cut micarta/g10

tito

tito

Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
670
I remember a thread about cutting laminates not too long ago, but can't find it anywhere. Does anyone know the best way to cut micarta and g10? My 14" band saw struggles with it...I broke a wood blade yesterday, so I tried a metal blade. That broke, too. I am cutting a piece of Todd G10, but would also like to split 3/8" canvas micarta if I want. Thanks for any advice.
 
For cutting straight lines, it's hard to beat a tile saw.

I have one of those gantry type harbor freight wet saws, and it makes short work of a whole sheet.
 
Good - I just brought back a few walrus tusks from AK, and that's what my father-in-law suggested to use for the ivory as well. Do you use any special blade?
 
A good scroll saw will do a fine job. I have been using mine to cut 3/8" micarta for a few months works like a champ. You have to be sure to get the right blades though, the home depot blades or the like will just snap. I recommend the Olson precision ground blades, I think they call them "PGC" blades, they will cut it like butter and will not drift like normal blades.

I good scroll saw will also make life easy.
 
I cut all my micarta on a tablesaw and shape it with my wood bandsaw. Never cut G10 yet.
 
tito said:
I remember a thread about cutting laminates not too long ago, but can't find it anywhere. Does anyone know the best way to cut micarta and g10? My 14" band saw struggles with it...I broke a wood blade yesterday, so I tried a metal blade. That broke, too. I am cutting a piece of Todd G10, but would also like to split 3/8" canvas micarta if I want. Thanks for any advice.
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I am using a Dewalt wet tile saw with Diamond blade, had to modify the guard slightly to get the 1 1/2'' material under it. But it does a good job, just don't rush the cutting.

Jim
 
I baught a couple spair 18tpi blades lennox diemaster 2 blades for cutting up CF and G-10. funny how it will snap a blade.i've never broken a blade on TI or SS.but snapped 3 on g-10 :jerkit:
 
I use a wood cutting band saw with a metal cutting blade and go slow to cut G-10. works for me.
 
I just use the metal cutting bandsaw on both, never had a problem. Never use really thick G10 though.
 
I wasn't too clear in my original post...the material is 1.5" thick, whether it's Micarta or G10. I thought about using my table saw as well, but think I will save that for a last resort, or maybe just when I get an old blade to test it out on. Jim's tile saw method seems to be the most popular for cutting large pieces, so I guess I"ll give it a shot. Thanks for all the responses, coty.
 
tito said:
I wasn't too clear in my original post...the material is 1.5" thick, whether it's Micarta or G10. I thought about using my table saw as well, but think I will save that for a last resort, or maybe just when I get an old blade to test it out on. Jim's tile saw method seems to be the most popular for cutting large pieces, so I guess I"ll give it a shot. Thanks for all the responses, coty.
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1.5" would be a little thick for a scroll saw:eek::p . Your best bet is rpobably the tile saw.
 
I cut some of Jim Todd's light Green G10 yesterday with a horizontal bandsaw (w/ liquid coolant) and it worked great. The G10 was was 2" thick and 11" wide.

Brad
 
ive never worked with a scroll saw till i bought one at a flea market. i clamped it down but it still seems to vibrate like crazy. is that normal? when im done cutting my hands feel tingly as if they are asleep. what i am doing wrong?---mark --aka thread stealer
 
marekz said:
ive never worked with a scroll saw till i bought one at a flea market. i clamped it down but it still seems to vibrate like crazy. is that normal? when im done cutting my hands feel tingly as if they are asleep. what i am doing wrong?---mark --aka thread stealer
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No that is not normal, a good saw should be completely still and so quiet you could leave the room and forget to turn it off.

If you want to upgrade I highly recomend one of the hawk or excalibur lines, and a great runner up ( prefered for its price ) the dewalt.

hawk, I have the G4. its a dream to use.
http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/scrollsaws.html

excalibur, its a great saw but the finish on the table is a little rough fr My taste
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=20599

This is just like the excalibur ( even made in the same factory) but lower CQ, as good as you can do under $800
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=104

After that I would recommend the dremel.

I know a little bit about scroll sawing, I used to do a lot of it, until I started knife making ;) . I still use it a lot, just not for real intricate stuff mostly knife handles. I can stack 2x 3/8" pieces of micarta and the hawk will go right through it without blade warp.
 
OK...the bandsaw started good and got consistantly worse as the cutting continued. Same speed, feed, and downward pressure. Blade is a raker blade w/ 8 TPI and by the end you had to push the saw down through the material. After the cutting was done, the blade cut right through some steel w/ no problem. Any ideas why???

I'm want to try a tile saw next but how do you cut 2" material in a tile saw????
 
I believe you just cut one side half way through then flip it over and cut the other side.
 
B.V. said:
OK...the bandsaw started good and got consistantly worse as the cutting continued. Same speed, feed, and downward pressure. Blade is a raker blade w/ 8 TPI and by the end you had to push the saw down through the material. After the cutting was done, the blade cut right through some steel w/ no problem. Any ideas why???

I'm want to try a tile saw next but how do you cut 2" material in a tile saw????
Click to expand...

My Dewalt did not have the clearance to cut 1 1/2'' material, we change the angle of the cut and managed to get the material under it, do not know if that can be done with yours. If you do cut at angle, recut and get the thickness you want, then square up edges.
Just my .02
not worth much,
Jim
 
Jim....thanks again for the G10. It looks very cool after I cut some scales off of it.
 
I've cut my own home-grown denim micarta with a handheld jigsaw. The stuff was a about 1" thick or a bit thicker.
 
I cut out the handle for my first knife using a jigsaw and c-clamp. The worst part is the fact i was clamping a small piece and it was hard to negotiate the foot of the saw with the clamp there.
 
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