How to Make Knife Handle Mosaic Pins

In this video, knifemaker Walter Sorrells shows how to make mosaic pins, a type of decorative pin used to hold knife handles together. The process is very simple, requires no special tools and can add a great custom touch to any knife.

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[andrewwilson]

Hi Walter, had a crazy idea inspired by this video. I twisted six brazing rods into a tight helix and epoxied this into a brass tube. When cut I got an amazing pattern of six commas wrapping around each other. Going to keep experimenting!

[andrewwilson]

A great video, thank you. Made some for myself out of every bits of rod I can get, brass, bronze, titanium, copper, aluminium, stainless steel and even some silver! Even found some small hexagonal brass tubing.

[clintdickens]

of the billion videos on knife making yours are without a doubt the absolute most professional productions. Your teaching attends to details but not overwhelming. Thanks a kanobie!

[rastabilly]

I am a beginner knife maker who is just starting out making my own mosaic pins.  Your vid was very informative and has helped me push forward with using these in my own knives.  Thanks for posting, really getting a lot out of your vids, nice work!

[glennlawrie-smith]

Hey Walter... An idea here.

I used to do some work with epoxy and syringes too, and the way I filled the syringes was with homemade pastry bags.
A 4X4 sheet of wax paper to mix on, roll it up into a cone and fold over the open end, then snip off the pointy end.
You can now fill your syringe, or if your epoxy is fluid enough, just use the mini pastry bag.

And awesome work.

[edwardarquette]

Oh wow! It's so simple, and I never even thought to do this! Thanks for the information! Great video!

[futuresonex]

As always, great video! It's amazing just how much a set of mosaic pins with improve the looks of even the plainest knives!!!

[PiranOfficial]

Just tried it, I'll see tomorrow what is the outcome. Used more liquid resin and quick tip - I taped the pin around so it's not covered in resin - I can use it straight on my handles :)

[cjcook]

just saw you on forged in fire.
I knew I recognized your voice!
I was rooting for you, the Japanese blade style was beautiful!

[grapeape]

This is a great tutorial, thanks for posting it. You could probably save syringes by using some silicone tubing that's larger than the outer diameter of your pin tube and siphon epoxy up through the pin into the tube, then trim off the portion that's been epoxied.

[evangoodman]

I like using a "table top" epoxy resin and graphite powder.  It's a lot runnier, polishes up better, and the longer cure time allows air bubbles to work their way out.  Firmly attaching the mosaic tube in a vertical orientation with the bottom sealed to something that produces strong vibrations definitely improves the finished product.  Leave an inch or two of empty outer tubing for a reservoir of epoxy.  Vibratory motors can be purchased on line, or you can just strap the tube to your buffer or drill press I guess.  Just don't "borrow" your girlfriend's back massager, she'll get pissed.
 
Adding metal powder or shavings produces a pretty cool effect, as long as the metal is fairly reflective in powder form.  Worked poorly with MEKP-catalyzed resins versus the 1:1 resins.  

Molten pewter is also pretty fun.  Nickel silver shines way better than aluminum rod stock. Enamel is basically powdered borosilicate glass with added color, and is clearly the best filler appearance wise but cutting and polishing it is VERY difficult and it needs about 1300F in the forge IIRC, which will melt aluminum.  I never really got the process wired but even my slapdash results came out pretty well.  

If I made mosaic pins for a living I'd go with enamel, or a phenolic resin like bakelite.

[LBCAndrew]

If you took those jewelers wires and lay them on a flat surface, you can use a flat piece of wood to roll them perfectly straight so they'd look a lot better in these applications.

[joepops]

This may sound like a dumb question but just getting started with knife making... do you peen Mosaic pins like a regular brass pin?

[bwhip]

I dry fit the pin assembly and then suck low viscosity epoxy up into it with a brake bleeder pump attached to the pin with a length of Tygon tubing. Then I jam the pins vertically into lumps of modelling clay, so they stand upright while they cure. I use System 3 or Raka epoxy, but West works too. If you warm the epoxy a little, it lowers the viscosity even more and makes it runnier, so it fills all the voids better (but it also shortens the pot life).

[cesaralvarez]

Excellent video, Thank you.  I notice that some of the smaller diameter wires were a bit crooked,  I straight them with a piece of plywood about an inch wider than the length of the wire, and about a foot long, then on a smooth surface I roll the wire with the plywood on top.  Please keep the videos coming.   

[tech]

Expanding upon your idea, (Given enough time, effort and epoxy) You can essentially make a drink coaster out of this. What are your opinion on this?

[DravoDemon]

You my good sir, are a great teacher and Master Bladesmith. One day soon hopefully I'll be able to purchase one of your blades that way I can pass it on to my son so he can pass it on to his son and then his son and so on and so forth. I'd be damn proud and honored to do so.

[beckerforge]

Awesome-- thanks a ton for the video. Very helpful; I had no idea about those color pigments.

[TungstenCarbideTempe]

Guys my 2cents: I desolve epoxy with acetone - making it more viscous( liquid) thus helping get into tight places.

[KimP]

Goooosh! Lol I’m sure I’ve used that to describe a patients wound in the past.