Collarless predator shaft

akaminski

akaminski

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A friend wants me to build a predator shaft to for his collarless Viking butt.

He does not want a collar on the shaft.....

1: obviously there is more risk or damage to the shaft is no collar is used, but will the shaft eventually fail over time?

2: the top of his butt is Birdseye maple and I was thinking about making a small collar out of some BEM but I'm afraid of the 2 colors not matching up perfectly and it will be very noticeable


What do you recommend?


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How Predator is able to make a collarless spliced shaft is with the use of a phenolic plug.
Obviously you can't band the wood with phenolic and remain collarless so they rely
on the phenolic on the inside to give radial-bonding to the interior shaft wall.
You can then tap the pheno-plug to any pin or insert required.
The Predator plugs that I install (and prefer) are approx. 2" L.
There is another that's fatter that installs at approx. 1-1/4" depth.

HTHs, KJ
 
Thanks for the info KJ

I have plugged shafts before with various materials including phenolic but they have mostly been big pin and tapped straight into the plug...... What diameter would you use for the plug?, normally I would make the plug just slightly larger than the o/d of the pin I am using.

What would be the advantages of using a thinker diameter versus the thinner like you mentioned?

Thanks!


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I prefer the phen-insert for the big pins and use it exclusively in my own builds.
The 2" L plug I use is a strong 12mm (.472/.480"+) but you could easily go to 1/2" without concern.
The other, thicker plug, is a weak 5/8" dia. installed (.610/.615").
I had to make tooling for that one and now I don't use that plug any more.
That is also the plug that Predator uses most frequently, the 5/8x.
What I haven't mentioned yet is that plug has a very large head on it, close to .880".
That's the ring-work section of that plug. Black collar is pretty easy then, huh?
But that's also how they can do a very thin P2 style ring where the thin plug can't;
there's no head on the thin plug.
Both plugs thread in with epoxy so they are pretty stout in that regard.
Forgot to mention, both plugs have a center hole running their length to lessen the chance of hydraulic-action.

KJ
 
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Good idea Joey thanks

And thanks KJ


Btw when did predator switch from water slide decals to stickers that are ridiculously thick?


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I'm glad that I came back to this thread. DO NOT apply that decal as is.
It is a 'dry-apply' not a water-slide AND it's not to be applied leaving the plastic film on it.
I've been using these new decals 6mos-1yr now and am almost starting to like them.
I'll share what works for me and that should get you started.
I cut the decal off the sheet (I get them by the sheet) with the white backing in place.
Lay the decal w/backing on a flat surface with the logo facing up like it would be on the shaft.
Take a pc of clear tape about 2" long and tape it to the top face of the decal, just the decal.
Pick it up, the backing should fall away, now center and tape the decal to the shaft.
Rub the face of the decal with a blunt object with a little downward pressure and transfer the ink
that's on the back of the film to the surface of the shaft. Actually, you'll be rubbing the back of the tape.
The once glossy lettering/cat will become just slightly matte colored indicating that it's transferred to the wood.
Peel the tape away, the film will come with it and you're ready for finish..............
or another decal if that one didn't work.
But you get the idea. It's a different decal. It's dry-apply. The tape works good for me, try it.

I think to help in understanding, this dry-apply should be considered a transfer because
you are transferring the ink from the back of the film to the surface of the shaft.
That's one of the things I like about it because in finishing, I only have to contend with the thickness of the ink.

HTHs, KJ
 
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It would be nice to know that when you get the blanks LoL

I tried to use the decals that came with the blanks but to no avail

It's good that the person I made the blank for was perfectly fine with not using the logo


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And as always thanks for the great info!!!

Always willing to help out!

Thanks, Adam


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I'll be honest with you, Predator don't tell me squat.
I gotta figure this sh;t out on my own.
I luv a good challenge though, Lol.

Thanx, KJ
 
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