Best adhesive for bonding horse stall mat to G10/micarta?

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

That's good to know, thank you for sharing your results

Thanks! It wasn't the most scientific of tests but I feel confident in the G-Flex! Anything to help.

 

[Troop]

Daniel, In your opinion, which of the adhesives you tested would be the best to bond the horse stall mat directly on to the tang? I tried to get the adhesive that Stacy recommended, the Epoxy-Patch 11C, but it's been discontinued.
Thanks,
Mitch

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Try System Three or West System epoxy. You can use it plain ,or dye it with black epoxy pigment. Both are available pretty much everywhere.
The G-flex, by west systems, is a modified resin and should work about the same as the standard resin on a hard tang. It is designed for bonding dissimilar surfaces and things that may move a bit in use....like fiberglass boat seams. A knife tang doesn't have much flex, so the bond doesn't need too much modulus of elasticity. If G-flex is available, use it....if not it should be fine to use the regular high bonding epoxy.

The biggest advantage of all these resins is that they are slow curing. This allows the bond to be stronger and deeper. 5 minute and 30 minute epoxies are much less strong.

 

[Troop]

Thanks, Stacy. I already have some G-Flex on hand.
- Mitch

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I glued up my very first knife with G-Flex and it is stall mat, it is holding up perfectly so I'd also go with the G-Flex.

I have tested the G-Flex Bond to G10 and walnut on two knives, I will say it was an all day affair to remove the scales and the pins were completely drilled out, even a 22oz framing hammer wouldn't budge them straight out of the freezer! I sometimes like to do a thin tang like 3/32 with 1/8" scales, they can flex a lot and the G-Flex has proved well in the small amount of flex testing I have done.

 

[Troop]

I glued up my very first knife with G-Flex and it is stall mat, it is holding up perfectly so I'd also go with the G-Flex.

I have tested the G-Flex Bond to G10 and walnut on two knives, I will say it was an all day affair to remove the scales and the pins were completely drilled out, even a 22oz framing hammer wouldn't budge them straight out of the freezer! I sometimes like to do a thin tang like 3/32 with 1/8" scales, they can flex a lot and the G-Flex has proved well in the small amount of flex testing I have done.

Thanks for the reply, Daniel. I've been using the thickened G-Flex for about a year; it's pretty incredible stuff. Never thought about using it on rubber, though. When I get back on my feet, I'm going to try it out.
- Mitch