How can I improve grip?

[tacticaloperator]

Hello everybody. What do you suggest to me to do to imrove the grip on my Leek (all stainless steel handles)? Thanks in advance.

 

[Andy_L]

just a thought. Can you get a golf ball type finish put in metal handles?

 

[G1ZM0]

How about stair tape?

I have a kit knife I plan on putting it on.

 

[ARtsig1]

There is a product I have used before with great results. Your local Ace Hardware should have it. I'm talking about the stair tape that GIZMO mentioned. Made by 3M and it comes in a light gray color. You can cut yourself some cardboard templates so that you get it right and then clean the surface THOUROUGHLY with alcohol or acetone, preferably acetone. You can scuff up the meyal handles to get better adherence but then they will be scratched up forevermore. When you remove the tape just use some acetone/alcohol to clean of the residue and your back to original condition.

 

[Will P.]

Field solution: put 100 mile an hour tape on each handle slab, the run a lighter over the tape until the checkered patern is pronounced.

 

[fixer27]

I've heard skateboard tape works really well, it is more like sandpaper
with a glue backing. Also try 3m spray adhesive to help it stay on.

 

[msh441]

Microtech is using that 3M non-slip skate tape.

Some hate it as it's really rough... shreds your clothing quickly... but it DOES work. I can't imagine the amount of slime it would take to loose your grip using that stuff.

 

[underaged!]

I'm partially against griptape. An hour of carrying a board buy the nose(or tail) will leave your thumb all chewed up.

You won't need extra adhesive to apply grip tape. When you put it on, stick it on, then file around the edges of the handle. This will leave a white outline. Use a razor to cut off the excess. File again (or rub with a rod or the shaft of a screwdriver).

Try to wear the grip tape well before putting it on. Also try getting generic grip, it wears faster, and usually has the same adhesive powers.

 

[underaged!]

One more idea, takes more work but I'd rather do that.

Mix up some fiberglass resin.
Brush onto handle.
Lay down some cloth (your favorite rag-shirt will be good), preferably something on the heavier side.
Put another, thinner coat over the cloth.
When it's all dry, cut off excess cloth, then shape, or grind off excess resin.

You should be left with a hard textured surface (similar to the cloth), of the color/pattern of the cloth.

Try not to sand it though as the fibers of the cloth may lift and may look nasty.

 

[tacticaloperator]

I'll try some of the methods described above.

 

[DRider]

I'm partially against griptape. An hour of carrying a board buy the nose(or tail) will leave your thumb all chewed up.

You won't need extra adhesive to apply grip tape. When you put it on, stick it on, then file around the edges of the handle. This will leave a white outline. Use a razor to cut off the excess. File again (or rub with a rod or the shaft of a screwdriver).

Try to wear the grip tape well before putting it on. Also try getting generic grip, it wears faster, and usually has the same adhesive powers.

Here's an article about using grip tape (and other stuff) on a Glock....

http://www.sportshooter.com/gear/griptheglock.htm

 

[Simple Man]

I saw these the other day at Office Depot. I wonder if they would work with knives, looks like it would. It is basically the dash pad grip material, but with adhesive on one side for phones.

www.egrips.com

 

[Neanderthal]

Spray on truck bed liner. Mask well the areas you wish to protect from the coating. I've used the liner on a skeletonized fixed blade handle (D2 Arclite) with very satisfactory results.