I'm starting to play with knives more.
I bought some blades and I'm putting scales on them. My problem is the only brass rod I can find is 1/8, the holes in the blade handle are smaller than that.
I've thought about heating the blade handle up with the torch then let it cool slowly so it will be soft enough to drill bigger holes. But if I did that would I need to reharden the blade handle afterwards????
I've also thought about just putting the brass rod on the belt sander to sand it down, but I know I won't get it right.
So, any ideas?????

Also, how do y'all do your pins? Do you epoxy them in and the peen them with a hammer against something hard so the other side gets peened?
How do you make this work for mosaic pins???

Have you tried to drill it yet?
Try a good carbide drill @ slow speed.
If you have to heat to soften your going to have to get close to non magnetic temp then let it cool. That's going to be pretty hot & may migrate to the blade & cost you the temper. If that happens, you can always anneal & re temper the blade.

As I make my own blades, I usually do all the drilling prior to the HT/temper process.

If you have a hobby shop close, get K&S brass rod. they sell it fron 1/32nd up to 1/4.

Re. scales. Depends on the handle material. W/ wood I peen them very gently.
On bone/antler I'll make a snug fit & epoxy them.
Mosaic pins are a push fit w. epoxy.
Just how I do it.
Best of luck!!!

Larry

Just get the right sized pin stock:
About any knife supply house has what you want.
http://www.speedymetals.com/c-8199-round.aspx

Same as what everyone else said. I get all sizes from the local hobby store/rc shop. Skippy

You can make the hole in the blade any size you wish with say a Dremmel and a cutting blade. Then fit your rod to the handle and epoxy, you will never know what size hole is under the handle.

Thanks for the link to Speedy Metals...thats what I was looking for.
I've checked everywhere in town including Lowes, Menards, Ace, Runnings...I just can't find anything smaller than 1/8"
I just ordered what I needed, thanks again!

Plus, that handle may not be tempered real hard, sometimes only the blade is.  So try to drill if you want to.
I epoxy pins and peen them.  Careful with wood.  
Dan