Looking for a certain metal??

[darrylburke]

I'm looking for a certain metal to use for a handle, which I can compress in a vise and get a fairly good expansion on it

I want to hollow out a tang, and fill the hole with this metal (gold/bronze preferably) cut it to zie to fit the hole )as close as possible) then use a vise to squeeze it until all match is perfect.

anyone know a good metal for this..???

[Ray Rogers]

Is the idea of squeezing with a vise intended only for making the handle material a perfect match for the hollowed tang or is it intended to secure the handle material in the tang?

If you're trying to secure the handle material then any malleable metal could work. A nice soft alloy of brass might be best.

If you are merely trying to guarantee that the handle and the insert have the same shape then there are better ways to get it done. One way is to simply use the same techniques that would be used to match an inlay to the handle of an interframe folder. Another would be to pay a machine shop to cut out the tang and a matching insert using an EDM machine. This should result in an invisible joint and is the way Michael Walker makes his titanium and steel 'zipper' blades on his very fancy knives...