length of wire( about twice the length to allow for the twist), around a nail or such, clamp the two ends in the pliers, lock them shut then operate the neat slider mechanism and presto a tight perfectly twisted wire. These pliers are becoming harder to find as the plastic twist on marrettes are easier and faster.

Jim Ziegler
 
You guys got me to thinking. I'm going to turn the handle block, probably use some black paper micarta, and then drill the hole for the tang. Then drill the little hole at the start end and push the wire in and stick a super glue coated toothpick in there to make sure the wire doesn't pull out. Then I'll take a piece of all thread and slide the handle on with a washer and nut on both ends with enough all thread stickin out one end to chuck it up in a drill. I'll have to rig up some sort of tensioner to keep the wire taught, maybe just lay it between a folded toael and squeeze it with my hand. Then mix up some epoxy with black pigment and brush a very thin coat onto the handle and then slowly spin the thing and let the wire wrap onto it. Wrap the end of the wire around the end of the all thread to keep it nice and tight and then set it aside for the epoxy to dry. Once it's set up, remove it from the allthread, drill the small hole in the end for the wire and do the toothpick trick. This way you know if it's done right before it's attached to the blade.
Sound like a plan??
I'll let ya know if it works and try to get some pictures while I'm doin it.
 
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