head spining handle pins

[mcninch]

do you epoxy the handle slabs and finish them, and then drill holes and insert pins ,and then spin the heads? whats the best way to do this? thanks .mcninch.

[george tichbour]

I install pins when I epoxy the handles on, wait for epoxy to cure then sand the pins flush with the handle material and finish the handle.

I expect that most all of the knifemakers here do the same thing.

I never head spin my pins.

George

[NJStricker]

Are you talking about installing domed pins?

[mcninch]

yes, I want to install domed pins on coffen handle bowie im making, ( full tang )

[GHEzell]

A cheap and easy way to do it... Not the proper way, but how I do it.

Drill all holes. Assemble the handle, you can even epoxy it together at this point as long as you clean your pin holes by re-drilling.
Finish the handle 'flats' to the desired final finish. Measure to see how long each pin needs to be, and then add the thickness of the pin to that so they will poke out a bit. Cut the pins, chuck each into the drill press and, starting with a file and finishing with paste polish, dome each end of each pin. Test fit and adjust length if necessary. Epoxy everything together, slide the pins into position, and wait for the excess epoxy to get tacky. When the epoxy is no longer wet but not fully hardened, remove any excess with pine scrapers and acetone. A bit of hand buffing and it's done.

Handles with a severe domed shape to the scales can be tricky and are best avoided using this method. Mild curves are ok.

[ChrisB]

I made some small dome punches from 6mm knifeblade steel, tapered the one end like a centre punch, and then used a ball bur in my Dremel to put a dome in on the end. size of the pins.
Hardened the point.
This I then Use to pean the pins both sides, for the first side, use a bit of brass flat, drill a hole just deep enought for the pin protrution, about 1mm or 1.5mm depending on pin size.
then pean the one side with the pin stuck into the hole on the brass.
Turn around and do the other side. If You move it side to side, while peaning, it makes a nice dome.

[mcninch]

thanks allot for the information, I really appreciate it,