Finial Nuts

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
drive me crazy! Mine just don't look as good as they should. I drill, tap, shape, etc. How do y'all make yours look so darned nice? I know, I know, practice, practice, pratice, but still, I'm looking for any little tips here.

Thanks,

Dave
 
Finial nuts? like a decorative nut on the pommel of a take down knife? Let see what you have so far. I think if you are skilled enough to make that kind of knife the nut would be the easy part.
 
I've not made any blades with a finial nut thus far, but I can recommend a video of someone who has....Kyle Royer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkXQ3R9wacI

He goes through the last phases of his sub-hilt tutorial videos in this clip. In the early to middle part he demos his finial lathing technique.

Hope this helps,

Bob
 
Hi Bruce,

An example of my latest work is posted in the knifemaker's gallery, title "New Bowie". That knife has a finial nut, although it's not clearly shown. I don't think it takes a lot of skill to run the tang through the handle and thread a nut on the end. I take a piece of steel, drill and tap, and thread. With luck, it goes down nice and tight. But more than likely, the buttplate will have a slant, and one edge of the nut will be higher than the other. With the proper amount of fiddling, I get it fixed, down, and tight. Once this is done, I start to shape, and here's where I need improvement. I just can't get that cool, neatly shaped look (unless I just go with a round ball shape).

Bobby, yes, I saw Kyle's video too. I never even knew you could use a lathe to shape metal, I've always seen it used on wood. In any case, I don't have a lathe.

I admit to feeling a little foolish asking this question, but I bet other guys have struggled with this too. Haha, if everyone comes back and says Gosh, I never had that problem, I'll just have to hide for awhile:)

Dave
 
David since you said what you said about the buttplate having a slant I will tell you something that I was told this weekend. Now you may already know this and if so sorry for bringing it up. You can tightent the nut to tight and that will cause the butplate to get slanted or for joints to open up. It will even force joints open that really would not be open because of the stress is usually at an angle. All you want is just enought to close the gaps.
 
David Stifle said:
Bobby, yes, I saw Kyle's video too. I never even knew you could use a lathe to shape metal, I've always seen it used on wood. In any case, I don't have a lathe.
Click to expand...

For those that don't have a metal lathe, you can chuck your stock up in a drill press and use files to shape it the same way as Kyle did in his video.

-d
 
A real helpful trick is to make the accorn nut longer than you need. After threading it on the tang, and everything is done, cut the excess off and finish the end. This way you can grip the extra with pliers for tightening ( I file it flat on two sides and use a wrench) , without messing up your turning work.

Even though many great makers have done it ( Bill Moran ,for one) I think just putting on a regular hardware store nut is lazy and looks cheap. I agree with Bruce, if you can make this style knife, you can make a good nut.
Stacy
 
Thanks Guys,

All good comments and tips. I didn't mean to rant-sorry. But I admit I have been frustrated by finial nut making. I'll keep working at it.

Dave
 
deker said:
For those that don't have a metal lathe, you can chuck your stock up in a drill press and use files to shape it the same way as Kyle did in his video.

-d
Click to expand...

I just used my drill press for this and it works great. If you go this route, sharp files make a world of difference.

-Mike
 
I do the same thing.
I tap the hole in the metal stock , and put a bolt through until the head seats against the stock, then lock it down with a nut from the other side.The bolt becomes the turning mandrel.
I rough grind the basic shape on the grinder, then chuck the piece in the drill press. I lock the quill, and set the drill on high. I use files to shape the acorn nut. Then I lower the speed and use sand paper to finish it. I take the assembly to the buffer and buff the nut.
As I posted earlier, I leave a collar/sleeve of extra metal sticking off the end of the acorn nut. I use this to grip the nut for removal from the bolt, and to tighten the nut on the tang. I leave it on until the knife is finished, and then cut it off,along with the extra tang. A little sanding of the cut, and the nut is perfectly flush with the tang ( often nearly an invisible joint).

Stacy
 
I get it now, Guys! The drill press trick is exactly what I was looking for. Can't wait to get back in the shop and start making nuts!:) Thanks to all who responded to this poor old boy's SoS. Don't know why I didn't think of the drill press thingy all by myself.

Dave
 
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