Epoxy saves the day!

Daniel L

Daniel L

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 2, 1998
Messages
2,005
Hi all,
I finally managed to make a replacement buttcap on my WWII by using a product called Knead-It - basically it's like putty but is actually epoxy based. So basically I made a ball and put it on the end of my WWII, waited for it to harden (60 mins) and sanded it to fit. After a coat of black spray paint and a marker pen (the epoxy dries to grey-white) i now have a tactical black buttcap! (And guaranteed not to go wobbly.)

I haven't had a chance to go and whack some wood yet... but swinging it around (martial arts nut) - I'm in love again!

Another thing I love about my WWII (the 18inch model) is the long handle - hold back for chopping and hold closer to the blade for weapons practice (if you're into that sort of thing.) The counter-balance of the partial tang and buttcap give the hefty blade a lot of agility.

And for max power chopping, you can even do a hand and a half grip (3 fingers of second hand grip the flared part and main hand further up the long handle) - trees beware!

Take care all,

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Daniel
A knifeknut in New Zealand
 
Epoxy is great stuff - thanks to a note awhile ago by Jim March I found JB-Weld. If you use epoxy you might want to have a look at that.

-Cliff
 
as a scuptor i should enlighten ya'll to a little secret...

there is this product we called "scuptors friend", (real name PC-7) we use it to make attachments of many dissimilar materials

you can buy it at hardware stores
it comes in a cardboard tube housing 2 film canisters

one side is black the other side is light grey
mix 50 50 and you get a medium grey putty that can be rolled paddled & shaped
hardens like a tough shapeable plastic

its good stuff!
it comes in pints too

dZ
 
We use an epoxy stick made by a company called "NEW PIG PRODUCTS". The PIG Repair Putty can be kneaded (wear gloves) to a light grey color. It bonds anything to anything. It is great stuff! It sets in about 20 minutes and dries harder than cement in an hour - non toxic and no VOC's. Give them a call at 1-800-468-4647. They can mail you out a 2" sample for free. If you want send me an e-mail and enclose your address and I can send you some. Once you use this stuff you will wonder how you could have lived without it. Use is limited to your imagination.
smile.gif
 
Many thanks for tips, guys. Daniel lives in New Zealand and since very buttcap is a bit different trying to get a replacement buttcap to fit his knife turned into a long distance disaster.

I have never liked the traditional Nepali buttcap from day 1. I have tried for several years to get this changed to a flat plate cap with little success. The kamis have a mind of their own but I will not give up. When I talk with Kami this weekend I am going to make my pitch for the flat buttcap again. I may have to travel to Nepal and confront the kamis directly. With enough Khukuri rum supplied to the kamis I think I might be able to make my point.

Uncle Bill
 
Bill, I'm not sure what a flat plate buttcap looks like - but if you mean it looks like the cap on the karda / chakma then I prefer the current style from an aesthetics point of view.

Maybe the kamis need to put a bit more epoxy under the cap to secure it? Or a differnt type of epoxy - when I removed my damaged cap, the himalayan epoxy underneath was cracked into small pieces / powdered - but the tang/handle fit was fine.

Daniel.
 
Hi Daniel:

Take a look at the Gangaola on our website and you'll get a rough idea of the flat plate buttcap looks.

Your knife had travelled more than 20,000 miles by air by the time it got to you. I am not especially surprised that the Himalayan epoxy in the buttcap had fallen to pieces. Trying to get the boiling mess into the buttcap and attached is a problem -- always has been and will be. That's why I want to change it but I am meeting stiff resistance. The kamis are a little crazy in that regard.

But I am really glad you found an acceptable solution. It bothers me that the buttcap gave you problems but I'm pleased that you made your own buttcap because that makes the knife more yours.

Uncle Bill
 
I like the traditional buttcap.The handle lengh of the WW11 makes it a non issue.Bill just needs to tell the kamies that his market is size 10 gloves,not size 5.

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