G-10 vs. Carbon Fiber

M

myung-gwan

Joined
Sep 27, 2002
Messages
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G-10 may not look as sleek as CF but it is almost perfect IMO. CF looks great however I remember someone saying it is quite prone to chemicals. He said CF actually was melted by some kind of nail remover.
Just wondering if anyone in this forum have such an experince? What are your opinions on these handle materials?
 
On some knives with CF scales or bolsters, I've heard of the CF cracking near the pivot...

I don't have any, though. I think carbon fiber belongs on bicycles and soupy little import tuners. :D

Peace.
 
Any nail polish remover able to "remove" CF would remove your fingers. The stuff is graphite, the resin is often an epoxy, somewhat affected by chlorinated solvents.

TLM
 
Carbon Fiber refers just to the reinforcing material, ie. Carbon fibers. G10 refers to an epoxy composite reinforced with fiberglass. The majority of carbon fiber composites used are epoxy so G10 and what is commonly refered to as carbon fiber would be affected by the same chemcials. Regarding surface finish, that is up to the end-user or manufacturer, take a look at the new CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer, the correct term) spyderco military it is peel-ply and has a great grippy finish. If you really wanted you could try and get some polyimide reinforced with carbon fiber, this is commonly used in high-temp, low-weight applications like fighter jets; except to pay a pretty penny for it though.

Sorry for the rant its just the materials-engineer part of me.
 
In addition I have a bobbin of uncoated carbon fibers so if anyone wanted to see what it looked like before being placed in a polymer matrix I would be willing to ship a few feet to you. E-mail me at lgordon@gmail.com
 
I love the looks of CF on my knives, but for an every day user I prefer the G-10 of my Double Duty. I think the G-10 can take more of a beating!:D
 
I like Spyderco's G10, as it has a grippier finish than most.

I've only handled CF stocked knives, and most of them had a polished, too smooth finish.

Why isn't linen micarta used more often on folders? It's good and grippy on my fixed blade knives.
 
I don't have a lot of experience with either material, but have been pleased with both. I like the texture of my CF M16 as it is very grippy and the BM knives I've had in G10 were quite well textured as well, eventhough they weren't as grippy as the CRKT M16.From some kayak building, I understand the quality is directly related to the proper ratios of fibre to epoxy. This would explain why some may have negative experiences with one material or another.How about a CF(weight and stiffness) and Kevlar(for impact resistance) handled knife?! Works for high-end kayaks!
 
I think G10 is the ideal handle material. Aggressive textured G10 is tough to beat.
 
myung-gwan said:
G-10 may not look as sleek as CF but it is almost perfect IMO.
Click to expand...

This knife's scales...

tantobrecher1.jpg


...are made of silver G-10. Not as sleek as CF? I disagree.

The reason why G-10 often doesn't look as nice as CF is that it is usually more roughly finished for a textured surface.
 
Years ago I asked a knifemaker ( I think it was Alan Elishewitz ?) which was stronger G10 or carbon fiber.He said G10.
 
The pic says it all. I thought at first it was CF scales. A great knife you got there. I have also a personal preference to G-10,but the Spyderco CF military looked so nice to me.
Could anyone tell me how G-10 and CF compare in term of resistance for impacts and chemicals? Just the popularity and higher price of CF make me be more curious what better properties it has over G-10.
Thanks.
 
Nice knife! That silver G10 is only sleek though because it wasn't ground. Or at least that's how it looks. G10 can be sleek if un ground or ground to a high grit and polished. If you grind it at 120 grit or at least no more than 220 grit it is way grippier than carbaon fiber usually. If you bead blast Carbon fiber it is much more grippy than usual and is adequate but it does fracture more often than G10 IMO. G10 is my preferred material for handles. While I don't feel it's quite as strong as micarta which I also love, it is lighter and grinds like a dream! G10 is also quite strong and doesn't crtack often at all. Although I have seen some bad G10 stock I presume without enough epoxy resin in it to keep it bound. That is rare though. I reserve carbon fiber for things like bolsters or spacers or some other such application.
 
does anybody know if Polyurethane can be used instead of epoxy when making composites? i think g10 is made of glassfiber (could be wrong), and kevlar is aramidfiber (kevlar is a tradename) and aramid if i understand correct is a kind of nylon. i think kevlar handles would be nice or maybe make a special with mixed carbon/aramid, it would be possible to finetune the stiffness/strenght/flexibility if you mix them
 
Quiet Storm said:
This knife's scales...

tantobrecher1.jpg


...are made of silver G-10. Not as sleek as CF? I disagree.

The reason why G-10 often doesn't look as nice as CF is that it is usually more roughly finished for a textured surface.
Click to expand...
Wow! No one can say that is not a "Sleek looking handle" Good work. And a beautiful Tanto!
 
which was stronger G10 or carbon fiber
Click to expand...

Wrong question, G10 is a composite a fiber is a fiber. Carbon fiber is stronger and stiffer than glass fiber, no exceptions. As composites the strength depends on many things but generally carbon are stronger than glass composites with the same fiber fraction and orientation.

does anybody know if Polyurethane can be used instead of epoxy when making composites
Click to expand...

Can be done but the result is propably not better than with epoxy, stiffness might not be enough.

Most aramids weaken fast in sunlight.

TLM
 
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