Cheap and ugly

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.
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standy99
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#21

Post by standy99 »

yablanowitz wrote:
Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:03 pm
ykspydiefan wrote:
Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:52 pm
For the record, cord wraps suck.
Oh, I don't know. I kinda like them.

Image
Did you get a few to add to the door today.....
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
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elmeringalo
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#22

Post by elmeringalo »

Hi Yablanovitz, Won't you have a 52100 to spare for me?😄
No por mucho tempranar, amanece mas madrugo
yablanowitz
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#23

Post by yablanowitz »

standy99 wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:17 am
yablanowitz wrote:
Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:03 pm
ykspydiefan wrote:
Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:52 pm
For the record, cord wraps suck.
Oh, I don't know. I kinda like them.

Image
Did you get a few to add to the door today.....
Yeah, I got my order in for two of the new ones. I have plenty of paracord on hand and my new sheath is working well. Now all I have to do is hope that UPS can make it from Golden to here before the spring thaw.
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Bolster
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#24

Post by Bolster »

Is there any concern of the paracord holding onto moisture? Not in your closet, obviously, but in use?
yablanowitz
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#25

Post by yablanowitz »

It dries pretty fast here, but I live in a near-desert climate. I'm also not bothered by a little rust on the handle under it. Most if not all of mine have gotten wet time and again, and not a single handle has rusted off yet.
Rp5
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#26

Post by Rp5 »

I think this fits the spirit of the thread.

Image

Yes - that's cardboard and electrical tape. What you can't see is that I wedged the point guard that Spyderco ships in the box into the point, so when I put it in the "sheath" it can lock into something if I get it right.
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Henry_P
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#27

Post by Henry_P »

Image


My first mule and my first attempt at a paracord wrap. It’s a nice cheap way into trying SPY27.
Para 3 Maxamet | Para 3 CruWear DLC | Smock M4 Jade G-10 | Shaman Z-Wear Micarta | Salt 2 LC200N Wharnie | Chaparral Birdseye Maple | Lil’ Native S90V CF | Dragonfly 2 20CV | Ladybug K390 | CRK Small Sebenza 31 S45VN PJ
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Bolster
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#28

Post by Bolster »

Henry_P wrote:
Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:49 pm
My first mule and my first attempt at a paracord wrap. It’s a nice cheap way into trying SPY27.

Looks good, man! Thumb up! :)
ykspydiefan
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#29

Post by ykspydiefan »

Necro thread and ready to rock.

Cheap, the HDPE is cut from coffee and hot chocolate tubs. Ugly, well...
IMG_20230601_164246577scale.jpg
I have tried to make scales with HDPE in the past, and failed.
IMG_20230601_164708636scale3.jpg
This time it is working so far. I used HDPE glue to stick the layers together. Rested 24 hrs. Then, into the toaster oven, just until toasty. I found adding a small amount of weight while in the oven helps. I did rig up a janky flattening plate to put the weight on. The scales came out flat, hard and laminated well.

Next steps, later.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
JRinFL
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#30

Post by JRinFL »

I like this upcycling of what would otherwise end up as waste into handle scales. I'm very curious to see how this turns out.
"...it costs nothing to be polite." - Winston Churchill
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barnaclesonaboat
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#31

Post by barnaclesonaboat »

I dig this idea, too. And by the looks of that ketchup-mustard material sandwich, I bet the contrast will look *so* good once it's shaped.

I'm also keen to thank you for resurrecting this thread - I'm new to the forum and Mule Team and had not seen it. This is the punk rock scale & sheath thread I didn't know I needed.
ykspydiefan
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#32

Post by ykspydiefan »

Thanks guys. I'm away from this project for a week or two now. Got some 15v with Halpern scales to go try out.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
kennbr34
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#33

Post by kennbr34 »

I see you, and I'll raise you...

Image
Image
Image

I used the foam inserts my Shapton stones shipped with for padding and it's actually surprisingly comfortable.

Even reused the little tip-holder thing Spyderco ships it with.
bobartig
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#34

Post by bobartig »

I tried paracord initially because I have a lot of it, and Mules have a lot of holes to thread/anchor to. I quickly abandoned it because it gunked up with moderate to hard use and then was difficult to clean, it retained moisture and promoted rusting on non-stainless models, and on top of all that it was fairly uncomfortable to use over time. So much so that I still needed gloves for any heavy use. Even just working through cardboard was a chore for me, so I went down the path of making contoured wooden handles instead.
ykspydiefan
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#35

Post by ykspydiefan »

kennbr34 wrote:
Sat Jun 03, 2023 12:31 pm
I see you, and I'll raise you...

Image
Image
Image

I used the foam inserts my Shapton stones shipped with for padding and it's actually surprisingly comfortable.

Even reused the little tip-holder thing Spyderco ships it with.
As I silently view my cards I realize, not only do you have me covered on cheep and ugly, you also have me beaten in terms of efficiency too. Well played sir.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
ykspydiefan
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#36

Post by ykspydiefan »

bobartig wrote:
Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:26 am
I tried paracord initially because I have a lot of it, and Mules have a lot of holes to thread/anchor to. I quickly abandoned it because it gunked up with moderate to hard use and then was difficult to clean, it retained moisture and promoted rusting on non-stainless models, and on top of all that it was fairly uncomfortable to use over time. So much so that I still needed gloves for any heavy use. Even just working through cardboard was a chore for me, so I went down the path of making contoured wooden handles instead.
I agree as I have had similar experiences with cord wraps. Cord wraps can get one going and give you some grip, get a person started so they can make that next step to wood, or cardboard, foam and tape. ;)
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
ykspydiefan
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#37

Post by ykspydiefan »

ykspydiefan wrote:
Fri Jun 02, 2023 10:10 am
Necro thread and ready to rock.

Cheap, the HDPE is cut from coffee and hot chocolate tubs. Ugly, well...

IMG_20230601_164246577scale.jpg

I have tried to make scales with HDPE in the past, and failed.

IMG_20230601_164708636scale3.jpg

This time it is working so far. I used HDPE glue to stick the layers together. Rested 24 hrs. Then, into the toaster oven, just until toasty. I found adding a small amount of weight while in the oven helps. I did rig up a janky flattening plate to put the weight on. The scales came out flat, hard and laminated well.

Next steps, later.
After being out played in the cheep and ugly game, I return with determination to finish.
Nice thing with HDPE, it cuts and shapes very easily. Finding a glue that sticks is not so easy.
IMG_20230530_230021425scale2.jpg
My previous effort, I only used heat. This time, I pressed the HDPE flat for a couple days before I cut the shapes. Then, glued and pressed. Then, heated and pressed. Then, shaped reheated and pressed.
This is my janky rig.
IMG_20230530_230001175toasty.jpg
No less janky than my shaping stand.
Again, I really like HDPE because you can trim away miniscule amounts with an pen knife and what is left behind can be very smooth. I used very little sanding, just ruffed it up for grip.
IMG_20230610_223457992hdpe15vise.jpg
IMG_20230612_132038865hdtucksheath.jpg
I was inspired by the last tape and cardboard sheath I saw. ;) And, thought to go that route for this project.
I went with Tuck tape. No sticky mess like duct tape, it is water proof, can be worked with when wet, does not degrade as bad in the sun. RED TAPE RULES.
IMG_20230612_132137955hdspine (2).jpg
IMG_20230612_132350398hdpevert (2).jpg
The plastic does have an angularity to it which gives it grip. There are no sharp or edgy bits in the plastic. The softness of HDPE make it easy to smoothen. Counter sinking the screws was too easy, almost blew right through with the drill.
IMG_20230612_132203770hddisplay (2).jpg
I used Halpern hardware. Thanks Halpern!

ps HDPE is repairable in the field by lighting another piece of HDPE on fire and dripping the plastic on to fix the crack or break.
Attachments
IMG_20230612_132203770hddisplay.jpg
IMG_20230612_132350398hdpevert.jpg
IMG_20230612_132137955hdspine.jpg
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
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Bolster
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#38

Post by Bolster »

Thumbs up, YK. Strong work and extra points for originality!!
Steel novice who self-identifies as a steel expert. Proud M.N.O.S.D. member 0003. Spydie Steels: 4V, 15V, 20CV, AEB-L, AUS6, Cru-Wear, HAP40, K294, K390, M4, Magnacut, S110V, S30V, S35VN, S45VN, SPY27, SRS13, T15, VG10, XHP, ZWear, ZDP189
kennbr34
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#39

Post by kennbr34 »

Very nice 👍 What glue did you find that worked with HDPE? I remember trying to glue some of that stuff together for something else a while back, and that stuff does NOT like to be glued.
ykspydiefan
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Re: Cheap and ugly

#40

Post by ykspydiefan »

kennbr34 wrote:
Tue Jun 13, 2023 2:12 pm
Very nice 👍 What glue did you find that worked with HDPE? I remember trying to glue some of that stuff together for something else a while back, and that stuff does NOT like to be glued.

Thanks Bolster,
Thanks kennbr34,

I used this glue...
IMG_20230613_145951789hdpeglue.jpg
The active ingredient is "Cyanoacrylate." So far as I have found, that is the stuff that gets the job done. Ruff up the plastic, remove any debris or dust, glue, no boo hoo. I am sure that a couple rounds of heat helped too. The heat is more mystery as to actual temperature. I got the plastic melty but not runny in any way.

The result is a usable handle. Not for hard use or bush craft/baton in any way, but it is good for card board through to light camp chores.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
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