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Post by Barnaum on Sept 8, 2011 4:19:53 GMT
Found a crack in the handle of one of my swords. It coming from the guard and its about half an inch in length and about 2 hairs width across. Can I use an epoxy to seal this up, or can should I drill a small hole in the crack and fill that with epoxy? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, what type of epoxy should I use?
Thanks!
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SanMarc
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,193
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Post by SanMarc on Sept 8, 2011 4:49:55 GMT
You can use Elmers wood glue and clamp it, Elmers allso make a water proof glue.
......That will fix it best........SanMarc.
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Post by Barnaum on Sept 8, 2011 4:55:05 GMT
Will Elmers hold up against moderate use/cutting?
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Post by Jakeonthekob on Sept 8, 2011 4:59:15 GMT
You could use any strong wood glue, or epoxy. It will hold up for a while but it'll just crack again in time.
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Post by chrisperoni on Sept 8, 2011 5:04:07 GMT
If it's as small as you are describing wood glue should be enough to fill it. but more info would help:
-what sword exactly? -any pics? -is their any wrap (leather, cord etc.) that you will be putting over the wood core? -can you remove the pommel and wood core? If so, you could fill the core with 5-15 min. epoxy and permanently bond it to the tang (has benefits of strengthening the grip and limitations like no taking the grip off ever again)
If the crack seems to big to fill easily with wood glue you could take sanded wood dust/shavings and mix that with wood glue untl you have a kind of paste and use that as a filler.
Wrapping the wood with cord will help strengthen it- if you do a re-wrap of leather I've been advised a cord underwrap is a good move first.
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SanMarc
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,193
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Post by SanMarc on Sept 8, 2011 5:34:17 GMT
Like Chriss said above, a good fit is nedded, using epoxy to fill in the gaps will make it %100 better, Elmers will be better than epoxy for the crack, but not to fill the gap between it and the tang.....SanMarc.
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Post by Barnaum on Sept 8, 2011 5:57:06 GMT
Thanks for all the suggestions. Have it clamped right now. Going to cord it and re-wrap the handle in the following days. It's a DSA Danish Two Hander btw. Wanted to customize the grip anyways, so great excuse. Thanks again everyone.
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Post by Federico on Sept 8, 2011 7:38:03 GMT
FWIW, I made some pretty huge cracks on the wooden handle of my DSA Gothic. I was stupid and I miscalculated the width of the tang after removing some of the ricasso. Long story short, I filled the cracks and the space between the wood and the tang with JB weld. It feels more solid than it did before the cracks.
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Post by Barnaum on Sept 8, 2011 19:42:58 GMT
After setting all night in glued in clamps, I find that the crack is too thin for the glue to get in there. The only reason I discovered the crack is because I could hear the wood rub and pinch when I handled it. Aside from sending it back to have the handle replaced, do I have any other options? I realize its a small matter, but the sound is a huge annoyance when I handle it.
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Post by chrisperoni on Sept 8, 2011 22:02:11 GMT
Often a hardwood is not ideal for a grip. You want a balance between flexibility and hardness so the wood remains intact yet flexes somewhat to absorb shock. A handle does incur a good deal of stress forces when the blade strikes something. This is why poplar is commonly used- it is hard enough without being to stiff. The longer the handle the more important the flexibilty of the wood.
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Post by Anders on Sept 9, 2011 0:29:25 GMT
If used correctly, ordinary wood glue can glue two pieces of wood together so tightly that the seam is all but invisible, yet still stronger then the wood itself.
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