brUuuUu Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Hey guys, I have a question about bolster and cap material for a knife that I'm working on. I have my blade all profiled out and am now searching for a piece of metal(steel) to use as a bolster and cap. I have a piece of O1 that's 0.25 inch thick that I might stack on top of itself to make the bolster ~0.5in thick if I can't find anything else to make the bolster out of. I don't think that method would work with trying to make the cap. I was thinking about using cast iron 5lb dumbbell handle but I don't know if that would work either lol, please recommend what I could use. Material needs to be ~ 2" long 0.5" tall and 0.5" wide for the bolster and a little bigger for the cap Pic attached is the knife I'm trying to recreate.. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Not knowing where in the world you are at makes it hard to suggest things that might be easily available to you at low cost. I would not suggest a bolster and cap that would rust though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brUuuUu Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Near Oklahoma City area, I would go visit a scrapyard but would have no idea what to look for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 I would look for brass/bronze I've found many pieces that were large enough to cut down for bolsters & guards. Usually come from large electrical boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Anyplace near you do machining for the oilpatch? I have found that other metalworkers are often sympathetic to blacksmiths. Just remember NEVER GRIND OR MELT BERYLLIUM BRONZE! (So no nonsparking tools reused---PLEASE!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
templehound Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Is it flat tang of hidden Tang?....on the picture it could be both even if there no pins shown, it could be both sometimes the questions are so simple that I have a problem to understand them.... Cant You find a a piece of crap mild steel?...just something like 100x40x6-8 mm?....or bigger or smaller?.... just by a piece of construction mild steel at your local dealer....maybe cost 2$?.....? ....and by the way....if you are a beginner in knife making, try to keep it simple!!! .....front bolster is enough for the first round. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brUuuUu Posted August 13, 2019 Author Share Posted August 13, 2019 yes it is a hidden tang, planning on doing a burn in handle. I think that's what I'll end up doing, going to metal supermarkets and getting a round bar thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Inhaling beryllium gives rise to a very nasty disease called berylliosis. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 1 hour ago, SLAG said: Inhaling beryllium gives rise to a very nasty disease called berylliosis. SLAG. Like in the copper in large electrical boxes? Be very careful working with copper busses, etc. it's often alloyed with Beryllium for strength and wear resistance. The higher the beryllium content the brassier it looks but at lower %s is indistinguishable from copper but is still a serious health hazard. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhitee93 Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 They guys aren't kidding about the beryllium copper thing. I forget the actual number but it's something like 30% of people are sensitive enough that a low level of exposure to inhaling the dust is fatal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 As appealing as it is to reuse scrap, known stock is almost always safer and more predictable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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