I have a feeling a lot of what is being sold as Ultem is not the same material, or is otherwise just made to a poor standard. That would explain the difference in apparent performance.
Ultem™ is the name brand of PEI (polyetherimide) resin produced by Sabic. The resin is sold to various businesses who then process it how they see fit. There are definitely plastics manufacturers processing it in different ways. PEI can also be made in places that don't take copy rights and trademarks into consideration.
This is Duratron® (good stuff). Made using Ultem™. Which was then sold as PEI. If it had gone to a business making scales and such... no doubt it would have been called Ultem. Because it is. Sorta.
Well obvious first question, what can it do that FRCP can't do? Besides being available from custom makers.
It can be easily machined or injection molded. FRCP is injection mold only.
It wouldn't break the internet but some bi-directional textured ultem scales would certainly make some waves!
I wonder why Ultem has taken off for knife scales. There are some other polymers that can be machined like acetal and PEEK. Is it just an aesthetic thing? I'm not a fan of the urine color, personally.
I wonder why Ultem has taken off for knife scales. There are some other polymers that can be machined like acetal and PEEK. Is it just an aesthetic thing? I'm not a fan of the urine color, personally.
I would attribute it’s popularity about 99% to a social media trend.
Heat proof characteristics really appealed to me being in a tropical environment. Also the pairing with Magnacut for a waterproof knife led me to choose it for my Magnacut Mule.
Basically made a knife you could throw in an autoclave at 120C daily .
(Working for the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry there are times this would be handy on surveys)
Will say as someone that hand cut and hand sanded everything, it’s not a material I would use extensively.
Also the thickness of the scales I have on a Mule are chalk and cheese to what I see on the folder scales.
Heat proof characteristics really appealed to me being in a tropical environment. Also the pairing with Magnacut for a waterproof knife led me to choose it for my Magnacut Mule.
Basically made a knife you could throw in an autoclave at 120C daily .
(Working for the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry there are times this would be handy on surveys)
Will say as someone that hand cut and hand sanded everything, it’s not a material I would use extensively.
Also the thickness of the scales I have on a Mule are chalk and cheese to what I see on the folder scales.
Going slightly off topic, how do you secure the scales to the knife?
I also plan to make my own scales for my MC Mule at some point, but knowing I was way over my head in ongoing projects I ordered Halpern G-10 scales with my Mule. I believe G-10 is plenty capable to endure the water, humidity and temperatures I will expose it to, my biggest concern (and I may be overthinking again) is the stainless steel hardware that came with the Halpern scales. I fear that the risk of galvanic corrosion is the weakest link in this setup, so I was hoping to maybe replace the included HW with something synthetic. I haven't looked around much, but also haven't found anything when I've been looking. Any ideas?
Heat proof characteristics really appealed to me being in a tropical environment. Also the pairing with Magnacut for a waterproof knife led me to choose it for my Magnacut Mule.
Basically made a knife you could throw in an autoclave at 120C daily .
(Working for the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry there are times this would be handy on surveys)
Will say as someone that hand cut and hand sanded everything, it’s not a material I would use extensively.
Also the thickness of the scales I have on a Mule are chalk and cheese to what I see on the folder scales.
Going slightly off topic, how do you secure the scales to the knife?
I also plan to make my own scales for my MC Mule at some point, but knowing I was way over my head in ongoing projects I ordered Halpern G-10 scales with my Mule. I believe G-10 is plenty capable to endure the water, humidity and temperatures I will expose it to, my biggest concern (and I may be overthinking again) is the stainless steel hardware that came with the Halpern scales. I fear that the risk of galvanic corrosion is the weakest link in this setup, so I was hoping to maybe replace the included HW with something synthetic. I haven't looked around much, but also haven't found anything when I've been looking. Any ideas?
You can use anything really...if you are using G10 scales just buy some G10 pins or even carbon fibre or Micarta pins.
I would personally just buy a G10 pin in the size of the outer screw head and drill the screw holes to that size.
Make sure you use a good epoxy. The slower the cure the more waterproof and the easiest it is on a beginner with longer play time when clamping...
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
Heat proof characteristics really appealed to me being in a tropical environment. Also the pairing with Magnacut for a waterproof knife led me to choose it for my Magnacut Mule.
Basically made a knife you could throw in an autoclave at 120C daily .
(Working for the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry there are times this would be handy on surveys)
Will say as someone that hand cut and hand sanded everything, it’s not a material I would use extensively.
Also the thickness of the scales I have on a Mule are chalk and cheese to what I see on the folder scales.
Going slightly off topic, how do you secure the scales to the knife?
I also plan to make my own scales for my MC Mule at some point, but knowing I was way over my head in ongoing projects I ordered Halpern G-10 scales with my Mule. I believe G-10 is plenty capable to endure the water, humidity and temperatures I will expose it to, my biggest concern (and I may be overthinking again) is the stainless steel hardware that came with the Halpern scales. I fear that the risk of galvanic corrosion is the weakest link in this setup, so I was hoping to maybe replace the included HW with something synthetic. I haven't looked around much, but also haven't found anything when I've been looking. Any ideas?
You can use anything really...if you are using G10 scales just buy some G10 pins or even carbon fibre or Micarta pins.
I would personally just buy a G10 pin in the size of the outer screw head and drill the screw holes to that size.
Make sure you use a good epoxy. The slower the cure the more waterproof and the easiest it is on a beginner with longer play time when clamping...
Thanks Standy!
I’ll see what I can find and give it a try
