Dumb question maybe

[TroyH]

This may be a dumb question, but since I don't know the answer, I'll ask anyway.
Never made a knife, but am ready to try.  Got everything I need.
Question is, when you peen that brass pins, how much brass do you need to have sticking out of the scales?

[beaver#1]

some people peen them in alot of guys gule them in.  wheni peen them in i dont leave much at all sticking out.  i just started a few months ago  also and im sure some people that knw alot more tahn me will put in some info.   just one thing dont peen them in to hard.  i learned the hard way that it will split the the scales. hope this helps some.

[prarieboy]

Hey Pastor I agree With the the Beav someone that knows more than I do will be along shortly. I am a wanna bee too! I have learned that You can split hard wood while trying to peen pins(said words that Should'nt be said!!).I glue let set and then trim excess before I peen now trying to leave about the thickness of a dime or a liitle more on each side that should be enough to swell some. then file or grind smooth.
 Hopein to Help C-Ya Bob

[chiger]

LOL,

Hey prarie, you can't be a knife maker unless you've had creative cussin' 101!  Read a post by a well known maker a while back.  Said he put a cuss jar in his shop for his grand kids college fund.  Had to take it out though.  He couldn't make knives fast enough to pay the fines!  ;~)

The guys are right pastor.  You should probably glue um up first cause you don't want to depend on pins alone.  Don't want the new owner callin' you every couple years to tighten the scales back up.  Unless you just like um and want to make sure they keep in touch that is.  ;~0

Just pre measure and leave um long.  Or leave it extra long and cut um off after they dry if your like prarie and really careful not to leave a big gap between pin and scale.  I like to leave around 1 and 2 32nds sticking out, depending on how big the pin is.  Just long enough you can set um without scuffing the scales.  A dime maybe a good easy guide for a first try.  Then peen um just enough to snug um and then file off the extra.  

Remember you want to leave the same amount on all of them and try to apply the same force to peen every one.  Otherwise they may not be the same size and shape when they're finished. So when you start, don't get interrupted or start swapping sides.  Just do the same thing on each one till they're set once.  Then check um and if you need to do it again you can.  That way they'll be certain to be symmetrical.  You can always do more if needed.  But like the guys pointed out, you can't take it back if you go too far.  GRRRR!

The truth is, the glue will do the work and all you want to do is fill the gap between the pins and scales and stop pull out.  

Good luck pastor.  Just take your time, be deliberate and it'll come out great.

[Wampus]

You can slightly countersink the pin holes to give room for the peened heads to swell too.  Just be sure to countersink the same amount on each side.

[mwmwmb]

pastor,
thanks for the question. i am about to start my first knife and was wondering the same thing.

[skullworks]

I don't peen them just epoxy them in. Let's see it when you're finished!