Japanese knives are known for their superior quality and sharpness. They are made from high-quality steel and are designed to be comfortable and efficient to use. However, the handles of Japanese knives are sometimes not nice as the knife. You want to replace the handle or you do knife restoration. Or the knife handle is damaged. In this blog, we will show you how to remove and install a new handle on your Japanese knife using hot melt glue

Advantages:

• Helps prevent water from entering the handle
• Easy to remove the handle without damaging it
• Makes the knife more secure
• Easy to perform and adjust during the process

Removing the Knife Handle

Most Japanese knives come with a handle that is attached by heating the tang of the knife and burning it into the wooden handle. Therefore, it is relatively easy to remove the original handle using a piece of wood and a hammer.

First, you need to prepare a piece of wood and a hammer. Then, place the wood on the knife as shown in the picture and hit the wood with the hammer. By using this method, you will be able to remove the handle without damaging the handle or the knife.

Installing the New Knife Handle Using Hot Glue Melt

You can use epoxy to attach the new handle, but it will be challenging to remove if you need to make any changes. Hot glue melt is a better alternative because it is easy to apply and remove when necessary.

Step 1:

The new knife handle you ordered from boogwa will be made to fit the tang of your knife. However, you need to test fit the handle onto the knife to ensure that it fits perfectly in the desired position.

If the hole is too tight, use a wooden file to expand it until it fits snugly onto the tang.

Step 2

Take the knife out new handle, cut small pieces of hot glue melt and stuff them into the hole in the handle.

Or if you have a hot glue gun, you could make long, small piece of glue. Then put them into the hole. If you have time, this way is better

Step 3

Wrap the part of blade tang and handle of the knife as shown to avoid getting glue on them during assembly. If they get dirty, don't worry because it's very easy to clean.

You could grab the blade as well to avoid any accident when installing

Step 4

Heat the knife handle and insert the blade into the handle. The heat from the knife handle will melt the glue, filling the handle hole. The glue will be soft for about a minute, during which time you can adjust the knife to the perfect position. After that, the glue will dry and the blade will be firmly attached to the handle.

Step 5

Remove the tapping around tang and handle

Use your fingers or a clean cloth to remove any excess glue 

Step 6

Heat the paper knife and wipe off any excess glue from the mouth of the handle if necessary. Then you get a very nice and clean knife

Note: How to Remove the New Handle After Installation

The glue will harden when it dries, so you need to heat it up to remove it or tap it out as in step 1. Place the knife in an oven at a temperature of 70-80 degrees Celsius for about 4-5 minutes. Bake longer if the glue has not melted and has not been removed by tapping it out. Or boil the knife handle in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until the glue softens and can be removed. To avoid damage for the handle, please remember to wrap it before putting into the water.

In conclusion, installing a new handle on a Japanese knife using hot glue melt is an easy and effective way to secure your knife while giving it a fresh new look. With these steps, you can easily remove and install a new handle without damaging your knife. So, get started and give your favorite Japanese knife a brand new look today!