Thread: Technique, Source and Thickness for Brass Sheets for a Wedge?

Thanks all for the great tips. I am in contact with Austin, and have ordered my .010 brass sheet from an ebay vendor, Sloan. And Karl, I will keep your techniques in mind as I give this a try-your brilliant restores always inspire me to do better.

Marty, for the bone or similar component, I actually have a drawer full of old antler sheds, elk antler, and even some fossilized walrus ivory, all of which came with the complete knife-makers shop we bought out years ago when we though my son was going to be a knife-maker. I have cut a "slice" from the base of one of the antlers, and may go that route. But the ones I have seen with a dark interior piece (dark horn or hardwood) also look very nice. I've got plenty of dark horn and hardwood scraps (rosewood, ebony, ziricote, etc.).

Once I get the scales cut and shaped, I'll probably lay out my wedge options along with the brass and see what looks best-yikes, I guess I'm committed to this now!

Cut your antler length wise not cross wise, so you are using a solid piece. When using brass liners, it will not need to be very thick.

Like karlej said, careful of heat after the brass is glued up. A fret saw or scroll saw is a nice tool to have or just use files to shapes the wedge after pinning. I put a dab of super thin ca glue on either side of the wedge and scales after pinning. The stuff is so thin that the capillary effect from the adjoining surfaces sucks the glue in, you can be pretty aggressive with files after that and not worry about the wedge moving out of position.

If you cut the antler at the smaller end that was wedge diameter wouldn't it be solid?

Originally Posted by 32t

If you cut the antler at the smaller end that was wedge diameter wouldn't it be solid?

I cut off the base of a hefty elk antler-It's plenty solid! But I get why Marty says to cut an outer layer lenght-wise once you run out of solid.

I was thinking why waste your larger pieces to cut small wedges out of them. I am use to deer antler and there is plenty at the ends that would be big enough for a wedge and not much else.

One small tine would make a lot of wedges.

Lowes keeps brass and aluminum in our town. Its in the isle with the trays of bolts. They even have 1/16 brass and aluminum rods just dont keep the #0 washers.