Advice on fiber spacer shaping

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
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Hey guys. I have some scrap pieces of fiber spacer material from when I had a shop and was playing around with making knives. I never got much experience with the stuff. I've got a Benchmade 810 Contego that has g10 scales and I'd like to use the remaining fiber spacer material to go between the scales and the steel liners.

If I had plenty of the stuff I would play around with it, but I only have enough for the job. So... once I rough cut the shape can it then be fitted using sandpaper or is it best to try and cut it to the exact shape? It's going to be a little hard because there are some fairly complex (at least for me) curves and jimping. If not sandpaper what do you recommend? Maybe a dremel?

I'm not sure if there are different types but this stuff looks and feels like strong cardstock. You know... now that I think of it I do have a sheet of white. Maybe I could practice with that first.

Also, do I need to seal it somehow? I bought it from a knife supply company where I also got my 1095 and micarta so I guess it's professional stuff.

Any help, tips or tricks are appreciated!
 
That "card stock" type stuff, great description, is a very poor material. It will absorb moisture and other fluids and swell, shrink and separate . Thin G10 is the recommended material to use and can be bought at AKS Supply.
 
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I agree with Frank. Throw that stuff away and get some thin G10. It is not suitable for knife use and should have never been marketed to knifemakers.

If you do still want to use it, then cut it and sand it the same as you would everything else. I've heard of people flooding it with super glue to help stablize it but I've never tried it.
 
Hmm... I tried to cut into this stuff with my knife and it's extremely tough. When I do cut it the edges look like shiny plastic and corners are very sharp. Maybe I described the wrong stuff or maybe it is junk I can't tell yet. I'll post pics when I'm done though.
 
I've used it before and never had problems with it. As long as you use epoxy it pretty much seals out most of it. Although I do use g10 as liner material don't get discouraged. You can still use you fiber liners and have good results. That's all Murray carter uses and he does good with it as well. Just use epoxy and you will be fine. You could also take the finished liner before you install it and paint some minwax wood hardener on it to stabilize it a little. Just a thought
 
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