Pour one for me

[Joe Gondek]

Turpin,
your'e up late tonight
must be sewing sporrans

[Panache]

Nice work and interesting thread.

Cheers

Jamie

[Raptor]

Great pics, & an interesting thread. I can see myself experimenting with silver solder formal variants

[Cawdorian]

I never cease to be amazed at the talented folks we have on this forum.

Very interesting thread, nice looking work!

[Joe Gondek]

So, do you like wrap a wet towel arount the antler or anything?

You don't have to protect the antler because the meting point of the solder is low enough that it doesn't burn the antler or paper.
just be sure to use construction paper.

I can see myself experimenting with silver solder formal variants

Be sure to use a low temp silver solder


you can also use regular pewter that doesn't contain lead,it is more expensive but works the same.

[James MacMillan]

stain and oil the handle.

When you get a chance - could you go into more detail on "stain and oil the handle?"

I have only made two antler handled blades, but I didn't do anything to the antler handle.

[mkmound]

Raw materials


the blades are high carbon from sheffield

the bolster will be poured from 50/50 lead/tin solid core solder
I also add more solid core tin solder to make the bolster harder and brighter
you can use antler or wood for the handle,it will work with anything except plastic

Are you using a mixture of two different types of solder? What proportions?

[Joe Gondek]

I'm not a metallurgist
you use a mixture of 2/3 of 50/50 to 1/3 tin
I dont weight it out or measure I just eyeball it
it also works with straight 50/50 but the bolster will become a little dull over time
I add the tin to increase the brightness and make it harder

I've been using this method to pour knife bolsters,
knife pummels and nose caps on muzzle loading rifles for over 30 years

[mkmound]

I'm not a metallurgist
you use a mixture of 2/3 of 50/50 to 1/3 tin
I dont weight it out or measure I just eyeball it
it also works with straight 50/50 but the bolster will become a little dull over time
I add the tin to increase the brightness and make it harder

I've been using this method to pour knife bolsters,
knife pummels and nose caps on muzzle loading rifles for over 30 years

Thanks!!

[Joe Gondek]

When you get a chance - could you go into more detail on "stain and oil the handle?"

I have only made two antler handled blades, but I didn't do anything to the antler handle.

I plan on to continue this thread to completion onf the sgain
I'll can show different stain types that work well on antler if you want.
I can also bring bleached out antler back to a presentable color

You,ll have to wait for a few days, as work keeps getting in the way of my more important shop time