One of my customers has hinted that he might like one of the kitknives I'm making for him to have some sort of a fancy thumbstud... perhaps with a jewel inlay.

I've never done any inlay before...the customer knows this, but apparently he's been quietly following my progress here and has seen some of my other "firsts." Happily for me he feels confident that although I've never done any inlay work, I can pull it off.

So with that pressure placed on me...I need to do some homework.

I've checked out Don's tutorial on Jewel inlay in steel and pretty much get the idea. I'll be contacting Signity soon...

I sure would welcome any suggestions as to the best way to firmly secure the thumbstud (in a vise somehow?) while attempting to accurately drill the hole for the inlay.

Thanks,

Dennis

Yeah Baby!:smokin

i'll be looking forward to this answer too, dennis.
thanx for asking.

Dennis,

Maybe you could just leave the thumbstud installed on the blade, clamp the blade to your drill press table (after positioning directly under the bit) and drill.

That's the way I'd do it. Maybe. I dunno. Just a thought.

Jamey-

That's too easy...it just might work. :p

My two biggest concerns are keeping it square to the drill, and of course drilling dead center.

On this particular knife, it looks like leaving the stud in and clamping the blade to the table might just easily solve the 90 degree/perpendicular problem. As to drilling into the center of the stud, it might be good enough if I "eyeball" it.

I've got a week or two before I have to tackle it...by then maybe someone with more specific experience in this area will chime in...

Dennis

Yeah Baby! :smokin

I would chuck it up in a lathe, and drill it from the tailstock.

But if that's not available, then you'll have better luck chucking the stud in your drill press and clamping the drill in a vise. The spinning piece will keep it better centered, and act as a lathe. No center punch needed if you have a centering drill and a good eye. Otherwise get a SHARP punch and your magnifying goggles. Leave the vise free to float.

Coop

Dennis, Coop's right. The lathe is the only good way to do this. I can offer some additional suggestions if you would like to call me.

What if you drilled through the other end, were the threades are. Trying not to hit the threads using a small drill. Then when it cames out the other end you would have the center and you would be free to use a larger drill to make the stone hole....

Not a bad idea that last one!......

I just thought of some thumbstuds I got from Reese Weiland.......They where predrilled with a very small drill making a nice center for drilling...in that case I would just clamp it up and drill away....if not try the one above or a lathe..!

Hi Dennis

If you can get the use of a small lathe use a thumb stud with a through thread then cut the head of a suitable screw, insert the screw part way into the thumb stud and then mount the srew end into the lathe chuck. now drill out with a bit mounted into the tail stock. If you don't have a lathe you can still use most of this method but instead hold the cut end of screw into a machine vise on you drilling machine and locate the centre of the thumb stud by eye.

Here is a photo of a thumb stud and pivot pin inset with mother of pearl.

Hope this helps
Andy..

http://www.btinternet.com/~andygascoigne/0eeb8060.jpg

Well looks loke I've got a few options...

I may have access to a lathe...have to wait and see how soon we dig out from this snow storm ( when it's done it's predicted to be one of the 5 worst in Baltimore's history). If time permits I'll get hold of a lathe...if I get too backed up here I may have to rely on my drill...I'm generally pretty good at eyeballin' stuff for drilling...

Don- Special thanks for the phone call...really appreciate your taking the time.

Andy- Thanks for that Pic. That stud looks great...especially next to the bolster treatment...wouldn't mind seeing the rest of the knife ;)

Dennis

Yeah baby!

Dennis,

you can see some not very good photo's ( by your standard !!) in the european forum " One I made last year".


Andy..

I've watched yu and the kit knives for some time,,,,, first let me say,,,,,,,, NICE bro, NICE!
As to the jewel in the stud (hehehhhe) got a simple idea for you if you are interested and heve not gone further already..........

Secure the stud in a nut and hole with tweezers,,,,,, Silver solder s small piece of sterling silver tubing over the stud and then polish it up. When it is cool and ready to work with use a file to bring the tube down close to the stud leaving just enough of the tube to 'hammer' down over the edge of the stone as a bezel. The orrigional stud (if drilled) will for a 'sholder' for the stone to rest on.

This will work for you. It is easy to do and will securly hold the stone in place untill if and when some one purposely tries to remove the stone from the setting. ;-) Hope this helps bro..........

Falconhawk / Clyde

Hey Clyde-

Haven't heard from you in a while...how are things?

This sounds like an interesting idea...where did you pick this one up at? Ever tried it yourself?

I'm trying to visualize the stud...I guess I'd have to grind the stud down a drop before adding the silver tube...otherwise it seems to me like the whole unit is going to sit up awfully high....

But it does have interesting possibilities...

I'll give this one some serious thought...certainly would solve my "lack of a lathe" problem...

Dennis

Yeah BabY!:smokin

PS. I'm also now thinking of adding a thumbstud to my new Carved MOP folder (over in the Display Case)...I better get on board with this thumbstud inlay skillset...soon!

Dennis:
If you decide that the challenge of creating your own jeweled thumb stud is too difficult for whatever reason, you can select from several already finished ones at Sheffield Knifemakers Supply. Costs seem to start @ $12 for 'common' stones and go up to $22 for synthetic rubies or sapphires. Order # is 800-874-7007 Info # is 386-775-6453. They're in Florida so time zome is ET, 8:00 - 5:00.
Sheffield Knifemkers Supply (http://www.sheffieldsupply.com)

Dennis

I have has success using the method that Coop described to drill into the center of a round object. I have a slight variation of his method though. Place the drill bit in the chuck upside down. Lower the chuck down so you can clamp the bit shank in your vise. I then clamp the vise down tight to the table and release the bit from the chuck. By doing this, the bit is centered with the chuck. Keep the bit as short as possible to keep it from moving.

Good luck
Brian

Hey bro,

This is actually an old silversmiting method, I just modified it a bit to fit your need ;) !

It is simply tube bezel setting that replaces the standard silver shelf that the stone rests on byt using the thumbstud as the inner 'tube' of the system. Basically picture two tubes, one fit tightly inside the other. The inner tube is just a fraction shorter than the outer tube enough to form a bezel for the stone being set. You ca buy silver Bezel that has the shelf on the inside for stones to rest on but the 'tube' method was taught to me by a native american silversmith some 35yrs ago. I have used the method on numerous occasions but figured that it would be easy and very simple to modify for your needs. Let me know if you try it. May be even longer befor my next reply though as we are getting ready to move to another state. We are in Oregon now and are leaving on April 1st for Chino Valley, Arizona. I listed a set of surgical loupes for sale on one of the other sections of the forum too, might look at em bro, they are a great deal hahahaahahhahhaha

but we are doing pretty good now and we have been talking about maybe making this move for almost a year and circumstances have just seemed to fall in place that have helped up make the decision to go ahead with it. I moved up her e from Arizona and still miss the warmer climate thogh were we hope to end up is not where we will be at first. We will be staying with my brother till we can find a place for ourselves though and this should be a big help for us. Bes to ya and hope to hear from you again b4 we leave. :)