Pin material?

schmittie

schmittie

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
2,963
What do you guys use for pin material in your handles? There is the standard brass or ss rod of course. But what else have your or do you use? I've heard suggested cutting off the head and tip of a ss nail, using large copper wire, even micarta pins (where do you get those??). I'd love to hear some suggestions for standard sized pins 1/4 inch and smaller. Thanks
 
Mosaic pins by my friends wife Sally Martin

http://customknife.com/Mosaic-Pins/c13/index.html

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stainless%20sample%20board%20with%20numbers%20small.jpg

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For a steel/iron pin, finishing nails work well. Just do some careful measuring to match them up to a Letter size drill. 'Very soft iron, very good for period stuff.
 
1/8 - 3/16 - 1/4" brass, copper, broze rods from welding shops rock... also a good stranded cable with large diameter strands in the above OD sizes make a great cheap novelty Mosaic Pin.

Jason
 
No one has mentioned nickel silver or stainless pin stock. They are available from the knifemakers supply houses.
 
I Like to use corby bolts because they have a better hold on the handle material....a handles not coming off unless you cut it off...
 
I have used corby bolts, but I have been really happy with the stainless and copper rod and tube stock that I've gotten from www.onlinemetals.com

Their prices are great and they ship quick, tons of sizes and types to choose from.
 
I found 5mm round carbon fiber for sale.
They will give black pins.
I'll use them on a fighter
 
Flared stainless tube is my mainstay pin material. I would use mosaic pin if I wanted something fancier, solid 1/4" pins just look terribly boring to me.

Screws and threaded inserts are what I use for prototypes or other pieces that will be assembled and disassembled a lot before getting finished, or if I want the techno-modular look.
 
schmittie said:
What do you guys use for pin material in your handles? There is the standard brass or ss rod of course. But what else have your or do you use? I've heard suggested cutting off the head and tip of a ss nail, using large copper wire, even micarta pins (where do you get those??). I'd love to hear some suggestions for standard sized pins 1/4 inch and smaller. Thanks
Click to expand...


I use a lot of micarta, g-10, and carbon fiber pins. You can get this at Mcmaster-carr in just about every diameter. Tubes too. I really like using phenolic pins. I've tested a few handles with the framing chisel, and I'm really happy with the joint. Plus, they sand to the level of the handle material, and never need polishing.:thumbup:
 
I use brass welding rod from the hardware store.

Sometimes I use threaded brass bolts. Idon't know exact size, but small diameter and about 1.5 - 2" in length. Ideally I drill holes just large enough so that I have to screw them in but not so large that they will cause the handle material to split. Some people have problems doing this as the threads can cause the head of the "pin" to look less than perfectly round. I feel that this approach gives the "pins" much more surface area for the glue to come in contact with. Try it on a piece of wood before you try it on a knfe to see if you are satisfied with the finished look.

LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
I use nails a lot! just mild steel nails...I got a box of em ages ago and all of them were 3.1mm and I just drill 3mm for that nice tap fit to hold it together (and i run industrial super glue through the hole first). :)
 
You can buy 6' brass, steel and aluminum rods from MSC. They have just about any diameter, and are reasonably priced. Lowes has some rid if you need it ASAP.
 
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