Carbon Fiber Handles

U

Uppercut

Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
6
I just put carbon fiber on a knife for the first time and after grinding and buffing the fiber pattern has disappeared.
Are you not supposed to sand off the top layer.
Ignorance may be bliss till you try do something.
 
I'm not exactly sure I understand your description.

There should be a clear layer of resin as the finish surface.
 
It sounds like I screwed up and ground from the finished side not the back side. (blade side)
 
You might be able to salvage it. But it's not guranteed:
1) buy some high strength epoxy. The kind that takes 8-hours to cure up.
2) Buy some MEK (methyl ethyl ketone). MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) would be even better. Toluene would work as well.
3) need 1/2" brush. Use a cheap brush, you will throw it out when done.

Do this in a clean, dry, ventillated area, NO FLAMES. Respirator recommended, but not absolutely necessary as you are only going to do this for a couple of minutes. Wear Gloves. If you use a brush, dip it in the solvent and pull at the fibers to get rid of any loose ones.

3) mix a small amount of epoxy and add a bit of solvent to make a varnish consistency.
4) brush the solution onto the epoxy-carbon fiber.

Let it dry then cure. dust free area. room temp.

You might need to give it a second coat.
 
Do you have some pictures of what happened? I use to do a lot of work in composites but for auto/racing stuff. are there any fibers left you can sorta see? If so a clearcoat of paint over the handles should smooth out the surface and let you see the fibers again if you didnt sand too much.
 
Uppercut said:
I just put carbon fiber on a knife for the first time and after grinding and buffing the fiber pattern has disappeared.
Are you not supposed to sand off the top layer.
Click to expand...

Uppercut, I'm sorry but I had to laugh at this. Sounds like something I would've done. Hope it works out for you though. I think in time as you're telling this story you'll have to laugh too. Isn't learning fun?

Cheers,
Gibby
 
Where did you purchase it from? It sounds like some cheap laminate or something. I got some carbon scales off ebay and they seem to have layers of fibers going all the way through it.
 
Uppercut said:
I just put carbon fiber on a knife for the first time and after grinding and buffing the fiber pattern has disappeared.
Are you not supposed to sand off the top layer.
Ignorance may be bliss till you try do something.
Click to expand...



I was also told by a maker with years of experience that Carbon Fiber is very toxic when working with it(cutting and sanding). Make sure you ware a mask or a respirator.


mnyshrpknvs
 
svslider said:
Where did you purchase it from? It sounds like some cheap laminate or something. I got some carbon scales off ebay and they seem to have layers of fibers going all the way through it.
Click to expand...

CF IS a laminate. It is similar to G10, but the fibers are carbon instead of glass.

The top of the laminate is clear resin.
 
It is hard to get that 3-d super polish back after you sand it rough.Try to sand it finer and finer and it should return somewhat.
 
mnyshrpknvs said:
I was also told by a maker with years of experience that Carbon Fiber is very toxic when working with it(cutting and sanding). Make sure you ware a mask or a respirator.


mnyshrpknvs
Click to expand...

The biggest issue is that not even a forced-air ceramic filter respirator can keep out ALL of the dust that cf makes, if I remember correctly. Bad stuff to work with.:barf:
 
I'm not sure about bringing the pattern back, but I'd have to reinforce the respirator idea. I was looking for a "dust mask" for grinding G10. All the ones that were the simple masks, not respirators, said not to use them when working around harmful dust. I used an old respirator I have and will probably go out sometime and buy a new nicer one. Good luck with your handles and post some pics when you're done!
 
mnyshrpknvs said:
I was also told by a maker with years of experience that Carbon Fiber is very toxic when working with it(cutting and sanding). Make sure you ware a mask or a respirator.


mnyshrpknvs
Click to expand...



If your just making small stuff like handles, I really wouldn't worry about it. It's like asbestos where if your not in the industry and working with it every day, all day long for like 20 years, its not gonna give you lung cancer. If you are a scardy cat, just use a simple mask and/or wetsand it.

BTW: Where are you guys getting your CF from? Also, Why are you sanding all the way to/thru the fibers? Are you casting your own peices?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top