2020 GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress and Pocket Carver Thread

hornetguy said:
I had thought about using some kind of solvent, but I remembered that IPA, toluene, acetone, ALL will cause acrylic to crack and craze. We use acrylic tabletop chambers at work, and the operators kept wiping them down with IPA, and they all developed cracks in a relatively short period of time. We now have strict rules about "no IPA" on acrylic (plexiglas) items.



Just a heads-up....
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By "IPA" do you mean "Indian Pale Ale" ? It would be a concern for me.

Dan.
 
EngrSorenson said:
It’s possible on a fast enough wheel to even get enough heat from friction to temporarily melt the surface and get your sanding medium caught in the surface (the adhesive of sandpaper gives out at high temperatures).
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I don’t know how much of this was hearsay/assumption/speculation and how much was fact, but I seem to remember some discussion on the Unicorn Ivory #25’s that overheating was part of the trouble they had with that material, which led to a shortage of “first” quality knives and a surplus of seconds/“Store”-marked knives.
 
btb01 said:
I don’t know how much of this was hearsay/assumption/speculation and how much was fact, but I seem to remember some discussion on the Unicorn Ivory #25’s that overheating was part of the trouble they had with that material, which led to a shortage of “first” quality knives and a surplus of seconds/“Store”-marked knives.
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I understand how, from a manufacturer's standpoint, they wouldn't want to use it again. My knife would almost certainly be considered a "blemish" or factory second, but I'm keeping it. The little black marks just don't bother me that much.
I do sense that there are quite a few "collectors" on here that want, and expect flawless examples... it appears as if there is a slightly higher percentage of these that have the black marks, than in a normal GEC run.
White, or cream micarta would probably have been a "safer" choice.... spoken with true 20/20 hindsight...:rolleyes:
 
hornetguy said:
:D :D

I can see how that could be problematic for a lot of you.... personally, I don't care for the pale ales, much, but I sympathize....

IPA in my line of work is isopropyl alcohol... sorry for the scare..... :D
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Thanks. Ingestion of isopropyl is known to cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting and in large doses coma. Hornetguy, take care.

Dan.
 
You guys are hilarious. seriously. Not like when my wife says it.

Production manufacturing techniques make or break products... literally. The thing that made LEGO possible was the invention of precision molding techniques. GEC might consider a different manufacturing technique, because it seems like that unicorn Ivory Acrylic is really popular. I’m even a fan from the pictures, and I don’t generally prefer acrylic handles.

I also noticed the canvas micarta had black scuffing, so perhaps looking into this more might benefit the whole line.
 
Doesn't micarta have exposed fibers on the surface? If so, I'm not surprised light colors would become stained.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Production manufacturing techniques make or break products... literally. The thing that made LEGO possible was the invention of precision molding techniques. GEC might consider a different manufacturing technique, because it seems like that unicorn Ivory Acrylic is really popular. I’m even a fan from the pictures, and I don’t generally prefer acrylic handles.
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Let me be of a little assistance in understanding the way small companies with antiquated equipment think. They don't look at an acrylic that seems to consistently give them problems and think "we need to change our production process for this one acrylic". Instead of costing more money than they would ever benefit from one variation - they either fix an easy problem or scrap the variation. We like the vast majority of slabs they produce as a whole - there will be no demand gap created by the elimination of problem handle materials. They have done it many times over the last 13 years.

And, although it may be true that a consistent technique failure would damage a company - it would not damage it nearly as much as making 5 digit investments chasing 3 digit returns.
 
knifeswapper said:
Let me be of a little assistance in understanding the way small companies with antiquated equipment think. They don't look at an acrylic that seems to consistently give them problems and think "we need to change our production process for this one acrylic". Instead of costing more money than they would ever benefit from one variation - they either fix an easy problem or scrap the variation. We like the vast majority of slabs they produce as a whole - there will be no demand gap created by the elimination of problem handle materials. They have done it many times over the last 13 years.

And, although it may be true that a consistent technique failure would damage a company - it would not damage it nearly as much as making 5 digit investments chasing 3 digit returns.
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your not wrong- they’re very successful and I wouldn’t say otherwise. I also understand they are a small company, and I know their intent is to make knives by hand the old fashioned way. I don’t know why the fix has to be in the 10’s of thousands, or even an investment of new equipment? Part of the process of finding a better way is a judgement on cost prohibitive paths. I think there’s nothing wrong with asking if something could be done better, but if GEC says they don’t want to do Unicorn Ivory Acrylic anymore that’s sure one way to deal with it... it’d just be too bad. Clearly the unusual materials they use and their ability to work it into something spectacular is part of the draw of the brand.

but hey, I’m just a guy who likes to discuss knives, knife design and knife production. I appreciate you explaining the obvious issues surrounding small business economics, but I don’t think I was unfair with what I said.

Edit: just thinking to myself I came up with a pretty good one- an air compressor that shoots air across the belt just ahead of the knife in grinding.

here’s one, wet sand and polish acrylic knives using mineral oil, or oil left over from other processes.

or how about using a rest period between shots on the sander/buffer for the material to cool.

or what about looking into micromesh wheels for wet buffing.

my point is merely that it’s worth a thought. If I could think of these things, I’m sure Mr. Howard himself could be even more creative.
 
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EngrSorenson said:
your not wrong- they’re very successful and I wouldn’t say otherwise. I also understand they are a small company, and I know their intent is to make knives by hand the old fashioned way. I don’t know why the fix has to be in the 10’s of thousands, or even an investment of new equipment? Part of the process of finding a better way is a judgement on cost prohibitive paths. I think there’s nothing wrong with asking if something could be done better, but if GEC says they don’t want to do Unicorn Ivory Acrylic anymore that’s sure one way to deal with it... it’d just be too bad. Clearly the unusual materials they use and their ability to work it into something spectacular is part of the draw of the brand.

but hey, I’m just a guy who likes to discuss knives, knife design and knife production. I appreciate you explaining the obvious issues surrounding small business economics, but I don’t think I was unfair with what I said.
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Couldn't agree more, nothing you said was unreasonable. This is just conversation; and just because my background doesn't bring me to the same opinion your background brings you to - doesn't mean one has to be right and one has to be wrong. And please don't take the next thought as being negative either. But, I have learned as I have gotten older that there are a lot of people that don't have a clue what they are doing in business. And it quickly becomes obvious. But when a successful business makes decisions for their future business I assume it is out of knowledge instead of ignorance. Thus, my first assumption - even though I may not understand it; is the assume that the successful entity will make decisions that maintain success. But, maybe working with this material has tuned their process going forward.

I would rather GEC never use even a popular slab; if it means aggravating any amount of my customers.
 
Could it be as simple as using a buffing wheel with white buffing compound instead of black on unicorn acrylic?!

I am getting anxious for the 62 Carver, and it seems like it is taking forever.........!
 
Elgatodeacero said:
Could it be as simple as using a buffing wheel with white buffing compound instead of black on unicorn acrylic?!

I am getting anxious for the 62 Carver, and it seems like it is taking forever.........!
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Yeah, right... change the topic.... :rolleyes:

:D :D Actually, I was just thinking the same thing... they should be getting close to production on those.. Perhaps already putting them together? (scales and handles)
 
knifeswapper said:
Let me be of a little assistance in understanding the way small companies with antiquated equipment think. They don't look at an acrylic that seems to consistently give them problems and think "we need to change our production process for this one acrylic". Instead of costing more money than they would ever benefit from one variation - they either fix an easy problem or scrap the variation. We like the vast majority of slabs they produce as a whole - there will be no demand gap created by the elimination of problem handle materials. They have done it many times over the last 13 years.

And, although it may be true that a consistent technique failure would damage a company - it would not damage it nearly as much as making 5 digit investments chasing 3 digit returns.
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That's why I'm surprised that they used it again at all, since they had trouble with it on the #25's. Maybe they had a bunch leftover and didn't want it to go to waste. :D

Hey Mike, since we're talking about GEC and scrapped handle materials, do you know if they've abandoned Nifebrite Acrylic? Seems like it was in regular use on Tidioute and F&F knives for several years, but I don't think we've seen any since 2017.
 
btb01 said:
That's why I'm surprised that they used it again at all, since they had trouble with it on the #25's. Maybe they had a bunch leftover and didn't want it to go to waste. :D

Hey Mike, since we're talking about GEC and scrapped handle materials, do you know if they've abandoned Nifebrite Acrylic? Seems like it was in regular use on Tidioute and F&F knives for several years, but I don't think we've seen any since 2017.
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AND! Was it popular? The nifebrite, I mean.
 
btb01 said:
That's why I'm surprised that they used it again at all, since they had trouble with it on the #25's. Maybe they had a bunch leftover and didn't want it to go to waste. :D

Hey Mike, since we're talking about GEC and scrapped handle materials, do you know if they've abandoned Nifebrite Acrylic? Seems like it was in regular use on Tidioute and F&F knives for several years, but I don't think we've seen any since 2017.
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A) I'm not sure that this is exactly the same acrylic as they used previously. Unicorn Ivory is a GEC name and it may be a 2nd attempt at a faux ivory product - just not the same (haven't asked).

B) I have head no negatives about nifebrite nor any word they have stopped using it. It has generally moved slower than other options; thus they may just be making to demand. But orange delrin, although a staple for hi-vis work slabs, has not moved well either - thus I would expect them to alternate.
 
I've been resisting buying knives over 3.5" closed, because I don't like how bulky they can feel in the pocket. But this 62 is only a hair over that limit, and seems very slim. I also love the combo of straight edged blade + whatever else. The call of the unicorn is tempting.
 
For me, if the 82 Possum Skinner had been 3.5” it would have been a great configuration and I would still have one. The 62 is much better in that regard even though I would have preferred a coping blade.
 
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