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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 01-27-2017, 12:55 PM
nflknives nflknives is offline
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guard

is aluminium a decent option for guards instead of brass? i can get my hands on alot of 1/8" aluminum for free, so i was wondering if it is worth trying or will 1/8" not be enough or even is aluminium is feasable. Also can you solder aluminum to the tang like you can brass?

Thanks in advance for the advise.
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Old 01-27-2017, 01:31 PM
WNC Goater WNC Goater is offline
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You may be able to braze it on with some aluminum brazing rod but that requires some significant heat and it will be difficult to keep your temper. There are some alloy solders out there for aluminum but I have no experience with them.

As far as a guard, you're talking about using it like a front spacer between the blade and handle material I see no problems. If it extends below the handle with a finger grip type area, or like a guard on a Bowie or like a typical guard...
Like this:
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...tAgaAjST8P8HAQ

And this:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Puma-...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

... then I believe it would be too soft and thus easily bent unless it is a good bit heavier than 1/8".

If it is used as a front spacer you can get by without soldering it to the blade by using JB weld. Ray has a good video where he uses JB weld.


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Old 01-27-2017, 02:16 PM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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I've used aluminum before. Nothing wrong with how it functions but it does oxidize after a while and then it looks bad and, of course, it is soft.

The choice is not simply aluminum or brass, many metals can be used as guards. I use a lot of 416 or 410 stainless for guards, a much better choice than aluminum.

As for soldering, there are some who successfully solder their guards and more power to them but personally I think they might be masochists Use JB Weld and save your sanity ...


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Old 01-27-2017, 02:27 PM
jimmontg jimmontg is offline
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What Aluminum alloy Justin?

Some are quite hard like 7075 or 6061 T6. T0 is zero temper and too soft, that is what the T stands for, Temper. The 5000 series AL is quite tough too as it has one per cent Titanium in it like 7075 does. Stay away from 1100 (made from cans), 2000 and 3000 series as they all tend to be softer, as a matter of fact so can the 4000 series be as well. 5,6 and 7000 series T4 or higher are fine. T4 is ok for 4000 as well. Basically, bend it and see how much it springs back, some will crack, they are that hard.

Now I said all that to show how smart alecky I am, but you can buy some thin brass sheet at Lowe's and JB Weld two pieces of AL together with the brass in the middle, don't use epoxy, doesn't stick. Then you'd have a 1/4" thick piece of AL or you could use G10 spacers or copper spacers etc. I have used a wood spacer between two pieces of brass on the pommel of a knife. Threaded the wood as well as the brass. Use your imagination. AL. polishes bright, but dulls fast.
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blade, bowie, brass, fixed, grip, guard, guards, handle, handle material, heat, knife, material, ore, rod, solder, spacer, stainless, store, tang, temper, video, weld


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