Can we get some Ultem scaled Sekis please?

[WilliamMunny]

I am still a big fan of natural wood scales. Probably not the best for a hard use knife and they tend to be a bit slick. G10 and FRN work better in hand than wood, but wood sure look good.

I am sure there is a place for Ultem, but everyone has their priorities.

[steelcity16]

found this with my googler...

i'd want some sort of machined texture like this rather than smooth.

[steelcity16]

Standy made Ultem handles for his Mule. Very nice!

link to Mule thread: viewtopic.php?t=91476

[Tristan_david2001]

See thru urine plastic as knife scales? It’s a unique taste I’ll give it that

[Wartstein]

Well, I personally think it looks nice or at least can be made to look nice as far as I can see.
And according to Nick (post in this very thread) there are more color options.

Can't tell how good or not it would hold up as a handle material and I think actually not a Seki knife, but the Chaparral would be the no 1 candidate to test the material (since this is the model meant to be a platform for displaying various handle materials.
That furthermore to me it is one of the best small folders ever does not hurt of course... )

[steelcity16]

Can't tell how good or not it would hold up as a handle material and I think actually not a Seki knife, but the Chaparral would be the no 1 candidate to test the material (since this is the model meant to be a platform for displaying various handle materials.

I had original hoped for a Delica in this material, but I think a Chap is a great idea if the Delica isn't an option. I would love to see Cruwear as the steel for either option if this does actually happen.

[Eliteone2383]

I'm a vaper and use high end mechanical mods. Ultem is used a lot in the vaping industry. I'd love to see it used more in the knife industry. A Ultem delica with anything above s30v I'd buy 2 of. I think the knife industry is missing out on a lot of money not making ultem a option more often.

[ZrowsN1s]

dang, not much love for ultem in this group! i think it looks great personally. i love the color. i mean look at these knives!?!

That is a nice collection.

[steelcity16]

That is a nice collection.

I stole that pic from the interwebs, but yes, it is collection of nice looking knives! I only really like Spyderco folders, so I dont have any ultem knives personally at the moment.

[phaust]

There's a reason you never see a used knife pic with it, including in this thread. It scratches and looks horrible (not what you want for a transparent material), and it cracks easily. For example:




Protected inlays could work. You really don't want full scales with it on a knife that will get used.

[steelcity16]

^^ That's a bummer. Perhaps that was due to inferior Chinese PEI being used instead of the actual Ultem brand of PEI? I agree that it should definitely be stress tested before being considered for any production folder, because that is pretty concerning.

Maybe the dream was over before it started.

Since I can't get Ultem, how about that Dodo-fly I've been asking for for years?? Or a Cru-carta Delica Wharnie??

[nerdlock]

There's a reason you never see a used knife pic with it, including in this thread. It scratches and looks horrible (not what you want for a transparent material), and it cracks easily. For example:




Protected inlays could work. You really don't want full scales with it on a knife that will get used.

I agree with phaust. I've seen other Ultem scales on the internet with similar cracking issues - all at the same location, either a pivot hole or a screw hole. It would seem that Ultem has a tendency to fail at those points.





It would seem that using this material would only lead to many customer complaints down the road.

[steelcity16]

^^^ That doesn't sounds promising. Maybe best to scrap this idea. I still think it is a great looking material. I like the piss color. It reminds of the translucent brown soles on my late 90s Dr Martens.

[BornIn1500]

It’s a common material. You can find it all over but here’s a McMaster Carr link.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/ultem-sheets/

Strange. Although it says

"Temperature Range: -20° to 335° F",

it also says

"For Use Outdoors: No".

Hmmmmmm. There must be a big downfall somewhere here. Maybe UV negatively affects it? Doesn't sound good.

[Paul Ardbeg]

There's a reason you never see a used knife pic with it, including in this thread. It scratches and looks horrible (not what you want for a transparent material), and it cracks easily. For example:




Protected inlays could work. You really don't want full scales with it on a knife that will get used.

I agree with phaust. I've seen other Ultem scales on the internet with similar cracking issues - all at the same location, either a pivot hole or a screw hole. It would seem that Ultem has a tendency to fail at those points.





It would seem that using this material would only lead to many customer complaints down the road.

Thank you, I think we can close this thread now and never bring up Ultem again

[Wartstein]

^^^ That doesn't sounds promising. Maybe best to scrap this idea. I still think it is a great looking material. I like the piss color. It reminds of the translucent brown soles on my late 90s Dr Martens.

Well, then... what actually IS with Seki FRCP?

Could / would they do it?
It is Translucent, just like Ultem (or a bit less? Can´t tell) but proved to be a really strong and perfect handle material (in my and certainly 10 000 more Manix LWs... )

[steelcity16]

^^^ That doesn't sounds promising. Maybe best to scrap this idea. I still think it is a great looking material. I like the piss color. It reminds of the translucent brown soles on my late 90s Dr Martens.

Well, then... what actually IS with Seki FRCP?

Could / would they do it?
It is Translucent, just like Ultem (or a bit less? Can´t tell) but proved to be a really strong and perfect handle material (in my and certainly 10 000 more Manix LWs... )

Piss colored FRCP?? Now we are talking! In all seriousness, if they could get some Ultem/PEI samples and color match some translucent FRCP to it, that would work too.

"Piss FRCP Delica Wharnie". Sound like a winner!!

[Wartstein]

Piss colored FRCP?? Now we are talking! In all seriousness, if they could get some Ultem/PEI samples and color match some translucent FRCP to it, that would work too.

"Piss FRCP Delica Wharnie". Sound like a winner!!

... I think some feared that the Magnacut Manix LW would feature just that... (but as we know it did not in the end...)

[Fireman]

Well, we could make roadside apple juice colored G10

[sal]

Thanx much for sharing your thoughts. I also got a bunch of info from Brian H. Seems to be pretty controversial. I guess I'll watch the thread.

sal