Hunter's Star

[wetzel]

Looking for some input.  I am going to put a hunter's star on a rifle and was looking for ideas on hooking it on.  I think most used nails, but what all do you guys use?  How many used?  Thanks for in advance for the input.

[Ed Wenger]

Nails (brads) can be used.  A lot of times the hole where the nail goes is counter sunk, then the head filed flush with the inlay.  Some rifles also used a single screw in the center of the star.


     Ed

[Dave B]

I have used nails made from the same material as the star or Iron and once brass. They all work. One way that I read about was to under cut the star inlet and  having cupped the star so the reverse bevels of the star are toward the convex side you then place the star over the all excavated inlet and drive it home. It is kind of like the trigger plate trick driven in under the wood at the rear.
All of the points are now driven in under the wood all round all you have to do is clean up with a fine file.
 It is possible to do it this way but I prefer to stick to the traditional method. I could fore see gaps and break out being an issue.

[bgf]

I like to cut off a small finishing nail, round the cut end slightly with a file and use it in a slightly countersunk hole (in the inlay).  After it is on, you can file/sand flush and it looks pretty neat, but will still hold well.  I've also used the tiny wire brads, but what makes me nervous about them is that there is little material left holding the inlay on if you get them truly flush, and it is harder for me to get a neat looking countersunk hole with the brads.  One would hold a small one, and 2 would hold almost any size, though if you do it neatly, 4 or even eight could look pretty as well.

[MikeCooper]

they way I countersink.   I used small nails brass like the star.  but the nails had round ball shaped heads.  So I made them v shaped like a wood screw head so they would sink into the v shape countersink in the star.    I did that by making a small v shape hole in a piece of steel and hammer the brass nail into it to reshape the nail head.   if that makes sense

[LURCHWV@BJS]

Wetzel,

   Go to the tutorial section of the forum,  then go to page 4,  Invisible nails for inlay's by Acer Saccharum(tom Curran)  is an excellent tutorial.


   Rich

[Dave Dolliver]

Mike Cooper:
I do the same for brass nails.
For silver colored nails, go to a jewelry supply place and ask for "tie tack studs",  They're the pointy things they solder to the back of the face of the tie tack.  Tey're nickel silver and flat headed.

Dave Dolliver

[rick landes]

I use a single screw...I also back it with a bit of "ACRAGLAS". I like to seal up things like that.