Barney Barnett Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 I'm getting ready to do a couple antler handles for the first time. Been reading on how to do them best. One way is boil it and push it on, let dry and it hardens to tang. Others drill is out and epoxy it on. Figured I'd ask on here which method do you prefer to use or have had the best luck with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreg Whitehead Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 I dont forsee the boil dealio working. I have only done one antler handle...Not sure you want any advice from me there. I drilled it out large. Got the hole formed to the tang with 2 part epoxy putty. Then used regular epoxy after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Barnett Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 How did it go Kreg? Did you like the antler handle or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreg Whitehead Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 It worked....sold that knife a year or to ago and never heard any issues about it. I dont have anything against antler but I havent done a hidden tang knife since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 I've done a fair number of antler handles. I've never had an epoxied handle fail. I often do a through tang with a threaded capture nut. Sort of belt and suspenders. Geoff 1 "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 The boil thing only works on fresh antler. I drill and epoxy, and usually pin as well. I like antler. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 (edited) The pith inside the antler is quite friable and will dry out and break under stress. If you are going to leave it in place, you really should solidify it somehow. A long time ago I simply saturated it with danish oil and let it dry. This took a few days, but that knife has help up well over time. (I got to clean it up and resharpen it several times since) I have also seen guys use the thin Cyano glue (superglue) and a vaccuum hose to pull it into the pith. Also questionable on longevity there. This is why the common wisdom says to remove the fragile stuff and replace it with something more solid. Edited November 16, 2021 by Joshua States “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Page Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 I've boiled antler before but not for the fitting up to a tang. It was a three part antler handle with two more bronze spacers, and I boiled it in a mixture of instant coffee to patina it. The process did very little if nothing structural, and a small bedding of epoxy soaked into the pith was used for the final fitting. That was maybe seven years ago and the handle is still just as solid as it was then. 1 Not all those who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien-Shards of the Dark Age- my blog-Nine Worlds Workshop--Last Apocalypse Forge- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 These have all been out in the world. These are all filled with G-Flex Geoff 3 "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Barnett Posted November 16, 2021 Author Share Posted November 16, 2021 Thanks all for the good info. Looks like I'm gonna drill it out and epoxy it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 There may be other techniques that will work but we know that will. Post a picture of your knife when you're done. Doug 1 HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Barnett Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 Will do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Brandt Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 For excellent grip of the epoxy to the tang, tape up the blade, or wrap it well in clean paper and tape seal it, leaving the tang uncovered. Sandblast the tang well just before glue up. Do not touch the tang, do not wash it with solvents, alcohol, etc. these all leave a film. A freshly sand blasted tang has the best adhesion in several tests. If you cannot sandblast, sand well with 80 grit just before glue up and as above do not touch or wash it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Keown Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 3 hours ago, Martin Brandt said: For excellent grip of the epoxy to the tang, tape up the blade, or wrap it well in clean paper and tape seal it, leaving the tang uncovered. Sandblast the tang well just before glue up. Do not touch the tang, do not wash it with solvents, alcohol, etc. these all leave a film. A freshly sand blasted tang has the best adhesion in several tests. If you cannot sandblast, sand well with 80 grit just before glue up and as above do not touch or wash it. I have a 1/2 in carbide burr in an air driver that I go over the tang with and leave a series of small divots all over the tang something like a miniture rasp and have a very good adhesive surface. Von Gruff http://www.vongruffknives.com/ The ability to do comes with doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeroen Zuiderwijk Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 I've boiled and pressed in tangs multiple times. These knives are still fine. Only with one knife, the tang loosened, which was due to the core of the antler being too porous, so it didn't grip the tang well. With this method, the tang should not be too large, as you can only press it into the porous part of the antler. If the tang is too wide, you split the antler, or it gets stuck part of the way in. So in your case, I'd recommend drilling the antler and glueing the taing. Jeroen Zuiderwijk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetalworking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 Jeroen, how fresh does the antler have to be to boil it and press the tang in? Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeroen Zuiderwijk Posted November 7, 2022 Share Posted November 7, 2022 On 11/4/2022 at 12:35 PM, Doug Lester said: Jeroen, how fresh does the antler have to be to boil it and press the tang in? Doug It doesn't have to be very fresh, as long as it hasn't been laying outside for long. Jeroen Zuiderwijk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetalworking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted November 7, 2022 Share Posted November 7, 2022 Thanks for your reply. I appreciated it. Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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