Home made micarta

[spareparts]

I don't use either.....never have a problem. I have tried both tho and both work great....just not needed wd40 handles it just fine. I also saw someone said oils migrate and such and could impede the epoxy bond....a good knife maker cleans everything thoroughly as part of the prepwork in using epoxy or any other chemical. He will also scuff the epoxied surfaces with 60 grit sand paper to help in the bonding process. I am a firm believer in dish soap and acetone!

Another pic

I'll see your micarta and raise you my own glamour shot.

No offense I'm just playing around. I do use alot of acetone and Dawn dishsoap but I'm a very messy craftsman. I'll get a set of scales roughed up, cleaned, wiped down with acetone...and then accidently set it down in a puddle of oil. It's worse when I do that after having applied epoxy. I do everything I can to try to minimize the variables.

 

[BM(406)]

I'll see your micarta and raise you my own glamour shot.

No offense I'm just playing around. I do use alot of acetone and Dawn dishsoap but I'm a very messy craftsman. I'll get a set of scales roughed up, cleaned, wiped down with acetone...and then accidently set it down in a puddle of oil. It's worse when I do that after having applied epoxy. I do everything I can to try to minimize the variables.

Called! LOL!

Lookin good, I must say. The black and red hidden tang....doing that style is the only time I do the super glue/hand sand method....just to get rid of the white lines/bubbles/air pockets effect. It is difficult to get the wrap tight enough and even to make them not be there. After I have enough of the material on there, I wrap with fishing line to keep it all real tight....but always end up with a bubble or two in the worst spot!!

 

[Widerstand]

Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[Zuluninja]

grest tips here! I'm gonna do a 2nd run this weekend. My first try still has some wax paper attached to it...

 

[MountainBilly]

Stupid question, but when you epoxy the scales to the blade, does the pinning just become decoration?

spareparts answer in different words: the pins prevent any movement other than straight away from the knife tang. If the handle gets banged the force will be in a direction in which the pins prevent movement.

The epoxy is MUCH stronger in preventing the scale moving directly away from the tang than it is against side to side force. Peening the pins traditionally served this role but most knifemakers I know don't peen, unless for aesthetic effect, because they feel it unnecessary.