Review Carbon Fiber molded into Curly / Quilted "wood" figure for scales / handles

[javand]

I got your other samples in, and honestly the piece of quilted you sent me is what I liked the best, even with the larger pattern.

Definitely excited to checkout this micro-quilted stuff.

My personal "initial" response after hafting a section and polishing, was that while it's not the most dense/homogenous stuff I've ever seen, it had a lot less micro-tear out than the "Pearl CF" I used once in the past, which I loved the look of, but swore off ever using because it simply was impossible to get a fine finish on it without a coating epoxy or CA glue soaking method (which is too time consuming, and inconsistent for my process, and leaves a too-plastic look).

I think this material has a lot of potential, and I'm excited to see more.

 

[John Blazy]

I think this material has a lot of potential, and I'm excited to see more.

Thanks, Javan. Sorry been so long, but been busy making this stuff. I discovered Instagram since last time on here, so been posting there, but returned here to give updates.
I switched to a different supplier of CF, and the new material is tighter grained, virtually zero voids, and actually has higher chatoyance. Finally ramped up to do much thicker layups and cut several new molds - Cholla Cactus Skeleton and my personal favorite - "Wild Ribbon Flame" based on the common figure seen in high-end guitars called Wide Ribbon Flame. I designed the mold for deeper topography, allowing thick panels without losing the depth in the middle layers. The design is a combination of wide ribbon flame and the roping effect from common rope figure and block mottle. Then having success with copper bottoms and metallic interleaf layers. Will be attending Blade Show, and maybe exhibit next year.

 

[LARRYZ10]

This is interesting stuff and should be explored and tried. It might be too over the top for a guy like me who looks deep into burl wood for answers to the universe and thinks only natural grown trees provide the most beautiful scales...but I'm willing to look and try some in the future. Larry

 

[John Blazy]

This is interesting stuff and should be explored and tried. It might be too over the top for a guy like me who looks deep into burl wood for answers to the universe and thinks only natural grown trees provide the most beautiful scales...but I'm willing to look and try some in the future. Larry

Nice clean design Larry. Here's the truth - If I hadn't invented this CF, and if I were a knifemaker, I would be the same, and would only use wood with a quest for the most figure and contrast. The mahogany boat I built doesn't have any of my products in it - wood is the ultimate. But I think I will make a small salon table for it in quilted CF tho. Look at it as figured ebony. Might even be fun to tell people its quilted ebony.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Outstanding looking material!

 

[javand]

This is interesting stuff and should be explored and tried. It might be too over the top for a guy like me who looks deep into burl wood for answers to the universe and thinks only natural grown trees provide the most beautiful scales...but I'm willing to look and try some in the future. Larry

You never know Larry. Before I started making slipjoints, I *never* used any man-made material on knives. I was, and mostly still am into ivories, horn, etc, and nice wood. For whatever reason though, I just *hate* wood on pocket knives, just my personal taste, but I've never favored it. Now I'm crazy for rare and exotic composites, like rag micarta, etc. and if I can't use ivory, stag or something similar, I'm more likely to choose something like that, as opposed to wood, I've just had too many problems with the best looking woods, to monkey with it most of the time.

Anyway, my point with all of this is, look back in 10 years, and I bet you'll be AMAZED, how much your tastes change.

I honestly detest most of the types of knives I was drawn to when I first started, for instance, and I've even got a few out there in the hands of old customers, which I made in the early years, that I've promised to deny ever making if the owners ever show them to anybody.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Some of that stuff would look really nice on folders. Somw i think is a bit too much but thats just my opinion

 

[John Blazy]

Some of that stuff would look really nice on folders. Somw i think is a bit too much but thats just my opinion

Hi justin - Loved your padauk handled knife I saw a while back on your IG stream.

Here's stuff I designed specifically for folders. The sample below is in typical size for a folder with a bolster. Without the metallic interleaf, I think its less "over the top" and represents my signature line of CF. The copper bottom does not show up viewed straight on, then looks amazing next to the spine, especially since all material is bookmatched.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Hey thanks man i appreciate it. I really like that. This is my favorite one you've posted. Absolutely beautiful

 

[John Blazy]

Allen Elishewitz knocked this one out of the park with my new Wild Ribbon Flame in Platinum metallic.

 

[Natlek]

Honestly I do not even know what I see .....I like it , but can you make some video clip ? I hope that way I can see what I see

 

[John Blazy]

maybe this will work