adhesives.. thinking outside the box

speedandsteel

speedandsteel

Joined
May 13, 2011
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15
I was working on a survival kit project when i googled the strongest tape in the worldand found out about 3m vhb tape. If this stuff can replace welds in building, what do you think about using it to attach handle scales?:confused:
 
It sounds feasible. I'd be interested in learning more about any experiments y'all do along these lines.
 
There was a man at Blade that attatched his scales with tape.....don't know if it was that particular tape but it was a 3M product. He said you had to destroy the knife to pull scales off liners. It was a very thin tape and you could not see it in the finished knife and this was a gents' slipjoint. It was impressive if his claims are true. Unforutnately I do not remember his name.
 
I believe Chris Reeve use the 3M tape to hold the inlays in his knives.

Gody
 
The stuff I've seen is very thick and foamy - spongy.

apparently there are other thinner types which would be nice for handles and such

& high temp types which would be required for the Platen attachment.
We are using JB weld instead of other epoxy because of the 500degree F temperature range.


The 3 M website has listings for lots of variations.
Maybe somebody can request samples and give those a try ?
Is anyone on good terms with a 3M rep?
 
12345678910 said:
high temp types which would be required for the Platen attachment.
We are using JB weld instead of other epoxy because of the 500degree F temperature range.
Click to expand...

Personally, I use an exterior grade double sided carpet tape that I picked up at menards (it may actually be 3m, I can't recall) to currently hold my ceramic glass liner in place. I actually just replaced platen due to wear, and in the few months and hours of grinding, I've never even had a hint of slippage (And I've gotten my platen HOT). Apparently the VHB tape is rated for heat anyway, and I imagine it's at least better than the stuff I currently use.

At any rate, if you're reaching temps of 500F on the back of your platen, you've got other problems.... ;)

BTW, I also use a ledge under my platen as an insurance policy.
 
Oh, and does anybody know what the thinner tape is called that Chris Reeve might be using?
 
I've used the 3M tapes to build proof of concept manufacturing fixtures, hold parts for machinig, and assemble medical devices but never thought to use them on knives. They come in different thicknesses, with polymer film (tape) or just as a layer of adhesive. They allow some flexing and expansion/contraction of the materials bonded.

Biggest issue with using them is assembling parts - things MUST be aligned perfectly because you don't get second chances - once parts touch it's a done deal.
 
stevomiller said:
I've used the 3M tapes to build proof of concept manufacturing fixtures, hold parts for machinig, and assemble medical devices but never thought to use them on knives. They come in different thicknesses, with polymer film (tape) or just as a layer of adhesive. They allow some flexing and expansion/contraction of the materials bonded.

Biggest issue with using them is assembling parts - things MUST be aligned perfectly because you don't get second chances - once parts touch it's a done deal.
Click to expand...

I'd hate to hang a finger in the stuff...
 
knife to a gunfight said:
Personally, I use an exterior grade double sided carpet tape that I picked up at menards (it may actually be 3m, I can't recall) to currently hold my ceramic glass liner in place. I actually just replaced platen due to wear, and in the few months and hours of grinding, I've never even had a hint of slippage (And I've gotten my platen HOT). Apparently the VHB tape is rated for heat anyway, and I imagine it's at least better than the stuff I currently use.

At any rate, if you're reaching temps of 500F on the back of your platen, you've got other problems.... ;)

BTW, I also use a ledge under my platen as an insurance policy.
Click to expand...

Do you have a base plate the Ceramic Platen is resting on? In my experience the carpet tape will let it slide down when it warms up. It won't drop out the bottom cause the belt keeps it in place, It just wears out the bottom edge much faster than if you used a base plate or JB Weld.
 
RyanW said:
Do you have a base plate the Ceramic Platen is resting on? In my experience the carpet tape will let it slide down when it warms up. It won't drop out the bottom cause the belt keeps it in place, It just wears out the bottom edge much faster than if you used a base plate or JB Weld.
Click to expand...

I have it taped to my regular metal platen, but I have a small ledge underneath the bottom edge of the glass to keep it from sliding down. So far, the biggest point of wear comes from where I push blades and other things into the platen while I'm grinding.

So far I've had zero problems, and I actually JUST replaced it last night due to wear. It was extremely easy to just break the glass and scrape and peel everything off. Had I used JB Weld, I would have had to build a whole new platen assembly from scratch. A job that took me 15 minutes with tape would have easily taken me at least an hour or more, not to mention the extra material costs.
 
If you look around on the 3M website, you'll find a # to contact an engineer.

I did this several years ago on a non knife related project, and they sent me a sample of some VHB that is just adhesive.
No carrier.

This stuff is evil.

Like mentioned earlier, you get 1 shot with it, no do overs.

It holds like crazy.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
I have it taped to my regular metal platen, but I have a small ledge underneath the bottom edge of the glass to keep it from sliding down. So far, the biggest point of wear comes from where I push blades and other things into the platen while I'm grinding.

So far I've had zero problems, and I actually JUST replaced it last night due to wear. It was extremely easy to just break the glass and scrape and peel everything off. Had I used JB Weld, I would have had to build a whole new platen assembly from scratch. A job that took me 15 minutes with tape would have easily taken me at least an hour or more, not to mention the extra material costs.
Click to expand...

The Ledge is what I was suggesting, some people have not modified their platen with a shelf/ledge. The Tape doesn't work well in that case.

When I change them out I just stick it in the forge for a few minutes, the JB Weld will light on fire and the ceramic platen just falls off, Scrape the excess off with a putty knife, let cool. Then attach another...
 
RyanW said:
The Ledge is what I was suggesting, some people have not modified their platen with a shelf/ledge. The Tape doesn't work well in that case.

When I change them out I just stick it in the forge for a few minutes, the JB Weld will light on fire and the ceramic platen just falls off, Scrape the excess off with a putty knife, let cool. Then attach another...
Click to expand...

I would NEVER suggest not using a ledge, even with the JB Weld, but especially with the tape. I didn't know JB weld scraped off so easily though. That's a good idea putting it in the forge.
 
Reading the blurb on the Chris Reeve site, I remembered that we used to hold fiberglass on blue (closed cell) foam model sailplane wings with the 3m tape - for that application it worked better than epoxy and the fiberglass wouldn't come off without the foam breaking.

I personally would not be put off of a knife knowing the scales were held on with this tape. Some people might...
 
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