Another Tero Tuf Question

[Col Defender]

Good morning - as an experiment, I ordered a couple of blanks of Tero Tuf and have played with it a bit in the shop - (sanding, drilling, cutting) and had no issues. I think I like it.

But does anyone know how it fares when gotten dirty or bloody as in field dressing a deer? Can it be readily cleaned up? It seems a bit porous and if stuff gets in the pores will that be hard/impossible to clean out? How would spraying a sealer on it work out - good or bad idea?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is a polyester resin impregnated material. It washes and cleans easily. The problems are usually with the fiber part of the material. They may absorb some of the contaminants in use and cleaning, and get dull or dirty looking. Sealing the fibers as part of the handle finishing steps usually solves that problem. People use many methods to do such. Tru-oil, thin CA, mineral/baby oil, and wax are normal sealers for canvas Micarta and Terro-tuff. ( edited to add) Most folks don't worry about it. Some "well used wear" coloring is normal and not a detraction.

While the manufacturer makes a big deal that it is tougher than the other laminates, the major attribute over Canvas Micarta is ease of grinding/sanding/shaping and no formaldehyde smell when sanding. The toughness being touted is dubious and even if so isn't a needed feature. No one I know of ever had a Micarta or G-10 handle fail because of toughness problems. Remember - rubber is tougher than steel....but we don't rush out to make rubber knives.

 

[Col Defender]

It is a polyester resin impregnated material. It washes and cleans easily. The problems are usually with the fiber part of the material. They may absorb some of the contaminants in use and cleaning, and get dull or dirty looking. Sealing the fibers as part of the handle finishing steps usually solves that problem. People use many methods to do such. Tru-oil, thin CA, mineral/baby oil, and wax are normal sealers for canvas Micarta and Terro-tuff.

While the manufacturer makes a big deal that it is tougher than the other laminates, the major attribute over Canvas Micarta is ease of grinding/sanding/shaping and no formaldehyde smell when sanding. The toughness being touted is dubious and even if so isn't a needed feature. No one I know of ever had a Micarta or G-10 handle fail because of toughness problems. Remember - rubber is tougher than steel....but we don't rush out to make rubber knives.

Thank you!

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

It seems to me the main functional benefit to the material is how it behaves in a wet slippery hand. I wouldn't want to seal it in a way that negated that benefit. If you want something shiny and impervious there are different materials.