Need some advice/help

[wolf creek knives]

Pictured here is a handle from a wedding day cake knife that is my daughters. It got dropped some time back and as you can see the upper part of the handle is missing. I asked my daughter, when she asked me to fix it, where the missing handle part was. It was shattered when it was dropped. This is a Stainless Steel blade that was made in Sheffield England. Here's the advice or help I need.

1. Does anyone know how to remove the existing part of the handle? I'm assuming it has some sort of Epoxy on it as I can't get it broken loose.

2. What do you think would compliment the existing handle if I were able to get it broken loose and incorporated with something else?

Thanks for your advice or help up front. It's pretty delicate so I can't really start twisting too hard on the blade/handle connection as it might just break from the twisting.

 

[Kenny Durrant]

Tom is it the butt end that's broken? If so what I can tell the handle looks great. I might try to just grind the end smooth and epoxy a cap of some sort to help dress it back up. If your wanting to discard the whole handle maybe grind or sand it off. Good Luck

 

[wolf creek knives]

Tom is it the butt end that's broken? If so what I can tell the handle looks great. I might try to just grind the end smooth and epoxy a cap of some sort to help dress it back up. If your wanting to discard the whole handle maybe grind or sand it off. Good Luck

You're right Kenny, it's the butt end. I'm trying to save what's left of the handle if possible. Thanks for the advice. Maybe the cap idea would do the trick. It's never used so it would just be in a display case at some point. Thanks again.

 

[monophoto]

Is the handle ceramic or plastic? That might make a difference in how you choose to do the repair.

My guess is that there is a flat, tapered tang that extends into the handle, and the handle is attached using some kind of adhesive. But that's purely a guess. The only way to know for sure would probably be destructive.

So I see three options:
1. If it is to be merely a display item, do nothing. Unless you are especially skillful in doing decorative painting, any attempt at repair would be obvious, while in its present state you have to look closely to see the damage.

2. You could create a replacement for the broken end using something like Milliput. Drill a hole into the broken end and epoxy in a metal stud. Create a mold from HDPE salvaged from a cheap cutting board, press the Milliput into the mold and around the pen. After the Milliput cures, use a Dremel to shape the repaired end. While that could lead to a functional, smooth handle, the decoration would still be an issue, with matching colors possibly being the greatest challenge.

3. Remove the broken handle entirely to expose the tang, and then make and install a new handle from whatever material you choose.

 

[Humongous]

Hi Tom, that's a tough one to match. Maybe per Kenny's suggestion with a pearl or white acrylic. Aluminum finial maybe?

 

[jttheclockman]

I agree, square the back end off and use some complimentary acrylic or even aluminum or stainless cap. Use a tenon and drill handle and epoxy it on. Many times I always take a walk through stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels and use to be AC Moore and just browse isles and look at things that either I need right away or file them away to need in the future. Have done this many times in a couple different hobbies and home use items. Good luck.

 

[Dalecamino]

Tom, good ideas have already been offered. Can we see a good picture of the end that needs to be fixed? Only if you still need help of course.
Looks like a fun project to me.

 

[tomtedesco]

Did something along these lines for a friend. Used Corian for a replacement handle. Two pieces with a grove cut into one piece to accept the tang, then glued together with epoxy.

 

[MRDucks2]

Wife has used the porcelain powder from Alumilite on some of her castings and it does create porcelain look. Not as smooth and shiny as a sink but shinier that bisque. Definitely makes you think porcelain.

 

[bsshog40]

Have you asked her if she wants it to be close to original Tom? I'm sure she has seen your talents and she may like a custom handle or discuss the options with her. If you plan to make a whole new handle, I would almost bet the rest of the handle would shatter also using a small ping hammer and really wouldn't damage the tang.

 

[Jans husband]

New handle made from a Mother of Pearl blank would be my suggestion.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

[geffre]

I also would replace the handle. You could try to use pieces of the original as a middle with wood or mother of pearl or epoxy as a top and bottom. I replaced a broken plastic knife handle for a friend with a piece of tiger maple. I think it worked out well.

 

[egnald]

I saw some "Flowers Pen Blank"s from Ohio PenWorks on Exotic Blanks the other day. They weren't an exact match, but they did have pink and red roses on them. Perhaps Ohio PenWorks would make a custom blank using the handle you have as a reference. Toni Street at ClayPenBlanks.com makes some gorgeous floral themed polymer clay blanks.

Dave