CRK Inlays

T

TrojanSteel

Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
381
Hi all, I don't own a CRK, but I'm strongly considering one.. and I'm wondering: what mechanism does CRK use to fasten the inlays to the titanium? Are the micarta/wood slabs glued or somehow fused?

Thanks!
 
I have fiddled around with various samples of the 3M VHB tape. Though very strong, it will not hold an "inlay" to the outside of a Ti scale reliably. Over time, for example, a cabochon attached to the outside of a Ti scale will slip in shear and ultimately release with normal use. It is, however, near 100% effective if the inlay is indeed inlayed as is the case with the CR decorations. The recesses are so precise that they effectively prevent any shear movement. They also restrict the possibility that the inlay would ever be subjected to a force pulling it out of the recess. The tape is indeed amazing stuff and I'm sure near 100% reliable in the CR application. Normal use of a pocket knife is not, however, the kind of test presented in any of the videos and it is not reliable enough to simply "stick" something to the flat surface of a Ti scale.
 
Without disagreeing with what you wrote, I will disagree. ;) We have a kickspace heater in the kitchen, under the sink cabinet, which has an off/lo/hi switch on it. My wife kicked the thing off for years. I tried everything I could think of to prevent this. My final and so far successful answer was to take two 2" pieces of light gauge aluminum "angle iron" and attach them to the heater faceplate on either side of the switch with VHB tape. So far, they have resisted all assaults, and they don't have the benefit of any recess or inletting. It's a different application, but it has worked for us. :thumbup:
 
wow, I have an inlay knife and did not know any of that. VHB seems like incredible stuff. I'll tell ya what, it seems like there on there pretty good, cant imagine they will ever come off.

If they do, I know CRK will make it right
 
I've asked before, to no avail, has there been an example of an inlay that had fallen off?

Just curious to see what it looks like inside
 
This stuff is not an issue. The inlays are stuck for good. Its probably stronger than pins, or glue, or screws, and since the whole inlay is bonded, cracking and chipping should be less of an issue. The inlay wants to stay in one piece.
 
Regardless of what my experience proves (or doesn't), Mal2's point about the effect of the recess in the titanium scale is certainly correct. I'd be shocked if any had fallen off.
 
I've been debating a micarta inlay sebenza, but the loss of an insert did (does) have me concerned. So, just yesterday I emailed Chris Reeve co, this was the response I received from Heather:

"Sean,
Our inserts do not fall out. They are held in place with high bonding tape. We have been offering inlays for more than a decade and have yet to have a problem with them falling out."

I then asked if replacements or spares could be purchased now in the event one did drop out -- since these knives will likley outlive me. Her reply:

"I’m sorry but we do not sell the inlays outside of the knife."

Now, I have used this adhesive many times on various projects. One success story that truly impressed me was when I used it to fasten an oak threshold to a bare concrete basement floor. That was 8 years ago and it's still in place. So...I guess it should not be a problem, but hey...I'm still undecided. That and which size to get.
 
Sean_K said:
I've been debating a micarta inlay sebenza, but the loss of an insert did (does) have me concerned. So, just yesterday I emailed Chris Reeve co, this was the response I received from Heather:

"Sean,
Our inserts do not fall out. They are held in place with high bonding tape. We have been offering inlays for more than a decade and have yet to have a problem with them falling out."

I then asked if replacements or spares could be purchased now in the event one did drop out -- since these knives will likley outlive me. Her reply:

"I’m sorry but we do not sell the inlays outside of the knife."

Now, I have used this adhesive many times on various projects. One success story that truly impressed me was when I used it to fasten an oak threshold to a bare concrete basement floor. That was 8 years ago and it's still in place. So...I guess it should not be a problem, but hey...I'm still undecided. That and which size to get.
Click to expand...


My large Micarta has been soaked in engine oil, washed in seawater, left wet for hours, cleaned with windex, handcleaner, Pine Sol, been left in a hot car, and frozen in a backpack. If those inlays were going fail on me, they would have done so by now.
 
kidcongo said:
My large Micarta has been soaked in engine oil, washed in seawater, left wet for hours, cleaned with windex, handcleaner, Pine Sol, been left in a hot car, and frozen in a backpack. If those inlays were going fail on me, they would have done so by now.
Click to expand...

That's pretty reasuring right there.
 
You don't need to worry about whether they'd sell you a replacement if the impossible happens - they won't need to. They'll replace it free under warranty. :) :thumbup:
 
Likely one of the best indications of how good the tape is is it's use in affixing badges to cars. Hot, cold, car washes etc. seldom remove them. Even that harsh treatment doesn't match normal use of a pocket knife, however. The small cabochons I attached with several variants of the tape failed in normal use. Recessed they would not have failed. The CRK experience, I believe, is proof of that. I suspect that the only way the CRK inlays could be removed is to chisel or grind them out in pieces.
 
According to their DVD- the bond increases over time. I have always heard that they have to break the inlays to get them out, which is another advantage of the micarta-they can re blast them without removing the inlay.
 
Last edited:
The highest quality 3M double sided tape. When pressed into the scale with an arbor press, it makes a pretty much an inseparable bond.

On a side note, I have used this same tape to attach auto trim to a chevy blazer and it held the molding on through 10 Pennsylvania winters and went to the the scrap yard still attached. The key is putting it on properly and applying lots of pressure for the adhesion to do its job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top