Is G10 actually FR4?

[rifon2]

Couple of days ago, someone mentioned to me that the G10 in knife handles is actually probably FR4.

I've never heard of FR4.

Does anyone know if this is true? And if it is, why do we all keep calling it
G10?

 

[Quiet Storm]

If FR4 is actually G-10, why does the guy you heard this from keep calling it FR4?

 

[reptilezs]

its the same stuff fr4 is the flame retardent version

 

[erdvark]

It's basically fibreglass circuitboard material isn't it? You could make some unique looking scales out of some leftover pc boards if you like the green and copper look. I think i read about making a knife out of a motorcycle chain with pc board scales in a William Gibson book, All Tomorrows Parties or Virtual Light, maybe Idoru...

 

[rifon2]

reptilezs - thanks, very interesting.

I think it's remarkable that with so many manufacturers using G10 (or FR4?), and with
so many knife handles being made with it every year, that FR4 never seems to
get mentioned anywhere.

 

[Padawan]

reptilezs - thanks, very interesting.

I think it's remarkable that with so many manufacturers using G10 (or FR4?), and with
so many knife handles being made with it every year, that FR4 never seems to
get mentioned anywhere.

Well, they aren't the same thing, so that is most likely why you don't see/hear FR4 mentioned in reference to knife scales. I assume that most, if not all, knife manufactures are indeed using standard G10 in their scales rather than the flame-retardent FR4.

 

[Quiet Storm]

its the same stuff fr4 is the flame retardent version

Is it the same stuff if FR4 is the flame-retardant version?

 

[johneyblackbull]

The G in G-10 stands for garolite. There are many types of garolite type XX, CE, G-7, G-9, G-10, to name a few. G-10/Fr4 is flame retardent version of
G-10, its usually brownish-green in color. I hope this helps