Inlay or overlay? What would you call this?

Gody

Gody

Joined
Jul 20, 2011
Messages
351
The reason I´m asking is that I have a few, very small, but quite nice pieces of mamooth ivory, that I would like to use as inlays in my interframe folders. However, ivory has a nasty habbit of warping, shrinking, swelling and shifting with changes in temperature and humidity, and I hate to see a once nicely fitted inlay suddenly schrinking and showing visible gaps. Stabilisation may be the right way to go, but for now, I came up with a different approach. I basically cut the inlay as usual but leave a small shelf around the inlay (pictures explain it better). This makes the inlay stand 1-2 mm proud of the handle and should i theory allow the ivory to move a little with no visual appearance. I should note that I intend to use 3M VHB tape to secure the inlay, rather than glue.
My main concern is that this approach really does not show the quality of the inlay work, but please dont hesitate to point out other potential problems if you see some. Also, do you think this is an "honest" method of doing an inlay?


Uploaded with ImageShack.us
This picture shows the backside of the inlay with the small "shelf" I mentioned.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thanks

Brian
 
Hey Brian that is how I would approach this as well but I would have sharp angular bevel from the top of the scale to the face of the scale. This will give it a much cleaner look. But it can be tuff keeping it consistent angel around the scale. I do just this with all my ivory knives at the bolster/scale mating surface.

Brett
 
Thanks Brett. I see what you mean with the bevel, thats something I would also do with, say a bolstered folder, where the scale meets the bolster. This knife however, is smoothly rounded exept from the front of the handle, which has an angle to it, so I feel the rounded shape is more in the same style as the rest of the knife. But that´s just a personal preference and I´ve been proven wrong before:D

Brian
 
Inlay--Inserted piece fits into "routed" area that matches inserted piece. You were asking this question, right?
 
I'm saying it looks good from here. If no space shows its a great way to go ! I would definitely recomend gluing these in place. Frank
 
jtdesigns said:
Inlay--Inserted piece fits into "routed" area that matches inserted piece. You were asking this question, right?
Click to expand...

Yes, the inlay fits into the machined pocket but the small overhang on the inlay, will sit on the surface of the titanium handle. Thus it will allow the inlay to shrink or swell a little without you being able to see it. I have had this problem with conventional inlays (that are flush with the handle surface) and are trying to find a way around it.

Frank,

There are a few problems with glue in this case. Most importantly, the ti is sandblasted which makes it somewhat difficult to clean away excess glue. The tape I´m talking about is not your average double sided tape. It is used in many heavy duty industrial applications and it´s what Chris Reeve uses to secure his inlays with. Also I figure that it will allow the ivory to move a little without loosing strength.
That being said, I´m not 100% sure it will work but I figure I´ll try it out and then keep the knife in my procession for a while, to see what happens.

Thanks

Brian
 
With the two surfaces cleaned and ready for assembly, VHB will lock them in very strong.
 
I have used VHB tapes before in an industrial setting where we were taping in Lexan flush windows to cut-outs in stainless steel. We tested one to see how strong the tape was and we ended up breaking the Lexan (same material that is used for bullet proof windows) before the bond failed.
 
PaMtnBkr said:
I have used VHB tapes before in an industrial setting where we were taping in Lexan flush windows to cut-outs in stainless steel. We tested one to see how strong the tape was and we ended up breaking the Lexan (same material that is used for bullet proof windows) before the bond failed.
Click to expand...

That sounds promising:)

Thanks

Brian
 
Yup, I tested it on fillet knife handles, and broke a maple handle trying to pry it off. I still haven't decided about how much I will use it, but it seems really promising for many knife applications. I think I can apply folder scales with it and never have a worry about them.
 
Very cool design.
What's that tape like to work with? I imagine it sticking to whatever I use to cut it to shape, and being difficult to get in a recess without accidentally touching the sides of the cavity.
Sounds like a great problem solver!
 
@elementfe,

I´m not done evaluating it, but so far I think it is great. You cut it pretty easily with a scalpel or similar, you can touch the adhesive with you fingers and it won´t feel that sticky at all, but once you apply it to a clean surface, it is very, very grippy. For the inlays, I think I will cut the tape just a tad undersize, to ease the mounting.

Ohh, and I almost forgot to mention that the tape I bought is the thinnest available at .02" or 1/2 mm.

Tanks everyone for your input, much appreciated.

Brian
 
It sucks to work with!

Pretty sure CRK has their tape die cut for his inlays, so there is backing on one side making it much easier to line everything up.

Great stuff though, it holds like the dickens.
 
Fellhoelter said:
It sucks to work with!

Pretty sure CRK has their tape die cut for his inlays, so there is backing on one side making it much easier to line everything up.

Great stuff though, it holds like the dickens.
Click to expand...

What I found the most difficult this far, is pealing of the last backing. The first (the white side on mine) comes off like a snap but the red backing is a pain to get a hold of. Once you get a grip, I think it comes off quite nice. Perhaps I should note that I bought a sheet and not a roll.

Brian
 
I like your idea of having the ivory come above the surface of the handle slightly.
I assume you'll round the edge slightly.
I think it would give a nice contrast as the materials are clearly very different but also the finish.
The sand blasted Ti and polished ivory would go nicely together IMHO.
 
Thanks Bart.

We will see how it turns out.

How is your knife holding up?

Brian
 
Gody said:
Ohh, and I almost forgot to mention that the tape I bought is the thinnest available at .02" or 1/2 mm.
Click to expand...
The stuff I have is .005"!
It mic's at .009 on a .004" backing.
That is correct, 5 thousandths of an inch, or 1/8 MM
 
Fellhoelter said:
The stuff I have is .005"!
It mic's at .009 on a .004" backing.
That is correct, 5 thousandths of an inch, or 1/8 MM
Click to expand...

Wow, thats thin. Would have been perfect for my application but I did not find it thinner than .02". Where do you get yours?

Brian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top