Installing Loveless and Corby Bolts

[Iron_Heinie]

I ordered a package of the kind that are stainless and brass (I like their looks alot) them but havnt found instructions anywhere on how to use them :huh:

I understand that you counstersink the holes and all then tighten and grind em off but how exactly are you supposed to tighten them? Do you even really need to tighten them much?
If it helps any I'm using them in tandom with epoxy.

Thankyou much and please forgive my ignorance :)

[Stuart Ackerman]

I do not know your bolt dimensions, so adjust for my sizes...

The bolt drill has to have a level step in it. For eg, drill with a 3mm drill all the way through the handle material. Then use a step drill with an OD of 7mm, but with a smaller tip that is 3mm diameter.
Ther step drill must NOT go all the way through, but stop at least 2 to 3mm from the other side.
Drill 3mm holes through the blade handle.
After HT, assemble the handle and scales using epoxy, and holding the blots with vicegrips...or cut slots in the bolts, and use a screwdriver each side.
Hope this is clear enough?

[Martyn]

Like Zack says, you need a step drill, not a countersink.

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/bolt2.jpg

I dont think they need to be hugely tight, just tighten them to finger tight and if you're worried about it, you could nip them up with a pair of mole grips on the bit you are going to grind off.

[Edd-UK]

im not to clear do you use the step drill on the wood or metal??

martyn is that a step drill in the picture?

thanks

[narsil]

The step drill is used on the wood. It creates a shoulder for the head of the bolt to bear onto. That is indeed a step drill in the picture. If you have a decent drill press with a vise and depth adjustment you could probably get away with using two drills one smaller one larger to achive the same effect

[Edd-UK]

ok thanks narsil. i have an idea of how to do it and just got a little lost, but now back on track. :)
i think

[Iron_Heinie]

Thanks everybody, Im going to do it in two operations with two diferent size bits on my drill press. I'll practice on some scrap wood first tho :P

[Martyn]

martyn is that a step drill in the picture?

thanks

Yep.

Is this clearer?

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/stepdrill.jpg

It's for making holes like this...

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/stepdrill.gif

That can be bolted together with a variety of fasteners, such as the Corby or hidden bolt fasteners in the pics below (Loveless bolts are the same priciple, just different bolts). After joining together and glueing, the head of the bolt (and screwdriver blade slot) is ground off flat with the handle.

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/bolt1.jpg

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/bolt3.jpg

HTH. :)

[Stuart Ackerman]

Martyn,
How about making this a sticky..." Installing Loveless and Corby Bolts" ????

[Martyn]

Martyn,
How about making this a sticky..." Installing Loveless and Corby Bolts" ????

Done. :)

[Martyn]

Once you understand the construction method, it's easy to spot...

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/wswood/wswood11.jpg

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/awood/DSCF0064.jpg

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/bbk/awoodbbk01.jpg

[Edd-UK]

wow
thank you very much, great post.

that cleared it up for me and im sure quite a few people as well.

[Lord Farquhar]

ok whats a good source for step drills?
are these rivets and bolts standard sises?

[narsil]

I think that most fo the places that sell the rivets also sell the drills. Althought looking at the pic Martyn posted it looks like they're gound down from ordainary drills so if you're strugling to find them you coudl probbaly make one yourself without too much problem. The smaller part won't need to be that precise as long as you leave a decent sized shoulder for the head to bear on.

The bolts themselves would be pretty easy to knock up too if you can get hold of some external threaded bar and internal threaded thick wall tube.

[KamSingh]

Is there a website i can buy those corby bolts from?

[Edd-UK]

http://www.texasknife.com/store/s-pages/TKS_MainframeStore.htm

and i think joe at www.OutdoorSuppliesUK.com

has them

[Edgehog]

http://www.texasknife.com/store/s-pages/TKS_MainframeStore.htm

and i think joe at www.OutdoorSuppliesUK.com

has them


Indeed...
http://www.extremeoutdoorgear.co.uk/hidden-bolt-fasteners-head-p-1140.html?osCsid=0f1c59deb8dede2211ade8b3d01ca1ca

[KamSingh]

Thanks for the links!

[Iron_Heinie]

Very informative indeed! Thankyou all. I did my knife without the step drill and it worked just fine. You've just got to be super careful that its all lined up when you drill the larger of the two holes.

[Longstrider]

Just as an update... I tried both the links in the UK and could not find either loveless bolts or hidden bolts for sale on their own at either site. Extreme Outdoor Gear has them in S.Steel as part of some knifemaking kits.

I've looked all over for the things, and have now ordered some from Texas Knifemakers, having failed to source them in the UK. TKS also sell the correct step drills for the different sized bolts they sell.

[ZDP-189]

Rivet, rivet.

http://images.google.com.hk/images?q=tbn:xNHAYuglZEGL1M:http://www.wallpaper.net.au/wallpaper/other/Jamster%2520Crazy%2520Frog%25201%2520-%25201024x768.jpg

[john foxwell]

Is there a website i can buy those corby bolts from?

http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/

Pop has corbys in 3 sizes, stainless and brass and has stepped reamers to handle the drilling side of things.
Great bloke to deal with as well.

[mick spain]

you can get them from Mick Wardell, Texas Knife makers Supplies, I find Webber knives very good their in Germany but Ive made an order from them and 2 days later its there, when you have the scales on the tang glued up and the bolts in place you will find that when you clamp it all up to set, the bolts will need a nip up again

[Jon]

website for Mick Wardell
http://www.wardellscustomknives.moonfruit.com/

bolts can be found under Knife supplies then fittings.

drills can be found under knife supplies then tools



There are some very nice knife kits ...............:)


moonfruit:S What's that all about then?

[karl crosby]

The website for Mick Wardell is actually.
www.wardellscustomknives.com - the moonfruit address is only the source name of where the website was originally built.

However, this website will shortly be divided into two websites.
www.wardellscustomknives.com
www.wardellsknifesupplies.com

The aim of this is to sell products using paypal and significantly speed up the whole transaction times. The customer should recieve their goods approximately two days after the completion of payment.
The new site should be up and running in about a weeks time.

[Hepotec]

Good site with good prices. Can you let us know when Paypal is up and running?





The website for Mick Wardell is actually.
www.wardellscustomknives.com - the moonfruit address is only the source name of where the website was originally built.

However, this website will shortly be divided into two websites.
www.wardellscustomknives.com
www.wardellsknifesupplies.com

The aim of this is to sell products using paypal and significantly speed up the whole transaction times. The customer should recieve their goods approximately two days after the completion of payment.
The new site should be up and running in about a weeks time.

[karl crosby]

No probs. I will let everybody know when the site is online.

[Martyn]

No probs. I will let everybody know when the site is online.

Prefereably in a thread of it's own please. ;)

[Desertblade]

Try this guy. Has been very good to a lot of people with our afflection.

http://www.northcoastknives.com/

[Stuart Ackerman]

BTW, a valve grinder operated by a mechanic...in any good garage will be able to make step drills for you..take a drill bit, and a six pack of beer, and watch...

[joelbolden]

Iron-Hienie, since you're down in Florida, Ann Sheffield at Sheffield Knifemakers Supply Inc., located in Orange City, has all sorts of Loveless bolts in both 1/4 inch and 5/16 size; much more than any other supplier I know of. I get my stainless/copper bolts from her; actually I get all of them there. She also has the proper(and expensive) drills for them.
She has a PDF website at http://www.sheffieldsupply.com or you can call and order a catalog at 1-386-775-6453. I get about 90% of my materials thru her.

[Blackshuck]

I find that the loveless type are dead easy to make using M4 stainless threaded rod and a length of thick walled 7mm brass tubing from B&Q. I just tap the tube out at M4 and cut to length. Quick and cheap as long as you've got a tap and die set. If you can't get threaded rod buy some long stainless M4 bolts instead. Use the head when installing then grind off afterwards.

David:)

[McKenzie]

Another great bit of info to print off....great for beginers like me, I need all the help I can get ! :)

Steve

[richgg]

[QUOTE=Martyn;148708]Like Zack says, you need a step drill, not a countersink.

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/bolt2.jpg

Does anyone know where i can get one of these step drill bits from i have tryed BnQ, Screwfix, Homebase and lots of local hardware shops but no one seems to keep them.

[caliban]

What kind of rivets did they use in the old days? I'm putting some scales on an old kitchen knife but I don't have a grinder, can you just glue in some brass rod and peen it?

[ZDP-189]

[QUOTE=Martyn;148708]Like Zack says, you need a step drill, not a countersink.

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/bolt2.jpg

Does anyone know where i can get one of these step drill bits from i have tryed BnQ, Screwfix, Homebase and lots of local hardware shops but no one seems to keep them.

Shing

[ZDP-189]

What I do centre the workpiece with the inner hole's bit, clamp the workpiece on the table and therefore relative to the spindle, then put in an end mill of the right size and sink to a preset depth.

[davep90]

I'm just about to try these for the first time and im definately not paying £20+ for a drill bit. I was just going to drill the inner diameter out first then follow with the outer, mark the depth on the bit and do the other holes?
will this not do the trick

[bushmansedge]

If you use Corby rivets and epoxy make sure you don't get any epoxy anywhere near the threads, particularly inside the nut end. If yo do it will form a hydraulic lock at the bottom of the threaded hole and you will not be able to tighten to flat faces against the scale material = loose scales or a very visible glue line. :-(

[steviemb]

Very useful info here, only trouble is I can view any of the pictures on this thread... any ideas why?

[arian]

Very useful info here, only trouble is I can view any of the pictures on this thread... any ideas why?

The pictures were in the BB Gallery. I think the Gallery is closed for renovation :) .

arian

[steviemb]

ahhh... thanks

[ilovemybed]

Pics have gone :(
Any chance they can be resurrected?

Thanks,
Neil

[d.weglarz13]

Yes please? i would also love to see these pics.?????? or where we can go to see them?? thanks

[xbow]

This may help?

https://www.brisa.fi/counter1.jpg

https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=product_info&cPath=191_193&products_id=897

You can make your own counterbores from Silver Steel for next to nothing if you have a Lathe. ;)

Vic.

[rocco44]

:shooter: KamSingh hello, Yes there is Brisi of Finland who have all kind of knife supplies including corby bolts & a pilot drill & a step drill to suit. If you get these you can operate a lot more accuratelly.

[jrodrick4]

Thanks to all of you for giving useful information...!!:)

[gagned]

Go with a proper step drill (or counterbore). $20 but it will make the whole process much more enjoyable and easy.

[etorix]

pics aint showing here .. Kam, yes they are widely available online from a variety of knifemaker supplies shops

+ someone on here is fabricating bolts, search in Sales

[Al60]

Try Moonraker Accessories, your Lordship. They also supply the Loveless / Corby bolts that you require. I hope this helps.