Author Topic: replacing knife handle  (Read 2414 times)

Anatidae V

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replacing knife handle
« on: June 18, 2015, 05:56:06 PM »
Hi all,

I have a carving set that has plastic handles that are crumbling to pieces. The set has sentimental value and is over 40 years old, the metal is in fantastic condition. The plastic is held in place by some kind of glue, so I'd have to use something to "unglue" it first. I called a chain knife store and they said no one replaces knife handles, but surely that can't be true? Picture attached. Also I'm in Australia so US shops won't be much help.

Rezdent

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Re: replacing knife handle
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2015, 09:17:31 PM »
Hmm.  They do look like they're well used, meaning they probably work well.
Do you know if these are full tang?  Meaning the metal extends inside the plastic all,the way down, or close to it?
IF these are full tang, you might check around for a woodworker.  They would be your best bet to sculpt nice handles, and recommend that they try as closely as possible to keep to the same lines.

If they don't have full tang it will still be possible but I'm not sure the expense would be worth the results.  There wouldn't be enough contact between wood and metal to keep them sturdy.

tooqk4u22

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Re: replacing knife handle
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2015, 10:24:02 AM »
You could try DIY dip - just tape the metal parts and dip, it may fill in the cracks and keep it secure.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=38058&gclid=CPLmlJuVnMYCFdQTHwod8hoAsQ

hyla

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Re: replacing knife handle
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2015, 12:26:12 PM »
Don't know what your woodworking skills are or what tools you have available, but I put a wooden handle on a fillet knife I found in the river that was missing a handle. I suppose you'd need to bash off the plastic first to get down to the tangs, then:
1) used bandsaw to cut wood knife blank slightly larger than desired handle size, then cut down middle on long axis
2) used drill and chisels to cut channels for tang to fit in on insides (this was not the most elegant way to do this, but it worked)
3) fit everything together dry to make sure tang fit in channels, then epoxied both wooden halves together with tang in middle and clamped until dry.
4) shaped to handle shape using bandsaw and power sander.

Anatidae V

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Re: replacing knife handle
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2015, 05:02:40 PM »
My mum said not to bother replacing the handles if there isn't an easy solution, so I'll try removing the handle and if I can't do it or the tang is too short I might just let it go. Thanks for the ideas, it gives me somewhere to start.