I've build several rods and would like to try my hand at laying a coin in the butt of my next one. I don't have a lathe or any fancy rod building tools besides a wrapper and dryer.
Any tips on how to cut the circle and how to finish it- cover with epoxy?
I'll appreciate any feedback.
Doug

Doug,


I may have did mine "all wrong" but here's what I did with a Nickel:

Laid the coin in the center of the butt cap in the position I wanted, took a pencil and drew around the coin making a perfect circle. Take a dremel tool and grind out the area SMALLER than the ring you created with the pencil and only deep enough to get the coin flush. Then I took sandpaper and wrapped it around a 1/4 drill bit and rounded out the hole slowly BY HAND to match the coin perfectly, checking it regularly until the coin would "pop" in place tightly. I then removed the coin, applied 5min epoxy to the underside and "popped" it in place and let dry.

It's still there :)

DR

I did it the same way except made the recess slightly larger than the coin and deeper. Then dropped the coin in and filed it with Flexcoat. That was before threadmaster

Funny, I have one curing about 10 feet away from me right now - just did it about 20 minutes ago! It's a 1930 Mercury Dime (my late Dad's birth year). Anyways, I've done a couple now and have done them like Duane does - although I didn't do the sand paper bit. This rod has a butt end made of rubberized cork gasket material - I traced the outline of the dime, and CAREFULLY cut it out with a razor pen knife. Take your time, work slowly, and keep the fit tight - I actually had to work the coin into the recess, the rubberized cork has enough give, it worked great. I used rodbond to glue the coin in (let it cure a couple days), and it's recessed probably 1/16 or a bit more. I then filled the recess on top of the coin with finish - just enough to slightly mound the finish above the cork - I like that look. It might take a bit more of a beating that way, but I like the way it looks, and it really makes the coin jump out at you - almost like looking at it with a magnifying glass. Tom K recommended to me in an earlier post to use a lathe and a parting tool (I think) if you have one. Someday soon (maybe VERY soon) I'm going to break down and buy a lathe, I'll do them that way from then on. Also, forstner bits work great if you can find one the right diameter, but the odds of that are slim.

Thank you Rich, I appreciate your input. This confirms for me that I was on the correct path. Now to find just the right coin......

No problem Doug - I'm a pretty new builder, it's fun to actually be able to GIVE advice instead of asking all the time! LOL! Yes, finding the right coin is the trick. Check on @#$%&, you could look at coins for a week. I got some Irish coins which are very cool - they have animals on one side, fish, dogs, woodcocks, etc. Cool coins - I like them because I'm part Irish as well..... There are all kinds of things, commemorative coins, subway tokens, etc. Just check the diameters to make sure they'll fit!!

Doug, glad you clarified WHERE that coin was going. At first read I thought you had the wrong website :)

I would add one thing to the great responses. Scuff up the back of the coin with sandpaper for better adhesion.