Epoxy problems

S

Sharp_newbie

Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
701
Sooooooooooo...

i epoxied my antler handle onto my knife, the tutorial i was using said that it is better to use to much epoxy than too little and i think i went a bit overboard....

i had some file work down the spin at the handle and now some of the notches are filled with epoxy. (i missed it due to the poor lighting in my basement.) im wondering if anyone knows how to get that stuff out/off, or am i stuck with it.

thanks
 
Acetone? If, however, if smoothly (and transparently) filled the filework, you can just claim it was on purpose!
 
I haven't had this exact problem before, but on similar problems I've had luck making scrapers from brass rod. Harder than epoxy, softer than steel, done right you can cut and scrape even deep epoxy fairly quickly without fear of scratching the steel. It will take a careful hand to protect your antler, but the color and texture of antler are working in your favor.
 
What Nathan said...

I use petroleum jelly or rub wax on stuff to prevent epoxy from sticking where I don't want it. While the epoxy is setting you can clean it off with vinegar or acetone on a rag or q-tip.
 
Lightly and carefully heat the area and the epoxy will soften and be easier to remove with a solvent
 
use a piece of antler tine if you have any as a scraper. it wont scratch the blade and will remove the epoxy after heating it up. just heat the area enough to soften the epoxy and dont overdo the heat.
 
When I do filework, I always fill it in unless its a raised spine. otherwise, I find that the filework simply becomes a dust/moisture/dirt collection system.
 
A dremel with a plastic bristle brush set at a pretty good speed takes epoxy right off without scratching anything. Then just rub it down with acetone. If for some reason that doesn't work I'd go with the brass scrapers.
 
You might be faster filing out the epoxy and re-sanding your filework.
Lessons like that hurt. Then you buy more lamps.
(I did)
 
Sharp_newbie said:
.... (i missed it due to the poor lighting in my basement.)......
Click to expand...

You might find that something like this personal lighting solution may be of help: headlamp
I use something like that to highlight grinding, look for scratches, fine fitting, etc almost all the time nowadays as my vision worsens with age.
 
48 inch 2 bulb shoplights are great for over workstations

I find that I can get a pointy tool to dig into the epoxy and usually I can peel it off of polished steel (epoxy doesn't have much to grab on a highly polished metal surface) failing that I'd make a little chisel out of brass and use that but I havent had to yet

-Page
 
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