Cold temps?

[Daniel Moore]

I've got a fixed blade with pinned and epoxied micarta scales that I leave in the toolbox I have in the hatch of my car if I'm somewhere where I don't want to carry it, and with single-digits temperatures, I'm worried about scale cracking. I carry it in a leather sheath, but when it's cold the leather stays home and I use the kydex so the leather won't crack/stiffen.

 

[rebeltf]

I would worry a bit -depending on steel type- about condensation on the blade from temp changes , i.e. one day it is 20 , next week it warms up to 60 .
Otherwise I think you are good to go , maybe put a light coat of oil on your blade.

 

[Daniel Moore]

Hey Rebeltf,

I should clarify that I don't leave the knife in my car all day. As soon as I get back to my car, it goes back on my belt and I always keep it wiped down. I do know that I've had tools show corrosion from the same things you're describing.

 

[knarfeng]

I've got a fixed blade with pinned and epoxied micarta scales that I leave in the toolbox I have in the hatch of my car if I'm somewhere where I don't want to carry it, and with single-digits temperatures, I'm worried about scale cracking. .

I don't think you need to worry about the scales cracking from exposure to single digit temps.

The glass transition temp of an epoxy laminate system is on the order of 200F. Below that temp, the material is not going to show any elastic movement. Cooling it further would have no effect. The resin is already frozen in position.

If you are worrying about a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the steel and the epoxy, do not. The difference is not so great that a temp diff of 100F is going to cause problems.