Help with handles

[DANA HOLMAN]

I'm looking for some help with my hidden tang handles, I use super glue to pit them back together . I had one on a table that was in the sun and the bottom of the handle seam to split some. I had a total if 4 knives but only one of them split.
I always put them on a 6 inch disk sander to make sure they are flat and check both pieces to see if I can see any light. I think I use enough glue
Is there something better to use?
Also after you true-up a bookmatch set I can always see the joint. Is there away to fix my problem?
Thanks for any help
Dana

[Lamey]

I use Acraglass from Brownells, seems to bond better then anything else ive tried.   Sometimes if the wood is not stable/dry or acclimated you will see the split or seperation at the mortise joint.  WHen this happens I re sand the handle down into the "good" area of the joint and ive never had it re "open".

One thing you can try that will help in not seeing the mortise joint is to make sure you stir the epoxy fast, get it kinda warm/thin.  The Acraglass really helps with this as it kinda "soaks" into the wood more than other epoxies ive used.   Just put a fairly thin coat on the joint area, it dont take much at all to bond really well.

[DANA HOLMAN]

Thanks Matt I'll order some and try it

[Lin Rhea]

Dana,
     What kind of wood was it and did you degrease the insides of the scales before gluing? Also, you said it was in the sun. Was this outside in the heat of the day? Lin

[DANA HOLMAN]

Mr. Lin
the wood was reclamed cedar. I cleaned it with acetone before I glued it up. It was not in the sun all day but the heat index was about 120 degrees from the news said. I was at a watermelon festival. this is really the first time I've had this happen.
How do you keep the joint from showing so much?
How do drill out the tang slot in a solid piece of wood with out getting it to big. I seam to get the end of the handle to wide while trying to drill out the back. Is there a bit I need to
buy?
Thanks for the help
Dana

[Scott Roush]

Dana.. One little tid bit from my days of working with oily tropical hardwood longbows.... Acetone actually can leave an oily residue.. Use alcohol instead.

 Speaking of longbows.... I always used Urac 185 for my glue ups. Seems like it would one hell of a knife handle bond.

[David Ricke]

Dana, I would not give up on super glue. Moisture and heat can cause wood to do funny things.  Knifemaker

[DANA HOLMAN]

Thanks for the replys
I think I saved the handle, it had opened up about the size of a piece of paper, so I put more superglue in the handle and put it the vice for 24 hours, so far so good
Dana

[Lin Rhea]

Dana, I'm in Illnois for a few days and may not get to check TG as often, but will try.

Keep doing what your doing, just be sure the insides are flat. I would be careful of the heat too, depending on material. I have not used cedar. Lin

[DANA HOLMAN]

Thanks Lin