scale material

Muad'Dib · #1

I'm dabbling with the idea of making some CF scales. I've taken a look through the moded knife thread and I see that many of you guys are making custom G-10 scales. Is there somewhere that you guys purchase sheets of G-10, Micarta, etc.? or do you guys make it yourself. I'm fine with laying up sheets of CF myself, because I did a fair amount of CF work in college, but I have no experience with G-10 or Micarta.

freeman7 · #2

I am not a knifemaker; my skills extend to removing a clip here and there. However, I live about 15 min. away from Masecraft Supply in Meriden, CT and am quite sure they can fix you up. Also, the folks at Halpern come to mind.

The Deacon · #3

Masecraft would be one source of all three, Texas Knifemaker's Supply would be another. For CF, you might also take a look at DragonPlate.

ChrisR · #4

I'm not a knifemaker either but I recently asked about making some CF scales and was told that CF is a more difficult material to work with than G10 and Micarta. I think G10 and Micarta can pretty much be cut & worked like wood but with CF you have the issue of splinters and flaking. None of the materials is very lung-friendly though so always wear a mask to keep the dust out

phaust · #5

G10, micarta, and carbon fiber are all available from Knifekits.com http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=40_218

2cha · #6

knifekits.com too

I've saved a few pairs of old jeans and carhartts to make my own micarta. I think the tan and blue will make for interesting layering--there are a couple tutorials out there, for example: http://www.fendleyknives.com/LM105.htm

basically--cut, dip with a slow epoxy and press--probably not any different than CF.

MCM · #7

The CF I have worked with is much harder then G-10 or Micarta. Got mine off E-Bay. It started out peel ply, was said to be Military / Aircraft grade. (But who knows?)
But, worth the xtra effort IMO. :D
Was surprised how long it took to cut out the 1/4" sheet with my reciprocating saw.
A few old photos.

kawr · #8

Wow very cool work there MCM. Just curious, how did you get the scales onto the knife with no screws?

MCM · #9

Super/Epoxy :D

Muad'Dib · #10

Thanks guys, as I said, I'm quite comfortable with CF, so if micarta is just cloth of choice and resin, I might try my hand at that too... Of course I'll check out the cost of it online to see if that's just easier.

Nice work on the mule.

kawr · #11

MCM wrote:Super/Epoxy :D ]

Nice :)

The Deacon · #12

FWIW, real Micarta is cloth, or paper, and phenolic resin. Most folks who make home brew micarta use acrylic resin. It works, but you lose the one characteristic of micarta which makes some folks prefer it over G-10 and CF - the way it sticks to your hand when wet.

potterma · #13

The Deacon wrote:FWIW, real Micarta is cloth, or paper, and phenolic resin. Most folks who make home brew micarta use acrylic resin. It works, but you lose the one characteristic of micarta which makes some folks prefer it over G-10 and CF - the way it sticks to your hand when wet.

Actually, when I make my own home brewed "micarta" I use a very low viscosity epoxy. It still has a decent texture when wet. Not saying its as good as the phenolic resin commercial stuff, but its not bad...

cckw · #14

Couple ideas for you. Call your old instructor for some scrap. #2 this may appeal to you, I saw some home made micarta where the dudes used old jeans on one batch and burlap on another. Anyone wanting burlap for such a thing can PM me.

yowzer · #15

2cha wrote:knifekits.com too

I've saved a few pairs of old jeans and carhartts to make my own micarta. I think the tan and blue will make for interesting layering--there are a couple tutorials out there, for example: http://www.fendleyknives.com/LM105.htm

basically--cut, dip with a slow epoxy and press--probably not any different than CF.

I have a Bark River knife with blue denim micarta handles. It's lovely stuff.

I'm not sure how well a tan and blue layering would turn out, but it's certainly worth trying.

2cha · #16

The Deacon wrote:FWIW, real Micarta is cloth, or paper, and phenolic resin. Most folks who make home brew micarta use acrylic resin. It works, but you lose the one characteristic of micarta which makes some folks prefer it over G-10 and CF - the way it sticks to your hand when wet.

May be so, but the knifemakers who made the"laminate" in the link I posted used whatever fabric they had and West System Resin. To test the strength of their product, they started out beating it with various weight sledge hammers--up to 8 lbs with a full swing, shot it with a .38--a .44 magnum was the only thing that substantially hurt it,... as compared to actual westinghouse micarta which cracked with a few blows from a 4 lb. hammer,... I should email them to see if their product becomes rougher like micarta does when wet.