Heat resistant handle material

Csalmon

Csalmon

Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Messages
61
g10, CF, thunderstorm Kevlar, or other - which would have the highest heat resistance? Think tool to be used inside a burning house.
 
The heat resistance of all of those is going to be dependent on the resin system used to hold those fibers together.
►G10 is always an epoxy resin. Epoxy resin hear resistance varies from ~150F to 350F depending on the resin.
►Carbon fiber and Kevlar are also usually epoxy.
►Micarta can be any number of resin systems. "Phenolic Micarta" is normally good to ~450F.
 
Ummm...aluminum or steel . Most knife materials are way more fireproof than YOU :confused:.

I wrap red oxide self-fusing silicone tape around many of my handles on fixed blades . More for grip than heat resistance :p : Melting point ~500 F . But even old dry wood will probably outlast your lungs .:eek::poop:
 
DocJD said:
Ummm...aluminum or steel . Most knife materials are way more fireproof than YOU :confused:.

I wrap red oxide self-fusing silicone tape around many of my handles on fixed blades . More for grip than heat resistance :p : Melting point ~500 F . But even old dry wood will probably outlast your lungs .:eek::poop:
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I'll bet you can figure out what profession goes into burning buildings and why I would be asking about handle materials that are heat resistant if you think reaaaal hard!
 
Most epoxies break down about 400 F. However there are epoxies that have to be cured at that or higher temperatures . I'll bet that the aircraft in your avatar has some of those !! You might have to make your own epoxy/Kevlar or epoxy/carbon fiber .
 
Csalmon said:
I'll bet you can figure out what profession goes into burning buildings and why I would be asking about handle materials that are heat resistant if you think reaaaal hard!
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Arsonist ? Seriously Mr "Professional " : Kindling temp of paper is 451 F (Also a Ray Bradbury book ) Unless you are continuously wet down or in one heck of a fireproof suit , then you wouldn't have to worry about the knife ! Plenty of firefighting equipment is made of stuff that melts and /or burns . eg the fire ax .

Still , I honor and thank you for your service ! I had a close relative was a fire chief . He ALWAYS drove like he was" on the way to a fire" , right up into his 90"s .He was a hero to me .
 
mete said:
Most epoxies break down about 400 F. However there are epoxies that have to be cured at that or higher temperatures . I'll bet that the aircraft in your avatar has some of those !! You might have to make your own epoxy/Kevlar or epoxy/carbon fiber .
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No to the bolded section. You are thinking of other resins.
The main resins in that aircraft are not epoxies.

I currently work for a company which makes structure around aircraft engines. 350F is the highest temp at which we cure aircraft epoxy for such usages. Those will begin thermal oxidative failure at 400F- 450F. But those resins are not used for G10

Most aerospace epoxy is cured at 250F. Those will begin thermo oxidative failure break down at about 350F, again depending on length of exposure.
 
mete said:
Most epoxies break down about 400 F. However there are epoxies that have to be cured at that or higher temperatures . I'll bet that the aircraft in your avatar has some of those !! You might have to make your own epoxy/Kevlar or epoxy/carbon fiber .
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mete mete , if you find way how to cut/sand/shape this sh_ _ kevlar I will make scale for you in any dimension you like....for free of course :)

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If you have gloves that can stand the heat, I bet titanium is the king here (1670ºC or 3000ºF), even over steel (around 2750ºF depending on the alloy), aluminum (1220ºF)...
 
ThePeacent said:
If you have gloves that can stand the heat, I bet titanium is the king here (1670ºC or 3000ºF), even over steel (around 2750ºF depending on the alloy), aluminum (1220ºF)...
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I don t think that it is comfortable to keep in your hands very hot handle , even with gloves .........I think he need material for handle which hardly absorbs heat .......... insulator . Titanium absorb heat like sponge .Maybe wood is best for him , and not glued with epoxy , just rivets ........
 
Csalmon said:
I'll bet you can figure out what profession goes into burning buildings and why I would be asking about handle materials that are heat resistant if you think reaaaal hard!
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Postman? "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor firey fames will stop the mail"

If you're not a postman walk out to the truck and see what kind of handles the other tools have. Use that as your guide.
 
Wait ! You lovers of hollow handle knives -- use that hollow handle to insert a cooling coil !

Natlek , I'm not a knife maker just an old idea man !
 
FWIW (I'm not an expert by any means, just quoting here) I found these words about Carbon Fiber's bonding resins

"The highest temperature matrix resins out there begin to degrade above 400 F to 425 F region. This is also close to the region 450 to 475 F where carbon fibers have been observed to begin losing weight. The fibers are oxidising. So I would say that this is the general region that a polymer and carbon fiber can be safely utilized, unless the carbon fiber (and its sizing) is also stabilized against oxidation"
 
Natlek said:
I don t think that it is comfortable to keep in your hands very hot handle , even with gloves .........I think he need material for handle which hardly absorbs heat .......... insulator . Titanium absorb heat like sponge .Maybe wood is best for him , and not glued with epoxy , just rivets ........
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What exactly do you need a knife for in a fire? I have never used my knife in any capacity with regards to active fire. Doing firefighter tasks I use the screwdrivers on my multitool, very rarely cut seatbelts, and regular everyday cutting tasks all in everyday temperatures. BTW I use the seat belt cutter on my Res-Q-Wrench to cut seat belts. It isn't as koolaid as a rescue hook, but I don't care.
As far as materials go I like things that can be washed. Wood can absorb chemicals or get water damage. Wood handled tools have been going away in structural firefighting applications because synthetic handles are less maintenance. Wildland still uses wood handled tools but they aren't digging through burned synthetics and household cleaners. Cancer is a big thing in Fire these days.
 
Jhansenak47 said:
What exactly do you need a knife for in a fire? I have never used my knife in any capacity with regards to active fire. Doing firefighter tasks I use the screwdrivers on my multitool, very rarely cut seatbelts, and regular everyday cutting tasks all in everyday temperatures. BTW I use the seat belt cutter on my Res-Q-Wrench to cut seat belts. It isn't as koolaid as a rescue hook, but I don't care.
As far as materials go I like things that can be washed. Wood can absorb chemicals or get water damage. Wood handled tools have been going away in structural firefighting applications because synthetic handles are less maintenance. Wildland still uses wood handled tools but they aren't digging through burned synthetics and household cleaners. Cancer is a big thing in Fire these days.
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Now that all actually sounds like a "pro tip" , voice of experience which usually beats out armchair theoretics .:cool:
 
DocJD said:
Arsonist ? Seriously Mr "Professional " : Kindling temp of paper is 451 F (Also a Ray Bradbury book ) Unless you are continuously wet down or in one heck of a fireproof suit , then you wouldn't have to worry about the knife ! Plenty of firefighting equipment is made of stuff that melts and /or burns . eg the fire ax .

Still , I honor and thank you for your service ! I had a close relative was a fire chief . He ALWAYS drove like he was" on the way to a fire" , right up into his 90"s .He was a hero to me .
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Not me, but two of my uncles are and they want knives. Thanks though! Deciding how I want to design them.
 
Jhansenak47 said:
What exactly do you need a knife for in a fire? I have never used my knife in any capacity with regards to active fire. Doing firefighter tasks I use the screwdrivers on my multitool, very rarely cut seatbelts, and regular everyday cutting tasks all in everyday temperatures. BTW I use the seat belt cutter on my Res-Q-Wrench to cut seat belts. It isn't as koolaid as a rescue hook, but I don't care.
As far as materials go I like things that can be washed. Wood can absorb chemicals or get water damage. Wood handled tools have been going away in structural firefighting applications because synthetic handles are less maintenance. Wildland still uses wood handled tools but they aren't digging through burned synthetics and household cleaners. Cancer is a big thing in Fire these days.
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Thanks for the "pro tip" as mentioned. I want to design a knife that can be used, but as you mentioned isn't gimmicky or overly fireman themed. Jus tough and handy. Thanks again!
 
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