Has anyone used Lab Metal for attaching guards?

McClellan Made Blades

McClellan Made Blades

Well-Known Member
Hey Dawgs,
I was perusing my local Fastenal today, and saw a product called Lab Metal, it's basically liquid metal, I was thinking it might be good for attaching guards to give a seamless connection between the guard and the tang. I could be way of base here, but if it will work it would make life so much easier. If anyone has any experience or knowledge of this product please advise on the possibilities, I think it'll work, if used carefully, and the possibilities are astounding, and the simple fact that it can cover up some boo boo's makes it wonderful!!! Tell me what you think, Rex
 
It appears to be an aluminum filled putty. It does not work as an adhesive, solvent has to escape or it won't harden. It probably won't polish up.
 
You got my attention.

I just junked a NS guard. Filed to much in all the wrong places, but I'm keeping my loupe, files and pana vice until I get a hair line fit.

Then I won't need any fillers anyway.

Some people solder guards, I haven't tried it, the clean up sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

If you can get it to match, it just might work.
 
Nahh, stick with the silver solder, Heck, I can solder a guard quicker than most could glue it, and what cleanup? If done properly there is no cleanup. Practice, learn from someone who is good at soldering. Might be I should post a WIP on this,takes 5min to solder on a guard in most cases, this includes fire coat, which keeps the blade from any black and is a Must with stainless, firecoat is boric acid powder and denatured alcohol. Next the cleanliness is key, after soldering with tiny bits of solder floated to the right spots around the blade on the flux with a solder pick, then the sparex acid dip/ hot, then rinse and buff.
 
Original Please do a tutorial or WIP on soldering with a list of stuff needed to do it. I've wanted to solder but have not seen it done so I won't experiment. A little lesson goes a long way around here.

Pat
 
I'll second the WIP on soldering please. I can weld (both mig and stick) but it seems that soldering is just too difficult for me. LOL I've tried it a couple times and cannot figure out what i'm doing wrong.

Bennie
 
I do both solder and tight fit guards. The solders main purpose is to keep moister from creeping where it doesnt need to be. and it looks good on a polished blade. Its also very easy to do. I wish I knew enough about computers to do a tutorial on it. But I'm doing good just to post stuff on here. I guess this Dog wasnt trained too good on these infernal things!!!
 
clancy said:
It appears to be an aluminum filled putty. It does not work as an adhesive, solvent has to escape or it won't harden. It probably won't polish up.
Click to expand...

The idea was'nt to use it for an adhesive as much as it was to fill in a
boo-boo, I would install the guard my normal way, JB weld in the back of the guard where a pocket was filed, (hopefully soon milled), I was thinking that if you have a slip of the file, and take off a little where you weren't supposed to, this could fill in that spot, with a shine on all the surfaces anyway, it seems like it could create a nice joint between the tang and the guard and blend in nicely, if I can put it on in a nice even bead, then go back and sand/(maybe) grind it down flush it should look like it was made into it,...I think.
I originally bought it to fill in the seams of the quench tank I'm working on, I decided to make one a lot bigger than the one I have been using, and this stuff looks perfect to cover all of those seams and take care of any possible leaks, I do weld, but it aint purty`! When I was reading about it, it just seemed like it might work for making an even tighter fitting guard.
Thanks Dogs for the input, I'm an experimenting fool, so I'll let yall know how it turns out, besides, if it doesn't work, or I don't like the look, I can grind it off. I'll keep yall posted, Rex
 
I was not trying to be a smartazz or know it all, I will see what I can do to post a wip on soldering guards, bolsters and pommels on as soon as possible, would love to share with you guys. Dave.
 
I spent 4 hrs. fitting a nickle silver guard, ( the second one) still has a gap.

A tutorial would be great.

Gas welding, hard silver solder, no problem. Soft solder, didn't flow.

Your help would be much appreciated.

Mark
 
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