02-02-2009, 10:22 PM
Lucius - You are bang on in that the chosen wood HAS to be Seasoned.
The burn-in method is where you put a heatsink at the blade just after the tang to not anneal your blade if you have alreay heat treated it... if you haven't, it doesn't really matter.
Heat up your tang tip to cherry or hotter if your heat source will accomodate (Try MAPP gas, as it comes in small cannisters like propane but burns twice as hot. I'll never go back!) and press your handle onto the glowing tang. It really helps to deeply notch the center of the handle to keep the tang from skating along the surface.
It may take several times to get all the way through, but you get the most custom fit imaginable with no seams.
This is usually done when the handle is still in block form...
And of course you should wear 1 if not 2 thick welding gloves on the hand you are pushing with to protect your hands from radiant heat or slipping accidents.
Let the heat do the work and don't push with all of your might.
I have done it with a German hand and a half sword I forged a year or so ago.
Brennis - Awesome drawing mate, thanks!
Nihonius - If you are going to make the handle, you might as well grind yourself a Gladius to go along with it. If you do a search of the site, there is a play-by-play posted of one member doing it start to finsh.
Regards,
Artorivs
The burn-in method is where you put a heatsink at the blade just after the tang to not anneal your blade if you have alreay heat treated it... if you haven't, it doesn't really matter.
Heat up your tang tip to cherry or hotter if your heat source will accomodate (Try MAPP gas, as it comes in small cannisters like propane but burns twice as hot. I'll never go back!) and press your handle onto the glowing tang. It really helps to deeply notch the center of the handle to keep the tang from skating along the surface.
It may take several times to get all the way through, but you get the most custom fit imaginable with no seams.
This is usually done when the handle is still in block form...
And of course you should wear 1 if not 2 thick welding gloves on the hand you are pushing with to protect your hands from radiant heat or slipping accidents.
Let the heat do the work and don't push with all of your might.
I have done it with a German hand and a half sword I forged a year or so ago.
Brennis - Awesome drawing mate, thanks!
Nihonius - If you are going to make the handle, you might as well grind yourself a Gladius to go along with it. If you do a search of the site, there is a play-by-play posted of one member doing it start to finsh.
Regards,
Artorivs
Q. ARTORIVS CORVINVS
aka: Phillip Vautour
"Rome is but a wilderness of tigers, and tigers must prey."
<a class="postlink" href="http://rubicon.dyndns.org/legioxxi">http://rubicon.dyndns.org/legioxxi
aka: Phillip Vautour
"Rome is but a wilderness of tigers, and tigers must prey."
<a class="postlink" href="http://rubicon.dyndns.org/legioxxi">http://rubicon.dyndns.org/legioxxi
