Pins in stag

[Drac]

Steve,

I'm going to try a couple of Loveless dirks and want to do one with stag. How do you get a nice finish on the pins/bolts without scaring up the stag? I also assume that the stag runs at a slight angle to the hilt? I can't find any stag wide enough is it runs straight. Any other tips in this are welcomed .

Thanks for your time,
Jim

[TJ Smith]

I have only done a few but it was sugested that I finish the pins before I bonded them in place. Cut to length and finish the ends. Worked for me.
Take Care
TJ

[Don Robinson]

Jim, I polish the ends of the pins with a small cratex wheel mounted in a Dremel tool.

Works great!

[Steve]

You can finish before putting them in, or just grind down to them with the minimum, or even a fairly good amt. of contact with the stag. Doesn't hurt to grind away some of the, actually brings out a highlight, or two. Of course it depends on your wishes as to how you want the stag to look.


Here's how P. J. Tomes does his great Stag, using screws instead of pins, with little or no removal of the surface - though this one is jigged bone, it has the same effect: BEAUTIFUL! (Hope he doesn't mind me using his picture......)

[SVanderkolff]

One thing to keep in mind is that glue of any kind is really hard to get off of the stag without discoloring it. I usually put vaseline around the area of the pin hole, making sure not to get any in, then the glue will not stick and the vasaline justs washes off.
Thanks
Steve

[Drac]

Thanks everyone,

I think I'm try the slight grinding to make them flush. I will be using hidden bolts so it will be hard to finish them ahead of time.

Steve V, thanks, I hadn't thought about the glue. I'll give that a try.

Jim

[Steve]

Another way to go about the glue problem, is, if you use epoxy: it will start to get hard, in about 3-4 min. with 5 min. epoxy or a few hours with the overnight stuff, but still be elastic, or rubbery at one point. That is when you get a scribe or a pointy knife and just "lift" it away from the stag. With super glue be sure to dab it away with a kleenex or cotton tipped swab as soon as the pin is in place. You can also "spin" the heads of the pins after getting them in place, but I've never had much luck with that. Many makers do it, though. You'll have fun trying different techniques.