Any Healt Risks in Grinding SIFU Handles?

Vampire Gerbil

Vampire Gerbil

Gone, but not forgotten. RIP Dave
Platinum Member
Joined
Sep 21, 1999
Messages
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I've heard that many people that received the SIFUs were unhappy with the sharp edges of the handles, and they've taken to grinding/sanding away the offending points.
I seem to remember reading that some handle materials were extremely dangerous to grind due to the dust that kicks up.
I'm probably thinking of carbon fiber and it's not a problem with the SIFU, but in case I'm mistaken....?


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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.


 
The amount of offending material is REALLY small. It took me less than 15 seconds per tip with the file on my Gerber Multipliers to deal with the tiny peaks...as long as you're not trying a major recontour job with a dremel the amount of dust will be a non-issue...and what IS produced won't be flung up where you can breath it.

In short: avoid the dremel.

Jim
 
Hiya Jim,
I figured that the amount is small.
I guess I'm just being paranoid, but the atricle I read seemd to say that even microscopic particles can be hazardous.
I'm thinking more and more that I read about carbon fiber... something almost like glass particles that can be inhaled and cut into your lung tissue. The way it was described was pretty nasty.
I'm not trying to make anyone paranoid, just that I'd feel better knowing I can file away at the handles when the fershelungerin' UPS guy finnaly shows up with my pair.
Thanks!
VG

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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.


 
Go slow, use a hand file versus powertools and you won't throw the crap up to where you breath.

All will be coolness.

Jim
 
Do it outside with a fan blowing the dust away from you. This is what I do when hand-sanding G-10. And I wear a dust mask (you know, the pinch at the nose white ones) just-in-case. Make sure the prevailing wind is not blowing the dust back at you. But, you know that, huh?
Sorry. Just trying to be thorough.
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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.


 
The one advantage of using BladeForums is we get to fine tune the knives. We are making the fine changes to the production Sifu's and fine tuning. Any other comments what do you like about it? and other bitches?

Bob Taylor

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
A few rubs with wet 220 grit should do it. Sand while under running water and there won't be any dust at all.
Bitches? I thought I was going to get a Sifu with "frist" edition.
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Some type of sheath would be nice. Maybe Kydex break front clip on? I would be willing to pay for it even. Also, a little sanding or buffing on the blade where the lock rides the curve at the pivit end. Other that that it is one heck of a knife.
 
What I would change on the Sifu......There ain't much, the finger groove point thing would be first, well ...frist on the list...A pocket clip or sheath, or both..After that, maybe, just maybe, some bigger bushings, wider ones i mean, you got all that space in there, why not use it? it would help spread out lateral loads and keep the stress on the pivot minimal.

oh, and put some sort of tacky adhesive on the inside of the scales where the stop pin is at to get rid of the rattling. like a rubber cement or something.

These are all minor whines anyhow, you guys have pretty damn close to the perfect folding "social occasions" knife. Makes me wish there were some training available up here in the AK so I could use it effectively.

YeK

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"But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh." Judges 3:16

AKTI # A000348
 
The wider washers is actually a great idea, although it might slow down opening a hair. Might be worth it though, perhaps offered as an option? Sell the knife with both sets?

Bob, how much would it cost to thrown in one or two extra screws and an extra of one of the standoff posts, just in case somebody lost or stripped one? If it's on the order of a buck or so, it would seem to be a nice little "extra"?

If you're really plotting changes, it might be worth pondering a slightly "fatter pommel" with an eye towards allowing a greater area of spine to be sharpened. As is, about 3/4ths of an inch of spine vanishes completely into the grip, if that was extended to, say, 2" or so it would be that much more length that's sharpenable?

Note that if this screws with balance or handling, forget it...but it might be worth at least mocking up, see how it goes?

Jim
 
Jim,

This scares the crop out of me, but my mind is starting to work along the same lines as yours. I was looking at the swedge of the Sifu thinking how nasty it would be if it were sharp. It would take a lot of handle to hide it though.

I find the Sifu to be a very satisfying piece. Everything in the design works really well, and it is mechanically sound. Hard to think of anything to bitch about. The points of the finger grooves were extremely minor to fix.

PS - I like to wear a filter mask whenever I do anything with G-10. The sanding I did on the Sifu was very minor though, so I didn't bother.

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 29 October 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 29 October 1999).]
 
While working with a mask, don' t forget the gloves and eye protection. It is easy to forget about those dust particles (even when wet) when one needs to rub ones eyes, nose or mouth. More cautionary measures won' t hurt.

L8r,
Nakano
 
No bitches yet...i just WANT it in my hands
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"I wouldn't mind you being inside my head if you weren't clearly so crazy."

"Suddenly there came a tapping, as of some one gently rapping, rapping at
my chamber door." Tis only me with my Sifu, nothing more. ;)

 
I have noticed the sharp G10 points at the finger grooves, though I haven't done the corrective sanding yet. I also noticed that the lock release on mine is a little sticky. Maybe that will work its way in.

I put my Sifu to its first use last night. At temple, after services, we serve some refreshments, and one guy in the host family was struggling to slice a big loaf of egg bread with the dullest knife he could find. (The lady next to him was doing just fine with the Spyderco bread knife I had donated). This was a perfect opportunity to break in my Sifu with a relentlessly peaceful use, so I said "Excuse me, but a sharp knife would work better," opened the Sifu one-handed of course, and made short work of the egg bread. People there know me well enough that nobody cringed.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
James,
Try doing that at the next Bris you attend!
(Be sure to have a camera focused on the Moyle's face!)
Apologizing for the possible spelling errors,
VG

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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.


 
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