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Carbon fiber pocket clips?

L

lawfor

Joined
Dec 25, 2013
Messages
428
Just wondering what experiences folks have had with these. In my mind, carbon fiber can be a good matieral for a part of the knife that does not move/flex like a handle scale or bolster but it seems to me that it would not be very good for making a clip that in theory, has to be able to bend and flex. Nonetheless, I see a lot of makers switching from ti or steel clips and using carbon fiber. I'd be worried about it snapping off under pressure. What say you?
 
I haven't seen any knives using carbon fiber for the pocket clip. It has a very high tensile strength, but I wonder if it would "unravel" with use.
 
The best answer to this question lies within the Mountain bike realm. High end MTB makers are collectively moving to carbon frames, tubing, components, rims, seatposts, handlebars, cranks for the very reason that carbon fiber, when manufactured properly, can bend and retain its shape thousands of cycles more than steel or even titanium. When I say bend, I do mean flex. The Cannondale Scalpel is an excellent example of this. Also look at this rise of carbon fiber components for DH racing, arguably the most destructive of MTB disciplines. The trick, I would assume, lies in the exterior finish as knives are exposed to rough and abrading use.
 
I work for a company that makes carbon fiber pre preg. Carbon fiber is used on jets,tanks,cars,bikes & ect. It he strength is unbelievable. The people that say they dropped their knife and the CF scales broke, it's because the CF is sub-standard.
I have seen a 1/8" x 1/8"x 2" sample take over 5,000psi to sheer.

So, the clip shouldn't break.
 
Interesting. Thanks for all the comments. I actually own a cf road bike but I assumed that a part that had to bend like a clip would risk snapping off.
 
There was a gentleman here who experiemented with making his own molded carbon clips (10 layer, ish). They looked good - though thicker than I would have expected. I think he was a materials engineering student - and was playing with molded spines, and such to get stiffness and flexibility where needed.

edit: found one of the threads. This one is thinner than I remember them being.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Clip-Para-II?highlight=10-layer+carbon+fiber
 
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The layup of the individual layers of fibers can also be altered to achieve different flexibility and/or stiffness levels. Certain custom bicycle makers have, in recent years, been making their own carbon fiber tubes and using their own layups. So my thoughts are that if someone can make their own micarta, they can make their own carbon fiber scales, bolsters, and maybe even clips.
 
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